Dislocated Shoulder

[Tankman]

Had some good news today ... went to see Liné Griffths, Biokineticist at our shop (CWC) and its looking a lot more positive.

Liné did a much more thorough investigation than the 1min the shoulder specialist took to lift my arm up and down to tell me I need an operation.

 

None of the muscles or ligaments are completely torn off although some might have small torns in them. We will have another assessment on Monday since there is still a bit of swelling.

 

Movement thus far seems good and Liné said I could be back on the bike in a week!

 

Thanks Liné, you brightened up my day quite a bit!

[Wannabe]

Brilliant news Tankman.

[DROPZONE]

I popped my shoulder a year back. Went to see a specialist who suggested the obvious. Surgery. I opted out and did loads of weight training rehab etc. shoulder is perfect now and back to full strength in gym. Not saying too much for bike strength. Good luck

['Dale]

Sweet, Tank'

 

That is a good prognosis - much betta than expected.

[CAAD4]

Had some good news today ... went to see Liné Griffths, Biokineticist at our shop (CWC) and its looking a lot more positive.

Liné did a much more thorough investigation than the 1min the shoulder specialist took to lift my arm up and down to tell me I need an operation.

 

None of the muscles or ligaments are completely torn off although some might have small torns in them. We will have another assessment on Monday since there is still a bit of swelling.

 

Movement thus far seems good and Liné said I could be back on the bike in a week!

 

Thanks Liné, you brightened up my day quite a bit!

 

Good news Tank. Could she diagnose the lack of major tears by movement, without you taking x rays?

[ichnusa]

People are funny. They will keep looking for someone whose opinion agrees with their own, and then take that advice. And often have a very strong opinion of something they know nothing about or base their opinion on having had a singular personal bad experience.

 

Here is a second orthopaedic opinion... have an MRI and let a shoulder surgeon see it - Joe de Beer is good. To dislocate your shoulder you have to tear ligaments and maybe some tendons. In younger people/patients, its often the capsule of the joint, the labrum (cartilaginous rim like meniscus in the knee) or the attachment of the capsule to the glenoid. Older patients typically tear their rotator cuffs when dislocating shoulders.

 

If something is completely torn, it needs to be reattached surgically. It will not heal properly by itself. It might be ok for a while with strengthening but the instability will remain and it will re-dislocate. It will have accelerated degeneration (arthritis) and it will be too late to have surgery then.

 

Physios are great, but are not qualified/trained to decide whether you need surgery or not.

 

PS: 'the head' refers to the head of the humerus - the ball part of your shoulder joint.

PPS: It is very good practice to XRay a dislocated shoulder before reducing it. If they XRay afterwards and see a fracture, they would not be able to tell whether it was from the reduction or the fall...

PPPS: You can only see bones and joint congruity on XR, not soft tissues like ligaments and capsules. This is why you need a MRI or at least an ultrasound.

Edited October 27, 2012 by ichnusa

[Tankman]

PS: 'the head' refers to the head of the humerus - the ball part of your shoulder joint.

PPS: It is very good practice to XRay a dislocated shoulder before reducing it. If they XRay afterwards and see a fracture, they would not be able to tell whether it was from the reduction or the fall...

PPPS: You can only see bones and joint congruity on XR, not soft tissues like ligaments and capsules. This is why you need a MRI or at least an ultrasound.

 

Interesting points, thanks ichnusa.

 

This is the one thing about the shoulder specialists diagnosis that still bugs me.

He only saw the X-rays (after reduced) and never did an MRI or ultrasound but suggested surgery almost immediately ... doesnt add up??

Edited October 27, 2012 by Tankman

[ichnusa]

I'm not condoning nor condemning his actions. I did not see your XR or your shoulder and I'm not a shoulder surgeon. Maybe its still subluxed (not fully congruent) on XR and this IMO would need surgery. He could still suggest a MRI to pin-point the exact location of the tear, or he can do it intra-operatively with a arthroscope and sort it out at the same time...

 

Maybe you are on a hospital plan medical aid which would mean they only pay for the MRI when you are admitted. Lots to consider...

[ThePubSA]

People are funny. They will keep looking for someone whose opinion agrees with their own, and then take that advice. And often have a very strong opinion of something they know nothing about or base their opinion on having had a singular personal bad experience.

 

Here is a second orthopaedic opinion... have an MRI and let a shoulder surgeon see it - Joe de Beer is good. To dislocate your shoulder you have to tear ligaments and maybe some tendons. In younger people/patients, its often the capsule of the joint, the labrum (cartilaginous rim like meniscus in the knee) or the attachment of the capsule to the glenoid. Older patients typically tear their rotator cuffs when dislocating shoulders.

 

If something is completely torn, it needs to be reattached surgically. It will not heal properly by itself. It might be ok for a while with strengthening but the instability will remain and it will re-dislocate. It will have accelerated degeneration (arthritis) and it will be too late to have surgery then.

 

Physios are great, but are not qualified/trained to decide whether you need surgery or not.

 

PS: 'the head' refers to the head of the humerus - the ball part of your shoulder joint.

PPS: It is very good practice to XRay a dislocated shoulder before reducing it. If they XRay afterwards and see a fracture, they would not be able to tell whether it was from the reduction or the fall...

PPPS: You can only see bones and joint congruity on XR, not soft tissues like ligaments and capsules. This is why you need a MRI or at least an ultrasound.

 

Word !!

Thats what my friends have retorn

I thought it was my rotator cup that was screwed >?