Dislocated my shoulder quite severely yesterday after performing some "amazing tricks" and not landing one quite right... The crowd on the beach that was cheering me on was quite upset. Given that I don't want to upset my fans I am just wondering how long it typically takes to get back on the water after such a misfortunate event

This is the second time my left shoulder has found somewhere else to sit (last time many years ago while skiing)... and I have been told to wear sling for 2 weeks and then seek physio. I pulled the sling off after wearing it for 24 hours (my shoulder/arm felt like it was starting to freeze in it and already felt like I had zero range of motion) and now it feels much better. Typing with both hands . Haven't experienced any pain since they popped it back into place. Perhaps because it has happended before? Who knows, anyways... Xrays show no other complicatons. Anyone had a similar experience? From past experience, I think this business with the sling doesn't help, only makes things worse.

Hey, sorry to hear that.
It happened to me a couple of months back. I jumped a sand bank and landed on an other one - unfortunately with my hand first and my shoulder dislocated. It hurts. My mate popped it back in. I did get it checked and x-rayed a few days later and it was all fine.

I didn't wear a sling but kept rotating my arm regularly. I have experienced pain in certain positions or movement but it got better over time.
You will slowly get the movement back and it took me about a month before I went back on the water. It may take you a while longer before you unhook again.

Done my shoulder twice, once forward and once backwards (Physio said best New Years injury he'd ever had...) The membrane that usually wraps around the ball was tucked in between the joint. I got keyhole surgery done in the April and was kiting by September/October. Definitely worth it. Shoulder doesn't feel unstable at all and cost me f-all on private health.

If you're not getting surgery the key is to alternate resting and mobility exercise - sling is good to let the shoulder relax. From memory you get the most blood flow when you're shoulder is relaxed (in sling) but you do need to keep it mobilised. Also swimming is a really good way of building the joint strength back up.

i agree, you can go to a physio now to speed up the healing process, they can do more than what just ice can. then yeh strapping dude they will be able to show you how to do it appropriatly. and a dislocated shoulder is something you really have to be careful about, once you dislocate it it wont be the same agian, some argue, ever. you stretch all the ligaments that hold your shoulder in place. there is strength exersizes and rehab that can be done, but ultimatly you have to be more careful. Dont rush back on the water dude as hard as that sounds. get the rehab just stay hooked in till probably atleast summer then you should be all good. good luck holmes

Think of me as the broken record, Physio and strength training are a must after a dislocation even if you're going in for surgery because you need the joint to be strong and it'll help recovery.

Having done both shoulders and some how not having to have surgery on my right (to the surprise of every MD I know) go to a physio and treat what they say as the gospel. Don't just go to any physio either look into it a bit and make sure you find someone that is good with shoulders or specializes in them if they work with footballers, Volleyballers and such its a good start.

And put your sling back on silly white boy, the sling and proper physio can save you from surgery and an arthritic shoulder. The stiffing of a joint is due to trauma and is there because there's a massive amount of swelling in the joint and in the muscles are trying to tighten up after you stretched the crap out of them

Oh and Figure 3 months (min.) for the shoulder to get back on the water.

Kitehard: I can sympathize with your mate as my right shoulder got that bad. It's taken two years of paddling/swimming/strength training to keep it in for more than a month at a time. Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night with your shoulder dislocated or having it pop out when you get smashed by a wave, when the rotator cuff is that loose it doesn't take much to pop out the shoulder. The shoulder hasn't come out in a year now, so happy.

free medical advice

to dislocate the shoulder generally leads to labrum tear (SLAP lesion)
this will not repair its self - can lead to recurrent dislocations

shoulder very reliant on muscles from scapula and chest to stabilise it

current orthopedic opinion is to repair the labrum esp if young, less clear as get older, depend on age activities etc - done arthroscopically these days

for full assessment = mri + gandolinium required, assesses damage to allow necessary treatment plan to be generated, xrays wont show soft tissue damage but can exclude a fracture

shoulders do not like to be immobilised = get advice on some basic exercises eg pendulum etc to avoid frozen shoulder and then move to cuff strengthening regimen

meanwhile get ortho opinion

Ron,

Sorry to hear about your injury. Must be a bugger looking at that new ozone kite of yours sitting neatly in its bag (guess you didn't need to be reminded of this)

Not sure if this applies to your injury or not but I had a rotator cuff injury a few years ago, put up with the pain for ages and ended up getting a steriod injection which did the trick and helped things heal without further grief.

Perhaps Tracy can suggest some yoga moves for mobility?

Hope you have a full recovery