Injury Recovery - how long before returning to sport?

[944fan]

I have injured my shoulder. To save any further questioning I will own up straight away as to how. I tripped over a stair gate when I was pissed. My arm got stuck and my shoulder broke my fall (17 stone of me on top of it!).

There was no visible swelling or bruise. I ice'd it for a couple of days and then applied heat. It seems better but not fully recovered.

I had been swimming a lot before the injury and am really keen to return. During a swim stroke it is un-comfortable although not massively painful. Should I return gently now, or wait until the pain has completely gone?

Been off for nearly two weeks now.

[kiethton]

Why not start slowly with a less stressful stroke - breast? - building up over time to strengthen and expanding when it feels less uncomfortable.

This alongside some light resistance should strengthen it sufficiently - I did similar with my rotator cuff issue in order to return to golf..

(NB. I am not a doctor)

[944fan]

I thought about breaststroke to get back in but it seems more uncomfortable doing that. I admit I haven't tried a full stroke in the water with either stroke so not sure how it will feel when I start.

[LordGrover]

Depending on the nature of the injury either 1. increase movement to keep it free or 2. reduce movement to prevent further harm.

I am a qualified Internet doctor.

[944fan]

LordGrover said:

Depending on the nature of the injury either 1. increase movement to keep it free or 2. reduce movement to prevent further harm.

I am a qualified Internet doctor.

Thinking 2 would apply. Doesn't feel like a muscle injury that needs freeing. Worried I have damaged the tendon.

Should I ask a real world Dr? Anytime I have ever been the to GP with a musculo-skeleton issue has been a complete waste of time. Should I go straight to a physio for assessment?

[Vladimir]

I'd get it looked at - ignoring a "loose" shoulder aged 16 has meant a lifetime of shoulder dislocations only "sorted"with masses of physio. You may have stretched a rotator cuff which isn't ideal.

[maxrider1]

If you think it's your rotator cuff go straight to a physio and also get a scan. I had months and months of various physios treating my shoulder problem which kept recurring until one eventually sent me for a scan which resulted in having extensive cuff surgery last January... I'm nowhere near fully recovered even now.