Severly dislocated shoulder, I need a recovery expert.

cantrell24x

Member
Oct 24, 2001
96
0
On my first lap of practice this weekend I highsided on the top of a step up sending me and my shoulder speeding like a bullet about 15 feet over and ten feet down to the ground. I immediately felt that I had dislocated my shoulder. Everyone at the track however thought I had broken my arm just below the shoulder. Any how It took five doctors at two different hospitals an entire day to reduce (relocate) my arm. The first doctor was at a small town hospital and I should have known to get out of there when he called for instructions on how to perform the procedure. Any how I was transfered and eventually a doctor got me fixed up. Now I am left with a very very swollen shoulder, the top of my humorus ball (arm bone) fractured right at the rotator cuff ( where it connects to the socket) and a damaged nerve in my shoulder. The nerve should heal as it is firing the muscle so I guess time will tell how it is going to be. The fracture is holding in place and I dont think will require surgery. I will have to rex-ray it in a week or two. The arm seems to be in place where it should be. Now I am looking at a good bit of therapy and lots of time off. This I can not live with. I am giving up on wake boarding this summer but I have to ride. what do the factory guys do to get back on the track so soon after an injury? I can handle anything short of surgery ( I just dont want to pay for it) If anyone knows how I can get back on the track asap please let me know or point me in the right direction. Thanks very much

Chris
 

needsprayer

Member
Oct 24, 2001
109
0
cantrell24x,

I know you don't want to hear this, but the shoulder is the obvious injury. You should have spinal x-rays and find out if you have other problems as well. Also, realize that riding is a momentary pleasure. Let you body heal completely before you go out and crash again.

I pray that you have an excellent recovery, be a good patient and appreciate your loved ones. :cool:
 

DougMXer

Member
Oct 17, 2001
92
0
You'd be better off giving your shoulder sufficient time to heal as well as doing strengthening exercises rather than rushing back, buggering your shoulder up more and then spending MORE time off the bike. I ****ed my right knee last October and haven't ridden this year. I know that this short term sacrifice will benefit me in the long term. You have all the time in the world to go riding but only 1 fragile body

Good luch
 

cantrell24x

Member
Oct 24, 2001
96
0
I completely agree with you guys about letting my body heal 100% before trying to tear it up again. I would just like to find the best and fastest (if there is a combination of the two) way to get my shoulder back in Shape. Prayer why do you think I should check for spinal injuries? As a regular precaution or did I say something that made you think that?

Thanks guys
 

needsprayer

Member
Oct 24, 2001
109
0
cantrell24x,

Please read my thread "Never wanted to post here". It's right under your thread. I saw my x-rays yesterday. The amount of force that you experienced would have been transferred by your ribcage to your spine. I'm not saying you have fractured vertebra, but I am suggesting that compressed discs, misalignmnet of the spine and/or ribhead to vertebra strain are real possibilites. As a precaution you should get a complete picture of your injuries.
 

Gary B.

~SPONSOR~
Apr 17, 2000
684
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I agree with needsprayer. When I broke my collarbone last August, the Drs. at the ER went over my ENTIRE body as soon as they had made me comfortable. No x-rays, just a lot of questions and poking, prodding, and feeling. I would be surprised if they didn't routinly do this.
 

skmcbride

Member
May 16, 2001
58
0
Chris,

Disclaimer: There are many variables at work here, but here is some general info from your description:

Your recovery and healing time are going to depend on several factors, some known and some unknown. I think it is wise to prolong surgical intervention unless circumstances deemed it an absolute necessity. The fact that your fracture is not significantly displaced is a good thing and most heal well without surgical intervention. My concern would be how thorough of an examination did you receive. If you went to an E.R. and got your dislocation reduced and a few general view X-rays, you probably need more info. Did they call in an orthopedic doc? Did they rule out damage to the "socket" of the scapula where the humeral head articulates? Rotator cuff damage?Secondary damage to surrounding ligament and muscle will also factor greatly in your recovery. Often it is best to wait before having an MRI, but it may be in your future. The fact that you sustained some nerve damage, I assume the axillary nerve, you may also have increased weakness in the shoulder musculature.

Given what is written on this thread, my advice would be a brief immobilization period (1-2 week at most) followed by follow-up to assure a non displaced fracture, no other associated injuries, and immediate rehabilitation consisting on active and assistive therapeutic exercises for the shoulder especially the posterior deltoid and the external rotators. Early mobilization is the key. You may find some "old school docs" that want to keep you immobilized for several weeks with no activity. This is warranted in some cases (very few), but usually ultra conservative. This doesn't mean you will not have to wear some sort of support when you are not doing therapy and sometimes fractures require specific positioning of the arm to prevent displacement. The rehabilitation is best accomplished with a physical therapist with a strong orthopedic background. Find out where your local baseball team gets it rehab and you will likely find lots of rehab specialist for shoulders. I personally would consider using electrical muscle stimulation as part of your rehab as it can assist in speeding your recovery. The exercise you will be given at first will seem very rudimentary and in a small range of motion, but they are meant to be that way to allow sufficient healing and stability before "testing" the mechanics of the joint. I have seen many cases of shoulder impingement in persons trying to rush their recovery.

If you give some more details I can be more specific. You have several wild cards in the mix, such as nerve damage, that may dictate recovery time. The end result and ultimate recovery will largely depend on the stability of the shoulder. If you sustained a rotator cuff tear and have sufficiently damaged ligaments you may have a chronic instability problem that may require surgical intervention. I am sure there are lots of guys out there with chronic instability that can share the horrors of it. Only time will answer this question. I assume you are a young guy with no history of shoulder problems; this will be in your favor.

Take your time and good luck, Keith
 
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cantrell24x

Member
Oct 24, 2001
96
0
Thank you all very much for the advice. Keith I think you hit the nail on the head with your description. I went back and saw a othopedic doctor and she said that the nreve was damaged but still operating. No one mentioned any tissue damage llike the muscles or rotator cuff you mentioned. I was given a immobilizer by the first doctors but I quit wearing it after two days. I am taking it very easy on the shoulder and planned on giving it a good week before I started working on range of motion exercises. then maybe another week and using one of those rubberband type things you see at fitness stores. I am not sure what info to provide you with but if you can think of any specific questions that might help I will get you answers for sure. Thaks very much

Chris
 
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