shoulder dislocation

[Coach]

Last weekend I took my family to the Black river to see if, maybe given how warm it's been, the smallies would be active a little earlier than usual. Right off the bat, I'm going down a steep hill of river rocks, the one I'm standing on shoots out and immediately, I fall with my full weight landing on my right shoulder.

 

At first, I thought I had a broken shoulder, possibly some ribs. After walking around a bit and getting my shirts off, it was obviously dislocation. After a lot of denial, and a very painful 2 hour drive out, I was in the ER getting it set back in place.

 

So now I'm in a sling, and I'm hearing everything from 3 to 16 weeks before I can use this arm again.

 

What's the best way to get healed up and working again? I don't want to risk long-term damage, but doing nothing for weeks seems nearly impossible. I spent all day today in bed and I honestly can't do that again, especially for days or weeks.

 

How do you best work out a dislocation and get active again without derailing the healing process. I've got a lot to do that requires the use of that arm, but don't want to risk things like not being able to draw a bow again.

[AllBoutHuntn]

Coach,

I am an athletic trainer at a local high school in the valley. The first thing you need to do is see either your Dr or an ortho Dr to get an MRI. Sometimes with dislocations you can tear your labrum. If there is no structural damage, then it is a matter of doing some strength training (physical therapy) and you should be good to go. If you did tear either your labrum/ rotator cuff then it's a matter of is surgery required or is it again a matter of PT to regain your strength. If you have any other questions let me know.

 

Ray

[lucky2hunt]

No way to rush the healing on that one.... Suggest going to physical therapy and have a trained therapist help you get range of motion and strength back.

[naturebob]

Definately get mri. Next week I am 1 year post surgery from torn biceps tendon, labrum and rotator cuff. Saw Dr. yesterday ,going in for nother mri. I didnt rush back either ,Did lot of therapy, and now that Im back working things are going south again. Good luck to You..........BOB!

[HUNTnTAT2]

Look into a good chiropractor and acupuncture. I was a skeptic of Chinese medicine but it works. Cupping is amazing. Acupuncture takes consistent treatments but works. Also get a TENS unit to relax the surrounding muscles. Ice. Rest. Ibprophen

[naturegirl]

my recommendation is to strictly follow the doctor's advice with physical therapy, etc., Ask your restrictions and follow them. It is ridiculously hard especially as you start feeling better, but let it heal right. I've seen quite a few people who didn't let dislocations heal correctly and they are very limited, especially with overhead use like throwing.

 

I tore my rotator cuff awhile ago and I healed perfectly, but I also did what the doc told me to do

[4Falls]

Coach,

Take everyone's advice and have it looked at by a doctor and take care of it quickly.

 

I dislocated mine back when I was a young man and reset it myself. This led to more dislocations and more self sets until eventually it was coming out of socket for no reason and at very inopportune times. This led to surgical repair and distinct loss in range of motion. Even now some 20 years later it still gives me issues from time to time.

[Flatlander]

I seperated mine in college. I spent 3 months doing PT 3x a week but fortunately at the end of that I could draw a bow. Still today it bugs me a little when I shoot a lot of arrows.

 

Get the MRI to make sure nothing is torn, then hit those exercise bands hard w/ the therapist.

[Ringer]

I fell on a wet boat ramp at lake Pleasant a few years ago and it tore the labrum off of my shoulder. If it is a tear they can heal up, if it is torn off you can't lift the arm at all. Good luck healing.

[ctafoya]

Don't push it. See specialists and take it day by day. Ive broke sprained separated more things then I can count and know I would feel a lot better and be more mobile now if I would have slowed down and let stuff heel. Up to 16 weeks downtime is better then a life of pain and limitations. Hopefully it wasn't your beer drinking side!

[Non-Typical Solutions]

What they said....not this!!!!

 

 

Sorry to hear about your spill that stinks.....good luck on recovery!

[catfish campbell]

That sucks....how was the smallie fishing?

[muleskinner]

13 years ago at age 50 I was playing flag football and got upended and landed on my left shoulder. Dislocated the shoulder and broke my collar bone. Kept playing and after the game went to my doctor to,get him to put my shoulder back in order. Now I have a speed bump on my collar bone and pain in the shoulder. My point is, get it taken care of properly. When you get old you will remember all of those little events.

[Coach]

^{Thanks everyone for the advice. Seems lots of folks have had to deal with this and many have advised against trying to do too much too soon. A whole mess of things I was planning on doing will have to wait - oh well. Coulda been a lot worse I suppose. Best luck to you all in the draw!}

[Coach]

Not trying to derail this, but I have to ask. All the opinions and suggestions have been "get a good doc, get an MRI, get physical therapy". I'm lucky enough to enjoy a decent wage and a decent health care plan. My out of pocket costs for the ER were staggering. My "Cadillac" plan still has me paying 20% plus copays, plus specialist bills. Physical therapy is pretty much out of pocket.

 

Just the meds required to re-seat the shoulder are going to potentially drain all we've saved up for a family vacation. Things like an MRI, or physical therapy aren't covered.

 

I'm looking for some real world experience, how to properly heal and train my shoulder without making my family suffer for it.