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Repeated dislocation
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Posted by: eds_tls---------------------

I dislocated my shoulder for the first time in June. Shoulder took a direct hard landing on hard clay

I was back riding carefully within 3 weeks. It got better as time went on but it still wasen't 100% even now. I couldn't sleep on it for long and it hurt alittle when I went to the limits of movement.

I dislocated the same shoulder again yesterday. But this time I didn't even hit the shoulder. Looped the bike awkwardly and the shoulder popped out before I hit the ground.

I've read that once you dislocate something, it will happen again very easy. But I didn't think it would pop out that easy. I really don't want it to happen again from a minor get off. It hurts like hell and I obviously can't ride back to civilation, (no I don't do any difficult riding by myself)

What should I do? Can an orthopedic doc do anything to make it tighter? I probally started riding too soon the last time, but now I think I'm done riding for the year. So I should have several months to heal up.

Is this something I have to worry about forever now?

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

an ortho doc could probably do something to help you out. Probably wouldn't hurt for you to at least see one to get it evaluated (then have him refer you for a second opinion).

Also, you might check with an athletic trainer or physical therapist to see what kind of exercises you can do to strenthen the muscles around your shoulder. My wife deals with this on a daily basis and has brought a lot of kids back into action who had shoulder problems.

My ol' man also had trouble with his always falling out until he started lifting daily. I can't recall him having a problem since.

good luck.

Posted by: rmc_olderthandirt---------------------

My son went through this a few years ago. He dislocated his shoulder wakeboarding. We went to a sports orthopedic doctor (best thing, I recommend the "sports" specialty).

The doctor laid it out for us very plainly (and accurately, as it turned out). He basically said that the "lip" of the shoulder socket looks a lot like a golf tee and now the lip has been torn off. The "ball" will still sit there and be fine but the lip is gone to keep it there. The result: it will dislocate very easily.

Two options: live with it, or fix it.

To fix it will put your shoulder out of commission for several months. No wakeboarding, no football, no snowboarding, no dirt bike riding.

Live with it will be a pain (literally and figuratively) and when you get tired of it popping out you will want to get it fixed. No harm in waiting, however.

This happened the summer before my son's senior year in high school. He was a starter on the football team (tight end) and wanted to finish out his last year so we deferred the operation.

The doctor was 100% correct. My son popped his shoulder out again a couple of times in football practice (freaked his teammates out) and once while he was sleeping! The good news is that he got pretty good at putting it back in by himself. Relax the best you can, drop your hand down towards your knee, give it a tug with the other hand.

One time at a wakeboard competition I watched another rider with the same problem put his shoulder back in place. He obviously had done it a bunch of times before. He had been riding with a belt strapped around his upper torso, apparently an attempt to keep the shoulder together. Obviously didn't work, but the belt came in handy to get the shoulder back into the socket. He wrapped the belt around his wrist, the stood on the free end and jerked up with his body. A small crowd was watching this guy and they couldn't figure out what he was doing but I recognized it.....

The day the football season ended (or rather the Monday after) we called up the doctor and scheduled the surgery. Since the surgery he has had no problems with the shoulder at all. That was almost 5 years ago.

The surgery is definitely worth it, but I recommend going to a "sports" doctor.

Rod

Posted by: Chili---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by eds_tls

Is this something I have to worry about forever now?

Short answer yes. I've dealt with the aftermath chronic dislocations of my left shoulder for years now. The original dislocation happened when I was 14 years old playing hockey. After that I dislocated the shoulder likely 15-20 more times over the next 6 years until I had to choose between having surgery or packing in playing hockey. At that time the surgery wasn't as successful as it is today and the prognosis for range of motion wasn't what I wanted so I packed in the hockey for the sake of my golf swing.

To this day 28 years later I still have to be very careful about certain movements with my shoulder especially if the shoulder is loaded carrying/moving some weight. I regret not getting the surgery and would consider it seriously if I had a had a "do over".

Posted by: eds_tls---------------------

Thanks guys

I already made an apointment with a highly recommended orthopedic guy. He is also the team doctor for the minor league baseball and hockey team here and is supposed to be very good.

I'll talk to him about having the surgery. I'm not giving up riding and I don't want it to keep happening in the middle of nowhere.

I was also awake when they popped it back in this time so I saw how they did it and I know what it feels like. It hurt like hell but was borderline tolerable. Its good to know I can do it if I really had to, (you guys described it pretty spot on).

Ill let you know what happens

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by eds_tls

I already made an apointment with a highly recommended orthopedic guy. He is also the team doctor for the minor league baseball and hockey team here and is supposed to be very good.

Perfect! That's definitely the guy you want to talk to. He's had experience getting guys back in action, so you couldn't have asked for a better choice.

But, don't hesitate to get a second opinion if you feel the least bit uncomfortable.

Posted by: eds_tls---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by XRpredator

Yep. What everyone said about looking for a sports med guy made alot of sense. I was very pleased when I read his resume.

If anyone cares.....http://www.rockfordortho.com/providers/whitehurst.php

Thanks again everyone!

Posted by: JD_MXRacer---------------------

Same thing has happened to me this year in football. I have dislocated the same finger 3x now. The first hurt very badly and it was all crooked and stuff. The 2nd and 3rd hurt just as bad but it was just at an angle not all hanging there and stuff.

Posted by: Redrodent---------------------

I have had the surgery. It worked very well and I only lost a very small amount in rage of motion. Now I pitch a baseball like a girl, but who cares.
Absolutely any further dislocations without repair will do further damage. It's not just one dimensional. Prepare to be down and out for at least 6-8 weeks, but in a year, you won't notice at all. The Doc was correct in saying it can be 100% as strong as it was. PT is critical in getting your range/strenght back though, and it sucked worse than the surgery.

Best wishes, whatever you choose

Posted by: XRpredator---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redrodent

I. . . PT is critical in getting your range/strenght back though, and it sucked worse than the surgery.

I think all physical therapists channel Torquemada and use his "skills" from the Inquisition for "theraputic" means . . .

Posted by: Redrodent---------------------

I was a pretty strong weight lifter at the time, benching 325+ before the moon shot.

You should have seen me 4 weeks post op. Shaking and sweating, working that pink 1.5lb dumbell

Posted by: eds_tls---------------------

Bump for an old thread

I dislocated it again last week while screwing around in the house. Popped it back in myself this time.

Since that time last week. It's popped out twice more. Once in the shower when I was washing my hair and again this morning when I was sitting on the floor and I used that arm to stand up. Both times I had to put it back in myself. God it hurts doing that

Theres no way I can ride a dirtbike at all if it pops out this easy. Making an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon on Monday.

I'm signed up for American Supercamp in May. I think I'm gonna have to cancel that too

this blows

Posted by: gregorious77---------------------

Wow I must have been pretty lucky, I popped my shoulder out a few years back being towed behing my boad on a surf board.
I was signed off work for 8 weeks, 4 weeks in a sling and 4 weeks phisio.
The doc said if I look after it it should be ok but if it pops again I will need surgery.
They sew the pectorial muscle to the bicept I think and you loose around 5% movement.
I have not had and major probs since unless I really put it through some work then it might ache a bit.
Hope it never comes out again as it was the worst pain ever and good old british national health service ment I was sat in hospital for 2 hours before they put it back in for me.

Posted by: wecsubloc---------------------

Hey all.I am new here to dirtrider.net.As I sit here and type I am resting my shoulder.I recently strained might scapula for the 3rd time now.I was doing a lil research on web and found evs makes 2 different neoprene shoulder braces to help your shoulder stay in place.Seems like once you injure a shoulder it haunts ya for a good while.Thanks Wec

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Repeated dislocation

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