I recently started playing water polo again once or twice a week with a local master’s team after not playing for a few years (my physical training in the intervening years focused on heavy lifting with a little easy swimming thrown in here and there). Things were fine for about 6 weeks, then I began getting aching at the base of my left lat after games and eventually pain there that hasn’t gone away. I’m not sure if it’s because I was relying too much on my upper back strength due to poor cardio ability, or something else. It hurts in certain twisting positions and when I take deep breaths. The main pressure/tender point is in between the 3rd and 4th ribs on the left side, closer to the edge of my back than the spine (serratus posterior inferior?) I have seen a physical therapist and he was unable to diagnose the problem, instead recommending “core strengthening”. It has now been over five weeks since the initial injury and I am still having pain swimming and doing most upper body work; prior to the injury, I was lifting upper body 3x a week prior to and during this period as well, if that info helps at all.
@burgertown141 sorry to hear about your situation. I recommend checking out this article for guidance on modifying activity in these situations: Pain in Training: What To Do?