Shoulder dislocations

[alexafcw]

Hi there,

2 years ago at the age of 22 I had the unfortunate experience of dislocating my right shoulder following a heavy session of taekwondo (martial arts) where I was pulling my body up after this heavy session on one of those pull up bars. After eventually seeing a physio therapist after 6 weeks (still waiting on the nhs, I then decided to go private) I built up my shoulder 3 months later to be given the all clear to go back into contact sports. Then whilst playing football (3rd football match since rehab) it dislocated again after a challenge led me to fall on it. I then built up the shoulder once again, and whilst simply stretching on holiday (early in the morning) it partially came out of place yet again. To cut a long story short I then saw a specialist who confirmed after the 3rd dislocation it was recommended I needed surgery. But I did not help my course, I probably took my shoulder out of the sling too quickly, didn’t see a phsyio soon enough and it was a long time at hospital before it was put back into place originally which I was told later might have meant I wouldn’t have needed such surgery. Anyway I had the key hole surgery did all the rehab and 6-12 months later I started doing all the sport I loved and in particular football again.

Anyway a year after recovering from this operation (18 months since my operation), I was playing football for a weekly 5 a side team (which I had been doing for about 4 months), I turned and lost my man, who stuck out his foot to stop me (foul me) as I fell awkwardly guess what my left shoulder dislocated this time. Luckily the shoulder wasn’t out of place too long cause the paramedic put it back into place (unlike my other shoulder, the last time). As well my knowledge of it happening on my other shoulder allowed me to learn from my mistakes previously when I simply did not know what cause of treatment and rehab was needed. I went back to the phsyio therapist and he got me on a rehab programme once again from 2 weeks on. It has since been 2 months since I dislocated my left shoulder and I’m hoping because I have been treated and guided better this time around I won’t need an operation (unlike my right shoulder). However, now I am doing some of the more advanced physio my shoulder keeps aching, in particular the bicep muscles and tendons (the long tendon of the biceps), in fact it was throbbing so badly I had to take anti inflammatory and rest for 5 days which has halted my rehab programme. How can I build it up and make it as strong again, if constant throbbing is meaning I’m having to rest it? I have resumed the rehabilitation programme, doing the lighter exercises but I’m still getting the same problem with the soreness/throbbing. This never happened on my right shoulder, and I would certainly have said at this stage my right was a lot weaker than my left as I had only just began a rehab regime. I am seriously concerned, I have not redislocated my left shoulder so far but every day I am reminded of this pain and uncomfortable feeling that that this pain causes as a consequence of dislocating it.

It makes me feel so sad, I thought dislocating my right shoulder was bad enough (I put it down to a freakish accident), but to then do my left shoulder as well quite soon after in a separate incident (so its been both shoulders) I am just totally gutted. Does anyone have any advise? In particular about the pains in my shoulder/muscle?

I look forward to your comments,

Many Thanks

[rustyapplecore]

After dislocating mine and ripping cartilage, as far as I'm concerned I want an X Ray and and MRI after my arm pops out again, if it ever does.

I popped my shoulder out, it went back in on its own and all I got was an xray. For a year I probably had torn cartilage, it popped again and the MRI showed it to be torn.

I got surgery on it, the labrum was torn, im in my 20s. After this experience I expect to do phys therapy for the rest of my life because I never want this happening again. Once it heals it still will never be the same and I will always have to act in a way that minimizes it popping out..but there's only so much you can do.

Good luck with your arms, you should really get them looked at with an MRI if you can.

[Heidi]

Hi

Given you have had shoulder dislocations to both sides independantly, I would guess that your shoulders are more prone to this. This may be becuase of the shape of the glenoid (the socket part of the shoulder joint), which in some people can be more shallow and so give less stability to the joint.

The pain you are experiencing in your biceps area is probably due to overuse and may be a case of tendinopathy:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/shoulder/bicpestendinflam.htm

You need to find out the cause of the overuse - either your rehab progeramme is too much, or there is a biomechanical or technique issue which is causing you to place too much strain oin the tendon. See your physio about this.