patrolman said:
I have to agree with Casa. See a professional.
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If surfing is really important to quality of life, then do this. Trying to self diagnose on the internet is likely to end up with either non optimal or non effective remedy.
I think a physiotherapist will be part of the professional help (may need referral from doc). My previous post was explaining what professionals have prescribed me. They may not be applicable to anyone here - although I'd be surprised if elastic band rotator cuff exercise would actually hurt anyone, but then I'm not a professional. Yes I really was prescribed heavy dumbbell exercises for instability from a physio who looks after 2 of Melbourne's (Australia's) top footy teams.
As a bit of background I've seen physios/docs for shoulder instability i.e dislocation (surgically repaired quite a long time ago). Rotator cuff sprains and broken collar bones from skateboarding. Shoulder dislocation/instability was surfing/windsurfing a long time ago. Broken collarbones from skateboarding - once about 10 years ago and caused slight separation in ac joint and a few years ago which did not make the separation any worse.
I've done more skateboarding than surfing over the last 15 years, but recently that situation has reversed and I'm doing more surfing than skating. While my shoulders aren't perfect (separation still showed under x-ray and nothing is ever exactly the same after surgery), I can surf heaps - been doing 6+ sessions a week done in 2 sessions per day without any shoulder pain during or after.