Recovery from shoulder dislocation

[Teaandbiscuits16]

Just after some advice / reassurance as feeling very sorry for myself.

9 days ago I totally lost my footing whilst walking downstairs and managed to dislocate my left shoulder in the fall. It was agonising and required a trip to A&E where the staff were fantastic and rushed me through to have it put back in place, whilst I had some great pain relief!

I was sent home with a sling and advised to wear it for 1-2 weeks and I’d have a follow up at the fracture clinic in 2 weeks. The pain is really getting me down; it’s a constant pain with the occasional sharp pain if I move in a certain way. I’m sleeping with the sling on which is uncomfortable so waking up with such stiffness in my arm and my range of motion isn’t improving at all. In 2018 I had surgery on my right shoulder due to 7 subluxations, including my shoulder popping out in my sleep several times so you’d think I’d be handling this better but alas, I’m struggling.

Has anyone else had this and can give me an idea of their recovery? When did rehab start? Will I need to push the NHS for an MRI scan as that’ll be what shows the damage I’ve done (very likely torn my labrum again). Had my surgery done privately but no longer have private healthcare.

Sorry for the ramble and thanks if you made it this far!

Hi , am only seeing this now but am in a very similar situation.
Have had surgery (Bankart repair) in 2011 in left shoulder and now after 25 years right shoulder has started popping out again (subluxations) and am in mild pain but lots of 'slippages' every day.
I am waiting for an appointment with specialist (in ROI not UK) and then an MRI. One surgeon told me to just go to physio and see how i get on but I can feel the shoulder joint slipping all the time and I know physio wont fix it.
I don't think you can move forward without an MRI and proper advice but I would say get this asap.
I am dreading the thought of another surgery but cannot imagine living like this either.
I feel your pain...literally!

@KnittingDiva Oh gosh, sorry to hear that. The instability is awful - the uncertainty of when it might go again is anxiety-inducing. I went down the physio route for a couple of years before my surgery but have had no issues since. It’s the 6 weeks in the sling post-op that’s the most difficult.

I’ve had an MRI on it which didn’t show much of anything at all other than a lot of bruising on the bone as the imaging wasn’t good enough. I’ve gone on to have an ultrasound which doesn’t show any tearing but does show impingement so it’s physio for me which is very challenging and I’m getting frustrated at the lack of progress I’m seeing. The surgeon I spoke with has suggested I get in touch with him in 6 months if I’m still in discomfort as he’d suggest surgery so I may well be heading for a second surgery.

Really hope you get an appointment asap and if it does end up that you need the surgical route think of the long game and know that it’ll put a stop to that instability eventually.

THanks @Teaandbiscuits16 . Finally have an MRI booked for next week and then will get a consultation after that probably end of the month or early september. Its really getting bad now and the associated stiffness in neck and pectoral muscles.
Any joy your end?

Don’t panic. It will improve and quickly. I started physio after only 2 weeks with a dislocation and fracture and had an ultrasound to check the ligaments etc. Take all the pain relief and prop yourself up work all the pillows and take all the codeine if they have you some - not ALL the codeine but keep on top of doses is what I mean. Do the exercises religiously. Buy a step through pull on bra and pay for a wash and blow dry. It will be ok. Promise

@KnittingDiva Great news to have the MRI soon! Hope it goes well.
The stiffness is horrible, just no relief from it is there? I’m experiencing the same. All I want is to do a really good stretch - the kind where you feel knots unravel and it’s satisfying - but I can’t yet. I’m keeping up the physio but the exercises are tough.

@Didnotnailit Thank you! I’m just frustrated that it’s been over 2 months and I don’t feel as though it’s improved enough. Obviously it’s come a LONG way since the first few weeks after I did it but I’m notoriously hard on myself with things like this. I’ve lifted heavy weights for years and I’m sick of just working my legs and doing cardio 3-4 days a week and very much missing pushing myself (as well as easily washing my hair - it’s doable but it’s not comfortable!).
I’m keeping up the physio but what I’d give for a proper massage right now to get all of the stiffness and knots out!

The dislocation was 2 months ago and no pain afterwards at all but joint keeps slipping now and semi-dislocating again making it difficult to do anything and impossible to swim (am a very keen open water swimmer).
I've had shoulder dislocating problems since I was 16 and all the associated rehab/surgeries etc.. Just thought, at this age (57) and 15 years since my last dislocation, I was done with this bloody thing!