Anyone dealth with shoulder instability, sublaxation/hyperlaxity before?

frenchman

Eats cheese. Sells crack.
Yeah I’ve had a shit run on one shoulder. 1 x grade 3 separation and 2 dislocations (10years apart)
Separation took 4 weeks before I was back on a bike and I’ve still got a visible step.
first dis location was slamming into the ground a dh pace and putting the ball into my armpit. I was pretty young when this happened so very little physio or rehab.
2nd time was an anterior dislocation. It did a bit of a number on me as I’ve got bits of the rotator cuff floating around inside. Engaged with a good physio and recovery was 4-6 weeks. I’ve have been gyming consistanlty since 2016 so that’s definitely helped with recovery and returning strength. I’ve got 90% mobility but strength is 100%.
Physio I have used have been rugby specialists, I’ve managed to avoid having surgery, that may change if I give up the gym or shit starts to fall apart in 5-10years.
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Vid of the incident that led to it coming out again.
 

Fred Nurk

No custom title here
Went through surgery for this just over 12 months ago.
Had a full dislocation a number of years ago and an eventual propensity to half unlock itself at the drop of a hat. Wasn't fun and I ended up learning a whole heap of compensating behaviours to guard the shoulder.

Went through private for a surgeon, certainly wasn't the cheapest process, and the first 6 weeks of recovery were not fun. Couldn't drive, was normally a side sleeper so that was out and had to wear a sling.
Started physio as soon as possible after surgery and followed the exercise program as much as I could.
At just over 12 months it's recovered and is stronger and stable, and I've learnt to minimise the guarding.
 

johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
Mine has just come with use, not full dislocation. It's totally fucked itself now after some innocuous shoulder dips 6 months ago and never got better. It now partially dislocates just bending over to pick stuff up, I've lost about 20% of mobility and heaps of strength. No chance of riding at the moment, just reaching out to hold the handlebar is high-level discomfort. Have been sleeping on my back for 6 months now.

Reckon I have surgery in my near future as I really want this fixed enough to ride again. I can give away the heavy weights, but at least want to go for rides with the little one when she's a bit older.
 

Fred Nurk

No custom title here
Ortho surgeon will probably go straight to MRI, that generally identifies if the labrum is fucked or there's other damage. That's what they found when I got mine done, and they also discovered a biceps tear during surgery and tidied that up.
If labrum is intact you'd have more of a chance of physio fixing it, and you'll need the physio regardless.
 

Scotty T

Walks the walk
I have "very mobile shoulders" according to the surgeon that fixed one over 10 years ago. The left one had an anterior dislocation the first time that wouldn't go back in without me having a twilight anaesthetic, then it proceed to dislocate another 6 or so times, like @Fred Nurk at the drop of a hat, I could pop it back in by lying down on my back, relaxing and slowly pushing the arm upwards with my other hand 'til it clicked.

I gave up trying to fix it with physio and went to the surgeon. They cleaned up my rotator cuff and put a staple in to tighten up the tendons, it's never come out since, at the most it's had a little click and hurt for a day or so. I was strict on the post op physio which helped a lot. My private health system surgeon is local and very good if you have cover/money for it and want to find someone reputable. It was one of those moments where you appreciate ripping yourself off blind with health cover, from first appointment to operation was something like 3 weeks and I'd agree with my physio who recommended the surgeon as "the best in Canberra".

My right shoulder has partially dislocated twice (out and back in) but never bad enough to seek medical help. Way after the last time the right one popped out I started doing strength work for the first time in my life with a boot camp type workout twice a week which I've kept at for 5 years. Best thing I've ever done, both my shoulders are strong enough to ride bikes and boards without worrying that they might pop. Give away the heavy weights but keep up strength work for sure I'd say.

Definitely time to seek medical help though if you can't even reach the handlebar and 6 months ongoing issues, that's pretty serious mate.
 

Litenbror

Eats Squid
Mine has just come with use, not full dislocation. It's totally fucked itself now after some innocuous shoulder dips 6 months ago and never got better. It now partially dislocates just bending over to pick stuff up, I've lost about 20% of mobility and heaps of strength. No chance of riding at the moment, just reaching out to hold the handlebar is high-level discomfort. Have been sleeping on my back for 6 months now.

Reckon I have surgery in my near future as I really want this fixed enough to ride again. I can give away the heavy weights, but at least want to go for rides with the little one when she's a bit older.
I don't have shoulder issues but saw the physio for numb hands a while ago. Was an easy fix with a few stretches but met an amazing physio.


Stu was an Olympic bobsledder who destroyed his shoulder in competition and was told it would never work again. Went to school and taught himself how to fix it. Would highly recommend giving him a call as he has an understanding of shoulders like few others.
 
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The Reverend

Likes Bikes and Dirt
One of my shoulders sublaxed after a bike crash. Didn't think it was that bad and couldn't have been more wrong.

Two fully torn tendons in the rotator cuff, torn long head bicep tendon, torn labrum, fractured clavicle.

Surgery was the only option, and as has been stated, the first 4-6 weeks post are challenging.
Followed the treatment from the surgeon to the letter and it's now almost 100% for strength and range of motion. Doesn't give me any lasting issues.
Probably took about 18 months before it "felt" completely fine and strong again.

Two other friends had loose shoulders which would dislocate if you looked at them too long.
They struggled to ride, putting on jumpers would risk dislocation and they were always mindful of them.
They tried everything prior to surgery to postpone the inevitable.

Both had to have surgery, took them about 6 months to get back to gentle riding, and then at about 9 months they were fully back.

It's a real pain to go through but once done, if done well it'll get you back where you need to be.
 

johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
Ha, I don't need any convincing to do the surgery. I've had some bad experiences with physios and have learned that the first stop for serious issues like this is MRI/ortho.

I once dead sailored a pretty big double and shoulder charged a tree, badly dislocating my shoulder. After 6 months of physio with no improvement, the physio suggested I get a scan. Turns out that I'd completely torn the ligament from the bone - we were doing physio on a non-existent body part. The physio should have asked more about the nature of the injury at the outset, which would have immediately told here that it was likely a full tear. I've since had a complete reconstruction on that shoulder. Took about a year (without physio and some booze-fueled abuse) for it to come better, but come good it did.

So the plan is to get a referral for MRI and ortho with the full expectation of being opened up. My shoulder is way past physio, it likely needs the labrum stitched and the ligaments stapled/hooked.

I've just built a dream bike and can't ride the thing. It as an Ohlins shock that hasn't even seen dirt, FFS. Agree @Scotty T my days of heavy weights are over, but I'll always do some level of strength training. The problem won't be doing it, the challenge will be not over-doing it.
 

Fred Nurk

No custom title here
The importance of finding the right physio cannot be overstated. Nor can doing the work post-op to ensure the recovery is as good as it can be.
Mine was great, although we discovered during the process that I'd learnt to tense up half my shoulder to protect it and it was a behaviour I had to unlearn as part of the recovery.
 

Lazmo

Old and hopeless
Johnny… sorry (well I’m not really) I am struggling to understand why someone with your intellect, as you are a seriously smart guy, has let six months of angst go by, and not seen a doctor, has not got a referral, has not had an MRI. WTF. Hopefully I’m totally off the track, but why f~cking wait for it to magically to heal.

Me, I’ve done endless damage to both shoulders. Both clavicles, both rotators, right side supra, right side subluxation, multiple cortisone jabs. My wicked tennis serve is a distant memory.

Anyway, get a fricken MRI.

I've just built a dream bike and can't ride the thing. It as an Ohlins shock that hasn't even seen dirt, FFS.
Pics or it’s not true.
 

johnny

I'll tells ya!
Staff member
Johnny… sorry (well I’m not really) I am struggling to understand why someone with your intellect, as you are a seriously smart guy, has let six months of angst go by, and not seen a doctor, has not got a referral, has not had an MRI. WTF. Hopefully I’m totally off the track, but why f~cking wait for it to magically to heal.

Me, I’ve done endless damage to both shoulders. Both clavicles, both rotators, right side supra, right side subluxation, multiple cortisone jabs. My wicked tennis serve is a distant memory.

Anyway, get a fricken MRI.



Pics or it’s not true.
Because I've had it in both shoulders before and it healed. This time around it was both shoulders again and the right shoulder has healed 99%. It's been up and down with the left shoulder, but over the last couple weeks (about 4), I started to also lose mobility and strength, even on the good days. So I've had to come to the realisation that it's not going to heal and it's time to get the fucking thing butchered.

Here's a whole thread on the bike: https://www.rotorburn.com/forums/index.php?threads/project-hyrax-johnnys-build-thread.319349/

It wasn't the dream bike to start with, but I fell in love after riding it and have since popped the Ohlins on.
 
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