Question:
How long to recover from a dislocated shoulder?
Hi,
Five weeks ago today, playing in goal at field hockey, I suffered an anterior full dislocation of my shoulder. At 56 years old, this is the first time I have ever dislocated my shoulder. The shoulder was re-set into position by the local A&E after about a four hour delay.
Since the injury, I have been suffering quite a lot of pain and interrupted sleep and have very little forward and sideways movement (backwards seems fine). If I raise my arm with the other hand, it seems to go through much of its motion without significant pain but I am unable to hold it in position without support as the pain increases dramatically and there just seems to be nothing there to take the weight.
I have had four, weekly, treatments from a sports therapist, all of which feel at the time like they're doing some good, but I am concerned that progress seems so slow.
I am wondering how long it typically takes to make a reasonable recovery from such an injury, whether I should be trying to exercise it to strengthen the muscles, or if there's anything else I can do to speed up my recovery and, hopefully, prevent a future recirrence of the injury.
Regards,
Keeperman.
Asked by Keeperman - 2 answers - 48 weeks 6 days ago
Hi
Without sounding condescending, at your age to recover from a striaght forward anterior dislocation could take up to three months. However from what you are describing (ie inability to hold your arm up without assistance) I would strongly advise you see a specialist sports physio as it could be possible that you have ruptured fully or partially some of your rotator cuff tendons as the shoulder dislocated. Also you should have a scan to see if u have any bony defects from the dislocation such as a Hill Sachs or a Bankhart lesion as these can delay the recovery time.
Hope that helps, good luck with your recovery.
If your wondering my credentials I am a specialist upper limb state registered physio and registered with HPC works in professional elite sports.
Regards
Adam Meakins BSc (hon) MCSP SRP
Submitted 48 weeks 6 days ago by adammeakinsHi,
Not condescending at all - enough people tell me I am old enough to have given up long ago!
I have been seeing a sports therapist since a week after the injury and I'm waiting for the NHS to book me the promised physiotherapy but I have now arranged to have an MRI scan as you advise.
Thanks for your help...
Keeperman
Submitted 48 weeks 5 days ago by Keeperman