What can I do about my shoulder? -Dislocation- Can't have surgery.

by Mandy
(Missouri)

I dislocated back in January playing basketball, three times in one game. It wasn't good. The first time it happened I had no idea what was wrong, then it went back in pretty quick...I jumped up to get a rebound..it happened again, and then I knew something was wrong..I ran down the court, one of my friends threw me the ball before I could get out, and it came out and wouldn't go back in.

I got taken to the hospital and got it in..and then I was in a sling..the doctor had me in it for a week and said I could play. That was a bad idea on his part. It came out again..so I was back in a sling for a month. It came out while I was sleeping because I didn't have a lot of support..then it came out when I fell down the stairs..I haven't been too lucky. Then recently..after not having problems with it..it came out while playing basketball with my friends.

I had it in an immobilizer, and then once I could use it without pain I took it out. I am the Drum Major for my marching band and having to lift my arms for a long period of time doesn't bother me at all. The thing is, I want to play basketball this year; and i've been looking up different options of maybe something to wear on my shoulder while playing since we cannot afford to have surgery at the moment.

I was wondering if there is anything to wear on the shoulder to keep it in it's place, but be able to move the arm as a whole. Maybe taping it? I don't know for sure. But I really want to play this season, I only have 2 years left in high school and not playing would kill me, and I know I need surgery, but right now I can't do that.

So is there any options for things to wear on the shoulder? or should I just lay off of it?..I do have exercises I do regularly to try and keep my shoulder stronger, but I am sure it will continue to come out if I don't have anything protecting it.

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What can I do about my shoulder? -Dislocation- Can't have surgery.

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Oct 27, 2008
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shoulder dislocation
by: Bart - SII

Unfortunately, there isn't any brace that you can wear that will both protect your shoulder and allow for total motion. There are braces on the market that will restrict your shoulder motion in order to help keep it stable, but they wouldn't let you move enough to be able to play basketball.

It sounds like you have a very unstable shoulder - if it is dislocating or subluxing when you are sleeping, that is fairly significant instability.

I would recommend working on improving your strength, working on your stabilization and strengthening your scapular stabilizers and rotator cuff, and getting your shoulder as strong as possible while you wait to have surgery. Basketball right now is just going to cause more problems, as you will likely dislocate again.

The more you stretch out the ligaments, the worse it will be in the future. I know giving up sports isn't something you want to consider, but, if you strengthen and protect now, then you will be in better shape when you can have the surgery - and you still have another year of basketball left.

Bart

Jan 23, 2009
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same thing with me
by: Anonymous

Ya sound like me and it does get worse if yo don't let it rest, but it is boring to let ti rest I would were a sling under your clothing like a spandex one, and when you play ball take it off but after put it back on:) tell me if it work's for you.

Mar 10, 2009
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arm
by: Steph

I've had the same problem for 7 years. Since I was 13. I am having to go in for surgery. There is no other way to go about it. Not even PT. They say 3years of it and only a 30% chance it'll work.

Mar 10, 2009
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To let you all know...
by: Mandy

So I played ball the beginning of the year and it was fine, but it came out again. I actually did get a brace though, and I didn't think there was one, but there are. You can get them at any sporting goods store or whatever. It slides onto my arm and straps around the upper part of my body..and then I have a strap that straps from the top of my back over the shoulder and to my chest...it keeps it secure and saved it from coming out once. But I haven't had any problems since then, it definatly has been a HUGE help. So if anyone is having the same problem, there are braces..they aren't 100% but so far mine has been great. :)

Jul 21, 2009
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Both shoulders disclocating
by: a.c.

I hove very bad shoulder problems and i had surgery on one of them and it still pops out when i play basketball.. Now just the other day i was playing basket ball my other shoulder poped out.. this over weight guy ran into my shoulder and now this ones disclocated.. i dont know what to do?? and suggestions??

Aug 24, 2009
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SURGERY DOESN'T SOLVE ANYTHING
by: Anonymous

I have the same issue and currently I am in a sling. I have had two surgeries and now it mostly dislocates in my sleep but I learned to be careful with it when I am awake. You have to give up basketball for now and do exercises. You can make it worse not letting it rest....and while surgery works for some....it has not helped me. So I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMEND SURGERY TO EVERYONE. Get multiple medical opinions before a surgery.

Nov 18, 2009
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i have the same
by: Anonymous

i have this as well when i was 13 i dislocated it when i was playing soft ball in school and had to go to hospital and each time it went it it slid out. it took the hospital moths to realise that my joints were hyper mobile and thata what was causing it to slide in and out. it was coming ot every single day when i was in school it came out up to 25 times a week. i have been doing physio the past year and i notice a big differnce. i know that it is really hard and you cant keep coping with it coming out all the time. just keep doing your exercises daily and it will inprove i promise you i thought mine would never get stronger but it is.

Jan 02, 2010
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I could use come help too. . .
by: Cara (16)

Well for me my coach has shoulder problems to so he helps me with what to do. My situation is similar to yours.

I first dislocated my shoulder playing basketball last year, it was at the beginning of the season and had to go to the doctor to put it back in. The doctor said that I had to wear it in a sling until I felt confortable but no basketball for four to six weeks. I played the end of the season with no problems at all. After the season was over though I was wated sliding with my friends and on one of the slides the force from the water pushed it out. Again I needed the doctors assistence to get it back in. This season I started off good with no problems untill about the third tounament. It came out for about a minuit and with just advisting my elbow it slid back in, I didn't go to practice for the rest of the week and had my arm in a sling. It was our home tournament and I wanted to play so I did it came out twice in one day. Coach said that is was almost christmas holiday so take off the next week and then we will see when we get back.

I have somewhat been doing exercises I got from phisio. What I would like to no is if their is anything else I can do to make my shoulder stronger so I can play out the rest of this season and next.

Also my coach is taking me too see a "healer" person. I guess he just feels your shoulder or toches it or something and its "heals" it. My coach tried it and never had a full dislocation since. You might want to try something like that.

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Jan 02, 2010
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Submitted by: Cara (16)

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Comment
Well for me my coach has shoulder problems to so he helps me with what to do. My situation is similar to yours. I first dislocated my shoulder playing basketball last year, it was at the beginning of the season and had to go to the doctor to put it back in. The doctor said that I had to wear it in a sling until I felt confortable but no basketball for four to six weeks. I played the end of the season with no problems at all. After the season was over though I was wated sliding with my friends and on one of the slides the force from the water pushed it out. Again I needed the doctors assistence to get it back in. This season I started off good with no problems untill about the third tounament. It came out for about a minuit and with just advisting my elbow it slid back in, I didn't go to practice for the rest of the week and had my arm in a sling. It was our home tournament and I wanted to play so I did it came out twice in one day. Coach said that is was almost christmas holiday so take off the next week and then we will see when we get back. I have somewhat been doing exercises I got from phisio. What I would like to no is if their is anything else I can do to make my shoulder stronger so I can play out the rest of this season and next. Also my coach is taking me too see a "healer" person. I guess he just feels your shoulder or toches it or something and its "heals" it. My coach tried it and never had a full dislocation since. You might want to try something like that.

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Jan 07, 2010
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Dislocated shoulder 6 times in three months. HELP ME PLEASE!!
by: rpark

Hey I also have the same problem. I first dislocated my shoulder while breakdancing and I popped it back in the second it came out. So I had no idea how serious it was until it popped out again.
I had no idea that once it pops out, it makes it easier to pop out again. I didn't realize that until I dislocated it again while sleeping. Funny thing is there were 2 times where I dislocated the shoulder twice in a row in less than a 3 minutes. Idk if my dislocation isnt as severe as other ppl cause out of the six times I never went to the doctor once. Just waited the pain to go away for about a week and in that time it was unstable so it felt weird everytime I moved my right arm. I finally ended up asking a friend(doctor) and he recommended surgery. I am very active(snowboarding,breakdancing)so i was wondering if theres anything i can do except surgery... OH and can I wear a shoulder brace while sleeping? cause fuck. I REALLY dont wanna dislocate it again while sleeping. worst experience ever......

Jan 08, 2010
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To rpark:
by: Mandy

I actually have a brace that I wear when I play basketball to keep my shoulder in. I am not sure where my coach got it, but there are braces out there to wear since you snowboard and everything, it might be helpful. My suggestion for something to wear while you sleep, maybe if you go to a nearby clinic or the hospital see about getting what they call an immobilizer. I know my shoulder has come out many times in my sleep when wearing my sling, so after a few times of going to the emergency room I requested a immobilizer and it keeps it secure to my body and it doesn't come out. Once it starts to not hurt as much and you can use it more, do exercies with it to strengthen it more. Since i've done that it hasn't come out in my sleep. Hope that helps =]

Jan 10, 2010
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To Cara:
by: Mandy

Yeah, your situation sounds a lot like mine. I had it come out many times in a game and had to have doctors assistance to put it back in. I had small exercies that I was told to do after going to a physical therapist, and it did help a little. As of right now the last time my shoulder came out was during the summer, and I haven't done much exercising with it but it's gotten much tighter. I rely soley on my shoulder brace when I play and it keeps it in but as far as anything else such as exercises you can do to make it stay in, i'm not sure what you could do. Sorry for not being much help! But best of luck to you! I know having a shoulder problem is a huge disadvantage but if you take good care of it and be cautious hopefully it gets better =]

Jan 27, 2010
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well
by: Anonymous

Well My shoulder first dislocated while I was at football practice during some routine drills. I didnt really think much of it I quickly popped it back in place...it hurt like hell.....I laid off hitting and lifting weights for about two weeks and played in our last game with my shoulder wrapped. I had no idea but many of my friends on the team had the same issue..a few of us then talked to a trainer about the situation and we started working out with him on a regular basis doing alot of different shoulder workouts and it really made a difference. I guess what im saying is that your over all health has alot to do with alot of the problems that athletes have to deal with. Surgery is an option but I think that if you get the right treatement and do the hard work to heal yourself then you could actually make it stronger than it was before, no matter what its always going to be in your head that mabey it mite come out again try not to let that affect you cuz it will affect you mentally and mabey even emotionally. shoulder straps really do work. But you dont want to rely on those. Hope everybody can fix there problem or at least help fix it a little bit.

Feb 11, 2010
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I have had this problem for years
by: Hank

I have had the same problem since my sophomore year in highschool from playing football. it came out then and it came out while playing basketball. i believe i have the same brace that you do but i still dislocated it with it on, some kid over the backed me and stole the ball and pulled it out. since then i had surgery on my left arm that was a year ago and i have not had a single problem with it. i have taken up weightlifting through the week since this summer which would have been six months after my surgery i started. it has helped tremendously. i can feel the strength in my shoulders keeping everything in place. i would suggest working out for anyone who doesnt want to go the route of surgery. its worth a shot anyways. i was a pretty scrawny kid when mine came out all the time now that i have some bulk i definitely feel more solid with it. hope it helps :)