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2002, just getting up off the living room floor, it popped out then sorted itself out while I was working out how I was going to get to the hospital. It's never been quite right.
Started going to the gym recently and realised it's really not right.
So, GP? Private physio? Chiropractor? Something else, or just live with it?
A sports physio will give you an answer quickly - should inform any GP discussion. NHS physio takes months. I'm currently going private and NHS - had private treatment for 4 months before the NHS one came through. The private physio has pinpointed loads more than the NHS one. Far more hands on.
I've dislocated my right shoulder several times over the years - kayaking was the worst thing for it so I don't do that anymore. Last time was this March and happened when I was just riding along*
Physio exercises have made it more stable but I've got to keep on top of them. You should be able to self-refer to your local NHS physio team but it won't be quick. A couple of private sessions might help you find out what you need to do to strengthen it in the right places.
I was also told I'll have to pop it out a few more times before they'd consider surgery.
*I really was; gentle downhill through a little compression and out it popped 🙁
Thanks. Just looking at that makes me wince, knowing my shoulder would undoubtedly collapse, proving something is clearly amiss.
Follow up question - can anyone recommend a physio in Edinburgh?
Mine went out a few times, had it fixed with surgery about 22 years ago, much more stable but slightly reduced range of movement. Generally rotator cuff exercises with theraband type elastic bands are good for strengthening the joint, probably a few on YouTube.
I had a bad injury to mine just before Covid, a backwards dislocation, broken rotator cuff, broken humerus. I had reconstructive surgery and it has some metalwork in it. It was a very long road with lots of theraband work, weekly sports massage for 4 years, and lots of front crawl swimming.
I still get a sports massage every month, and swimming has been by far the best therapy. I currently do between 5 and 7.5k in the pool per week, over 2 or 3 sessions, all front crawl.
I still can’t lift a full 2l water bottle above shoulder height that side, with arm extended, never will..
When you say 'never quite right', has it actually popped out a lot of times or just feels bad in vulnerable positions? Past a certain number of dislocations causing or caused by enough damage you have to have surgery, there are degrees of severity and I've had two types myself (not sure if there's more available!). Bankart on one shoulder, and Latarjet on the other for the connoisseurs among us.
Before that point you can definitely get somewhere with physio and a targeted exercise regime that continues indefinitely after you stop the physio. If you have the surgery you'll be doing the same kind of work afterwards anyway. I am careful when I've got my arms above shoulder height nowadays, a learned instinct from the bad times, but my shoulders are currently stronger than they ever were after I got a regular PT appointment with a trainer who makes sure my shoulders are moving in the right way and has good support.
No, it's never popped since that first time. I do bouldering regularly and that's fine but lifting weights above head height at the gym feels decidedly iffy.
Physio then. Thanks