Shoulder Chagrin

Continued...

Only 56 percent could return to their competitive sport without significant pain. There is no guarantee of a complete cure with rotator cuff surgery. This may be a source of some of the horror stories about shoulder surgery you have heard.

If surgery becomes necessary, ask your doctor if the operation can be done with an arthroscope, a considerably less invasive procedure than regular surgery. When considering surgery, a second opinion is strongly advised.

In fact, your insurance company may require it. Most doctors understand this and consider a second opinion normal procedure. Post surgery you can expect a three to six-month recovery period with intensive physical therapy.

Although most heart murmurs in athletes are innocent flow murmurs, occasionally the cause is a structural defect in the heart. Be sure to tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist about the problem.

The combination of your tall, lanky frame, dislocated joint, and heart murmur indicates you should be checked for Marfan Syndrome, particularly if you are over 5'10".

Marfan Syndrome is an inherited defect in the connective tissue that affects the musculoskeletal system, eyes, and heart. People with the syndrome are tall and "loose jointed."

They may have a family history of the syndrome or of sudden death, usually from cardiac causes. Flo Hyman, the Olympic volleyball player, had this condition, which was unrecognized prior to her death.

The definitive screening test for the syndrome is the echocardiogram, a non-invasive test which evaluates the heart. It may be ordered by your physicians anyway to evaluate the heart murmur. Again, most heart murmurs are not due to a heart problem, but reflect the increased flow of blood through the well-conditioned athlete's heart.

For more information about Marfan Syndrome, contact the National Marfan Foundation, 382 Main Street, Port Washington, NY 11050, 800-862-7326, www.marfan.org.

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About the authors: Carol L. Otis, M.D., is Chief Medical Advisor to the Sanex WTA and a UCLA student health physician. Roger Goldingay is a former professional soccer player. They are married and the co-authors of The Athletic Woman's Survival Guide.

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Foreword: Billie Jean King

Comments by Barb Harris
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