Tight Bicep when swimming

I had my PM fitted early March this year and have returned to swimming but am finding that after only 400m my left bicep is swelling and tightening up making it almost impossible to continue swimming Front Crawl, I have not tried backstroke or Fly since the fitting. Just wondered if anyone else had come across this and what you did to sort it out. I should point out that I have been a competitive swimmer for 40years and have never had this problem before the PM fitting.

4 Comments

400Meters, Already?

by donr - 2012-05-07 08:05:08

Devon: Lessee, now, early Mar for implant. Now end of first week in May. Your 6 weeks (presumed) keeping the left elbow below the shoulder expired about a week ago.

You are about 53 yrs old. I would say that 400 M is stretchintg it this soon after that much inactivity. I am not surprised that you are getting a knot in your bicep. As I recall the crawl, it requires a real streeeeeetch out there w the shoulder.

Hate to tell you this old boy, but it's the same thing I've told my own "kids," who are just a bit younger than you -It does NOT get easier when you get older to go back to where you were before inactivity.

Contrary to what you young whippersnappers think, you will NOT live forever & you will slow down a bit w/ age. (That includes you, Electric Frank!)

If you think what happened after the crawl was bad, just wait till you feel the results of the fly & back strokes.

I'm not a swimmer, but #2 Daughter was/is at nearly your age & I remember what the strokes were like when I watched her torture her young body in the pool. She swam coompetitively as a teenager - did the long ones like you are talking about.

Don

A little early maybe?

by Heidiglassmeyer - 2012-05-07 11:05:14

Hi devonboy,
As a masters swimmer myself, on leave due to my back lol, found it difficult to swim that early. I didn't have bicep issues but shoulder pain. After having to stop during my first workout after surgery I resorted to using the kick board but only held it with my right arm. I had to ease slowly back into using my left arm. I slowly started to do drills with my right arm. Then would add my left every few strokes. It took me at least a month of this before I was fully using my left arm. Make sure you are properly stretching it before and during. It was several months after that before I was swimming butterfly. I was never comfortable swimming backstroke even a year after implant. Although 400M is not that far I think you should give yourself a little more time and if you have to be in the water maybe do some other drills where you're not using your left arm yet.
The swelling is also a concern and may want to mention it to your dr.
Take care, Heidi

Similar to my recent blood clot

by AbNormative - 2012-05-08 10:05:48

I don't want to make you anxious unnecessarily, but your description is similar to what I experienced when I got a blood clot about 5-6 weeks ago. Pacemakers increase the risk of getting a blood clot, because the pacemaker leads run through a major vein.

My left bicep and forearm were somewhat swollen, as if they were pumped up from lifting weights (but I hadn't lifted any weights). It stayed that way for several days before I saw my doctor.

An ultrasound found a blood clot (aka a Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT) in the vein under my collarbone (the subclavian vein). The clot partially blocked that vein, making it hard for blood to return from the arm to the heart, hence the swelling. For me, and I assume for most pacemakers, that vein is how the pacemaker leads get from the pacemaker to the heart. It turns out that pacemaker leads raise the odds of getting a blood clot there.

You probably know a blood clot is very serious (can migrate to lung and kill), so if you think that might be what's going on with you, you'd want to get it checked immediately.

Mark

Nerve Perhaps

by gulliver80 - 2012-05-08 12:05:32

Hi Devon

Glad to see your giving things a good bash and cracking on by getting back in the pool! I too had similar problems after getting back in the water, however each case is entirely different as you know. I had my ICD implanted under the muscle (asthetic reasons mainly) and after 8 weeks got back in.... everything was going fine until i hit a certain number of lenghts (40 i think) and my left arm/shoulder would go into spasm like mode, or feel asleep it was going to sleep! It was awful! I went back to the cardio and he advised that he thought it may be done to the nerve endings (at icd site) rubbing.... It was unbearable! hate to say but I have not been back in the pool and I used to swim alot as part of my training. dont be too downhearted yet, speak to your doc or see a ohysio, maybe something over nothing! People like you inspire me though mate - keep it up...live the dream!
Darren
Tartan Scotsman!

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

Member Quotes

My ICD/pacer is not a burden. I still play tennis and golf.