A shoulder dislocation occurs when forceful trauma knocks the upper arm bone out of the cup-like socket that holds it in place. It is certainly uncomfortable to experience a shoulder dislocation, but oftentimes discomfort is immensely relieved once the dislocation has been corrected. Oftentimes this can be achieved by the patient or by a trained medical professional who knows how to reset a dislocated shoulder.
Most shoulder dislocations can be reset using conservative means, and then the patient will pursue some additional non-operative care techniques like physical therapy to strengthen the injured soft tissues and decrease their chance of another dislocation. But what happens if you dislocate your shoulder again and again? Nobody wants to experience the discomfort associated with a shoulder dislocation on multiple occasions, and this repeated strain on the soft tissues that hold your shoulder in place means that you are only at an increased risk for another dislocation. How can you put an end to your recurrent shoulder dislocations? We explain the standard course of treatment for recurrent shoulder dislocations in today’s blog.
Treating Recurrent Shoulder Dislocations
Even if you suffer a subsequent dislocation after your initial injury, it’s likely that your shoulder specialist will recommend conservative care unless you have severe soft tissue damage that is unlikely to heal with a standard treatment course. However, your doctor will likely have more movement restrictions and have you pursue a more aggressive or long-term physical therapy program. Avoiding certain activities that could predispose you to another dislocation and really working hard to strengthen the shoulder and the supportive soft tissues are two of the best ways to help your shoulder heal and put an end to your recurrent dislocations.
Because you are at a heightened risk for more dislocations if you have already suffered at least two dislocations, any type of conservative treatment that you pursue will be on an extended basis. It is not uncommon for patients to have movement restrictions and physical therapy sessions for six months or longer if they are hoping to finally put an end to their recurrent dislocations.
In the event that you have severe ligament damage or your shoulder still feels unstable after months of physical therapy, your doctor may recommend that you pursue a surgical operation to strengthen the area and significantly reduce your risk of a subsequent dislocation. In most instances, surgery to strengthen the soft tissues that hold the arm bone in its socket can be performed in one of two ways:
- Shoulder Arthroscopy – This is a minimally invasive procedure in which a small incision is made through which specialized tools are inserted. A flexible tube with a microcamera attached to the head is inserted, which relays a live video feed to a monitor inside the operating room. This allows the doctor to perform the necessary corrections without additional trauma on the body, and this also helps to reduce the risk of bleeding or infection. The minimally invasive correction is much more common than the open operation.
- Open Surgery – Open surgery is typically reserved for patients who have had another dislocation after an arthroscopy, or for those with persistent shoulder pain and weakness. This involves the creation of a single larger incision through which the surgeon directly accesses the tendons and ligaments that support the shoulder.
Following either procedure, your shoulder will be placed in a protective sling for a couple of weeks to protect the area and limit movement. Many patients can return to normal daily activities within 2-4 weeks, but a full and complete recovery can take 12-26 weeks, and again you will be performing physical therapy and other strengthening exercises during this time to restore the most function possible in your shoulder.
Hopefully you never need to deal with one shoulder dislocation, let alone multiple dislocations, but if you do, Dr. Holloway and his team are here to help. For assistance addressing a shoulder dislocation or another shoulder issue, reach out to Dr. Holloway’s office today at (865) 410-7887.
