Before I broke my shoulder in the spring of 2013, I was swimming 45 minutes of laps at the Y four or five days a week. I love swimming laps probably more than I love chocolate (which is saying something!) Then I went through the two surgeries last spring which left me so weak I was unable to stand without help,then recovered pretty much from that when I fell and broke my hip this winter.
I was not able to swim for these last two years, but have been working really hard in PT on both my hip AND shoulder. The shoulder surgeon and PT said it probably would not allow it. I wanted to prove them wrong, but was afraid to try. What was I going to do if I COULDN'T?? I just could not make myself try for fear of failure.
Kinda' like making that decision to quit smoking? I am here to tell you to go for it!
I got in a neighbor's in-ground pool yesterday and I CAN SWIM! My shoulder is allowing me to do ALL of the strokes. I limited myself to four lengths of the pool and some water walking, but I can't tell you how HAPPY I am.
Thinking on it, if I hadn't been able to, I probably would have just kept working hard in PT and then planning how to swim with the limitations presented. Kinda' like quitting smoking?
Morale of the story? Don't put it off. Just do it!
Nancy
