Injury - Dislocated Shoulder

YaktyYak

YaktyYak

Pool Player
Silver Member
I am 24 yrs old and shoot pool right handed.

I have had right shoulder problems since a fall off a 12ft ladder and landing on my right shoulder. When that happened I don't think it actually dislocated, but just jammed it. Did not see a doctor for that. Since that point 3 years ago, I have had many instances (about 25 to 30 times) where my shoulder will dislocate from either an odd arm movement to just sleeping wrong in bed. Once it dislocates, I have shoulder pain (not mention the terrible pain when its actually dislocated) for about 3-5 weeks and seems prone to dislocate easly within in that period. It usually forces atleast a week off from pool. After about 3-5 weeks I have no shoulder pain at all in that shoulder. My shoulder just dislocated again last night and now I am up in bed with shoulder pain. I was able to have get back in to socket by myself only after a minute or two after it had happened. It had been the longest streak since my should last dislocated since the beginning of this problem, which is about 5 months. I have only had to go to ER twice to have doctors set it back into place.

I have had an MRI on it and went to see a doctor about it. Surgery seems to be the only inherent solution as my problem seems to progress. The doctor has said will have to be "pinned" and will need arthoscopy. But then I was transferred to another orthopedic specialist and I have yet to set up an appointment with him.

So my question is has anyone of you have had this problem and have had surgery to correct it, and what were the results? Did after being healed, did it effect your pool game?

Reluctant to get surgery (I think thats a guy thing) because in between dislocations, my right should for the most part feels great (other than the grinding in the joint).

On a side note, from a long session in pool my left shoulder will start to kill me and my game inherently suffers and may have to take 3 to 5 days off from pool in the most extreme cases. Pool is the only thing that seems to aggravate it on a consistant bases. That shoulder I have never injured. Does anyone else have this problem? I am guessing its from the movement of stretching my arm out across the table and forming a bridge with my hand and being held in that position.

-Kyle
 
There might be some type of brace you can wear that can take some of the stress off your shoulder muscles when shooting.
 
hey bud I got kinda the thing going on you got. I know it sucks a lot as I myself have been holding off on the big S word for almost a year now and it jsut keeps getting worse. I have found a neoprene brace that helps a lot. I will try to see if I can find them online and pm you info. But I really think you are lucky that they don't have to cut you open real far. I have to get an artifcial rotator cuff put in and get some tendons fused back together. So just be thankful and get the surgury if you need it but always get more than one opinion about it. You may suffer pool wise for a short time but it's better than having you health suffer for a long.

Remember we are here for a good time not a long time!!!!!!!
 
YaktyYak said:
I am 24 yrs old and shoot pool right handed.

I have had right shoulder problems since a fall off a 12ft ladder and landing on my right shoulder. When that happened I don't think it actually dislocated, but just jammed it. Did not see a doctor for that. Since that point 3 years ago, I have had many instances (about 25 to 30 times) where my shoulder will dislocate from either an odd arm movement to just sleeping wrong in bed. Once it dislocates, I have shoulder pain (not mention the terrible pain when its actually dislocated) for about 3-5 weeks and seems prone to dislocate easly within in that period. It usually forces atleast a week off from pool. After about 3-5 weeks I have no shoulder pain at all in that shoulder. My shoulder just dislocated again last night and now I am up in bed with shoulder pain. I was able to have get back in to socket by myself only after a minute or two after it had happened. It had been the longest streak since my should last dislocated since the beginning of this problem, which is about 5 months. I have only had to go to ER twice to have doctors set it back into place.

I have had an MRI on it and went to see a doctor about it. Surgery seems to be the only inherent solution as my problem seems to progress. The doctor has said will have to be "pinned" and will need arthoscopy. But then I was transferred to another orthopedic specialist and I have yet to set up an appointment with him.

So my question is has anyone of you have had this problem and have had surgery to correct it, and what were the results? Did after being healed, did it effect your pool game?

Reluctant to get surgery (I think thats a guy thing) because in between dislocations, my right should for the most part feels great (other than the grinding in the joint).

On a side note, from a long session in pool my left shoulder will start to kill me and my game inherently suffers and may have to take 3 to 5 days off from pool in the most extreme cases. Pool is the only thing that seems to aggravate it on a consistant bases. That shoulder I have never injured. Does anyone else have this problem? I am guessing its from the movement of stretching my arm out across the table and forming a bridge with my hand and being held in that position.

-Kyle
Click to expand...

Kyle,

My good friend Ming Ng had the same problem for years, as a result of an injury suffered when she was a teenager. From time to time her right shoulder would dislocate and she couldn't play for weeks. Not to mention the pain she suffered in near silence. She went to see several doctors about it and the conclusion was that only surgery would cure her shoulder problems. It didn't really affect her life other than playing pool so she put it off for years.

When she started back playing pool a few years ago, she now had insurance thanks to her job. She got the surgery done a couple of years ago and her shoulder is fine now, actually better than ever according to her. She can now break full force, something she was never able to do before. No more problems with her right shoulder, which may be stronger than her left shoulder now. She can now keep her mind on playing and not worry about aggravating her shoulder.

It did take quite a while to heal completely from the surgery as I recall, maybe a few months. Hope this info helps.
 
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YaktyYak said:
I am 24 yrs old and shoot pool right handed.

I have had right shoulder problems since a fall off a 12ft ladder and landing on my right shoulder. When that happened I don't think it actually dislocated, but just jammed it. Did not see a doctor for that. Since that point 3 years ago, I have had many instances (about 25 to 30 times) where my shoulder will dislocate from either an odd arm movement to just sleeping wrong in bed. Once it dislocates, I have shoulder pain (not mention the terrible pain when its actually dislocated) for about 3-5 weeks and seems prone to dislocate easly within in that period. It usually forces atleast a week off from pool. After about 3-5 weeks I have no shoulder pain at all in that shoulder. My shoulder just dislocated again last night and now I am up in bed with shoulder pain. I was able to have get back in to socket by myself only after a minute or two after it had happened. It had been the longest streak since my should last dislocated since the beginning of this problem, which is about 5 months. I have only had to go to ER twice to have doctors set it back into place.

I have had an MRI on it and went to see a doctor about it. Surgery seems to be the only inherent solution as my problem seems to progress. The doctor has said will have to be "pinned" and will need arthoscopy. But then I was transferred to another orthopedic specialist and I have yet to set up an appointment with him.

So my question is has anyone of you have had this problem and have had surgery to correct it, and what were the results? Did after being healed, did it effect your pool game?

Reluctant to get surgery (I think thats a guy thing) because in between dislocations, my right should for the most part feels great (other than the grinding in the joint).

On a side note, from a long session in pool my left shoulder will start to kill me and my game inherently suffers and may have to take 3 to 5 days off from pool in the most extreme cases. Pool is the only thing that seems to aggravate it on a consistant bases. That shoulder I have never injured. Does anyone else have this problem? I am guessing its from the movement of stretching my arm out across the table and forming a bridge with my hand and being held in that position.

-Kyle
Click to expand...

It sounds like you need a partial A C repair, and it will get worse. The spot where your collar bone is interfering with the ball and socket will have to be fixed as it will develop Arthritus around the injury. This will get quite a bit more painfull.

Good news is you can be back playing pool in a few weeks after the surgery.:thumbup::thumbup:
 
I had the exact same problem with my shoulder. I had it repaired back in 1989. Mine would dislocate with any movement.

They could not fix mine with an arthroscope, it had to be opened up from the top to the armpit, the ligaments tightend and a pin put in front.

The hardest part of this was the PT that must be done to regain strength, and range of motion.

It has never affected my pool game.

Good luck.

BTW Get the surgery that is the ONLY way to solve the problem with your shoulder. It will never get better on it's own.


YaktyYak said:
I am 24 yrs old and shoot pool right handed.

I have had right shoulder problems since a fall off a 12ft ladder and landing on my right shoulder. When that happened I don't think it actually dislocated, but just jammed it. Did not see a doctor for that. Since that point 3 years ago, I have had many instances (about 25 to 30 times) where my shoulder will dislocate from either an odd arm movement to just sleeping wrong in bed. Once it dislocates, I have shoulder pain (not mention the terrible pain when its actually dislocated) for about 3-5 weeks and seems prone to dislocate easly within in that period. It usually forces atleast a week off from pool. After about 3-5 weeks I have no shoulder pain at all in that shoulder. My shoulder just dislocated again last night and now I am up in bed with shoulder pain. I was able to have get back in to socket by myself only after a minute or two after it had happened. It had been the longest streak since my should last dislocated since the beginning of this problem, which is about 5 months. I have only had to go to ER twice to have doctors set it back into place.

I have had an MRI on it and went to see a doctor about it. Surgery seems to be the only inherent solution as my problem seems to progress. The doctor has said will have to be "pinned" and will need arthoscopy. But then I was transferred to another orthopedic specialist and I have yet to set up an appointment with him.

So my question is has anyone of you have had this problem and have had surgery to correct it, and what were the results? Did after being healed, did it effect your pool game?

Reluctant to get surgery (I think thats a guy thing) because in between dislocations, my right should for the most part feels great (other than the grinding in the joint).

On a side note, from a long session in pool my left shoulder will start to kill me and my game inherently suffers and may have to take 3 to 5 days off from pool in the most extreme cases. Pool is the only thing that seems to aggravate it on a consistant bases. That shoulder I have never injured. Does anyone else have this problem? I am guessing its from the movement of stretching my arm out across the table and forming a bridge with my hand and being held in that position.

-Kyle
Click to expand...
 
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I've had the same surgery and getting ready to have the other shoulder worked on thanks to judo. Keep up with the rehab, don't over do it and you should be fine. Hurts like a b*tch at first but well worth it. I made the mistake of waiting too long. All in all it has not affected my game.
 
Im going through PT right now for a rotator cuff surgery and it can be pretty brutal. The exercising is no sweat, but the part where they increase your range of motion can be pretty painful. Its all good though, everyday that goes by there is less and less pain. Plus my shoulder is pretty solid again without all the loose movement of the bones rubbing against each other. That rubbing part is what you want to cure. You are creating arthritis in your joint that will come with a heavy price later on down the road when surgery can no longer repair the damage and joint replacement is the only option. Do it asap, quit stalling is my advice.
 
had my shoulder repaired

I had my left shoulder rebuilt after pretty much shattering the joint collar. It popped out of place very easily but I could put it back in almost as easily and always did it myself. I put up with it a year or two and then went to a good doctor.

Surgery wasn't an option and I was told that the shoulder would develop arthritis even after the surgery, expect the arthritis in five to ten years.

If search is working you can find the story of how I busted a ring game seven weeks after surgery. I was chomping at the bit the last few weeks my arm was in a sling and instead of sneaking in and taking off a lot more I went in and busted things wide open the first night! It was worth it though, felt great to play pool again. Probably a year or more to get 85-90% strength back in that shoulder. It hurts once or twice a year, other than that I forget that it was ever injured. Still little or no arthritis in the shoulder and the injury was in the early seventies. This shoulder was on my bridge side so I can't say how it would have been swinging a stick.

Some things can heal themselves. Often shoulders are one of the things that can't. If x-rays and tests show it has to be fixed I agree with those saying the sooner the better. The surgery isn't as big a deal as the injury is.

Hu
 
Thanks for the replies of encouragement. Just been putting off surgery due to work, school, pool, and other things I have been wanting to get accomplished.

As for arthritis, already know what that is about. Six years ago I was in a motorcycle accident where I was plowed through from behind from a drunk driver while he was drag racing home from the bar in a ex-cop car Crown Victoria. I was lucky enough though only to end up with road rash (half of my back, arms and hands, a smashed right knee where it required a 8.5 hour reconstructive surgery on it. Was surprised that after that and a follow up surgery and almost a year of physical therapy that I do not walk with a limp most of the time. Although I do feel pain in the knee almost everyday (primarly from working construction) due to lack of cartlidge primarly between the joint and the knee cap, there is nothing doctors can really do for that, that wasn't considered "expierimental" and since I was 18 when that happened I was way too early to be a canidate for a knee/joint replacement.

But again, thanks for the helpful advice and stories.

-Kyle
 
You're still pretty young and you don't look like a fatty based on your pic :D so I would'nt be too worried about recuperating from surgery. You never mentioned any therapeutic intervention just that you've had the shoulder popped back in before. Regardless, i think a visit to a Physical Therapist is in order. Pre-operative physical therapy to get you in a better condition for shorter recovery time if not eliminate the necessity for surgery altogether.
 
Just hope it's your rotator cuff. My father had that done and was better in about a month. I had the same exact problem would throw it out throwing a football, throwing a punch, slid on the ice and caught the railing that popped it out as well, even when I slept it would sometimes go out. The last straw was when I was on a jet ski and hit the wake to jump, landed and did not let go of the handles. Pain stayed for a good 4 or 5 months.
Had to have my interior capsule worked on and was out of work, pool, and my mind for about 5 months. The most painfull thing I have gone through. I was around your age 5 years ago and the doc said my shoulder looked like a 90 year old man's. I would highly recomend getting the best doctor in the area and make sure he not frugal on the pain pills.
Even though it sucked I would and probably will have to on my left shoulder without hesitation. My shoulder is now better than ever other than some aches if way overworked. Get it done now at 24 don't wait till 34 if you can. Good luck and heal fast.
 
lintonindy said:
I had the same exact problem would throw it out throwing a football, throwing a punch, slid on the ice and caught the railing that popped it out as well, even when I slept it would sometimes go out.
Click to expand...


Thats 100% me right there. Was leaning on the bar once at the bar and it popped out, fell to the ground. Everyone thought I was drunk or something. Just stupid things like that make it dislocate. Pian in the ass really.

Cringed thinking of the situation you had with the jet ski :(.

I always liked how Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon movies would always run and jam it into the wall to set his shoulder back into place. That aint happening. lol

-Kyle
 
You have to make your own decisions, but, what I'll say is this...
If it's affecting your quality of life at 24 yrs old, it'll likely have real consequences at 50 - and that's not as far away as it seems. Let alone the incremental damage potential with each event. Take care of yourself, because yourself needs to take care of you for a long while.
 
Chronic dislocation of your type pretty much always requires surgery to repair. You do not want to mess around with it either. When you have an anterior dislocation, you risk damaging your musculocutaneous and axillary nerves which control your biceps and deltoid muscles. I work as an orthopedic physical therapist, and see a lot of these types of injuries. The rehab isn't the most fun, but in the end, your shoulder should be in good shape. Waiting only furthers the damage and allows progression of arthritic symptoms. I would definately do your research on the Dr. you choose. This is not one of the more basic surgeries. You want a shoulder specialist who has experience with this surgery.

Being that it is your right shoulder, and you shoot right handed, their should not be a lot of affect on your pool game. The back arm in the pool stroke does not take near as much stress as the bridge arm. Concerning your left arm pain, I have answered this in some detail in a few different threads. Search "shouder pain", and I am sure you will find them
 
right shoulder

Hello,
Sorry it took so long to reply, but i have been working since I got back from san diego.
When i got in the accident in 2004, my shoulder began to slip. It sounds like yours.
I have had surgery but my shoulder still slip today ( not as often )but still do once in awhile.I did not work for 4 years cause I was scare to hurt myself.But i had to work to earn a living so I got a job as a stagehand. what I do know now is my job really helps alot to strething my shoulder.
what i think you should do is work out really hard and built muscle around the shoulder area so it doesn't slip.(hope this help)

Ming
 
empressming said:
Hello,
Sorry it took so long to reply, but i have been working since I got back from san diego.
When i got in the accident in 2004, my shoulder began to slip. It sounds like yours.
I have had surgery but my shoulder still slip today ( not as often )but still do once in awhile.I did not work for 4 years cause I was scare to hurt myself.But i had to work to earn a living so I got a job as a stagehand. what I do know now is my job really helps alot to strething my shoulder.
what i think you should do is work out really hard and built muscle around the shoulder area so it doesn't slip.(hope this help)

Ming
Click to expand...

Normally 6-8 wks of physical therapy to agrressively train the rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscles is the first line of defense. When you have a history with 25-30 dislocations though, it is unlikely to solve the problem. It would certainly be worth a try though. If it does not work, you will have strengthend the shoulder to recover more quickly from surgery.
 
rotator cuff

Did something to the left shoulder last nite.Sounds like the rotator cuff,seeing a doctor tommorow am.Guess I won't be playing pool for a while.God has a funny since of humor.
 
My 16 year old daughter is 3 weeks out from ligament tightening surgery. She pitches softball and has genetically loose ligaments ("multi directional instability"). You can try lots of PT to strengthen the muscles, but the shoulder "socket" is so shallow that you usually can't get enough muscle to hold the arm in place unless your ligaments are in good shape. If your ligaments are loose, and it sounds like they are, surgery is needed. It's pretty routine surgery these days (easy for me to say). PT will not be so bad if it is done arthroscopically. You do not want to wait. If you dislocate that thing badly you can do nerve damage that they will not be able to fix.
 
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