Overcoming an Injury: A Personal Reflection and Realization
Is it a real pain, or am I just sore? Or maybe I’m just tired. I can keep going. I can keep swimming. It is fine. It does not hurt “that much” anymore. These are some of the thoughts I had in my head for more than two years, and that probably most swimmers have had in their careers. The idea of having an injury can be scary, especially at a young age or in the middle of a college career.
The Injury
I tried to push away the pain in every practice, convincing myself that every swimmer was in pain just like me because of the hard work. I wanted a regular season without anything stopping me from accomplishing my goals. I knew being “injured” would take me out of the water and stop me from swimming during my junior year.
Neck, shoulder, knee, and back injuries are the most common among swimmers. Most swimmers suffer from injuries throughout their careers. Stopping swimming for six months or a year can be overwhelming and stressful. Not knowing if I would be the same swimmer ever again or if the pain would go away was terrifying, and still, it is.
A labrum tear in my left shoulder made me experience terrible pain for more than two years and did not let me be the best version of myself in the water. However, I learned how strong the mind can be and how to keep moving forward. I never thought I would have surgery and a six-month recovery, no matter how much I would complain about complex sets or waking up early. Swimming has made me the person I am today, and I knew I would miss it.
The Recovery Process
Mental health plays a vital role in overcoming an injury. The people you surround yourself with will make everything easier. Swimming has always been a roller coaster for me, but it has also opened many opportunities.
Finding new hobbies and caring for my mind and body helped me keep going six weeks after the surgery. My friends, family, teammates, trainers, and coaches provided critical support, too.
I found myself rekindling my passion for reading, which, when I was in season, I could not do that often. Hanging out with my friends and living a “normal life” has also been helpful. The treadmill and physical therapy have been my best friend for the past four weeks. Physical therapy has been painful but exciting at the same time. In the beginning, it was scary how I could not do simple movements that I used to do without thinking. But with time, it has been thrilling to start feeling like myself again.
I have tried to see the other side of the coin with this injury. Today, I see it as a wakeup call to listen to my body and learn how to take care of it. Stretching, eating healthy, sleeping, and keeping my body hydrated during the season are important. I have learned that life has ups and downs, and more will come. And that is life, but whenever life brings me to my knees, I back up and move forward.
Now, there is only one goal in my head: Recover and get back to the water to finish my college career as I started it – swimming.
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