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Lazarus_762

Dislocated Shoulder?

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I popped my shoulder a few weeks back, from the opinions of the doctors and other bone specialists, I did a pretty damn good job of it, too! I'm looking at several months of physical therapy before I can get back in the air. I'll be taking it slow and doing all of my exercises, etc, but what other precautions do I need to take? Are there any special considerations for jumping that maybe a therapist would not think about?

thanks...:S:S:S

Airtwardo:"There is a bit of difference between a rigger with a nipper and a guy with 138 jumps and a swiss army knife...usually!"

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Which shoulder?

If it's your right, you'll want to explain to your medical team the specific movements that you make when pulling. Get down on the floor on your belly and show them the arch/reach/throw movement.

For either shoulder, talk about exits and the stresses those put on the shoulder (hanging off the plane if you're outside, potential for tension from exit grips in any slot). Describe (or show) them your typical position of your arms and the relative pressure on them in freefall. Describe the motions and movements that you need to make to fly your canopy and flare.

Skydiving and the particular stresses it places on various parts of our body are really a mystery to most medical professionals so whatever you can do to help them understand all that will be helpful.

(As an example, I've been dealing with shoulder pain lately, though not dislocations, thankfully. My orthopedist asked me if the parachute opening sequence was likely to put stress on my shoulders. I explained opening forces to him and that a hard opening was more likely to put stress on my back or neck than my shoulder. But we did talk about all the other parts of skydiving that can wrench my shoulder...which helped him understand better.)
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

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This has happened to me. Thankfully it was my left shoulder and I could still pull my main. I got hit hard at about 6k on an RW jump which resulted in my left shoulder having an anterior dislocation (popped out the front). I pinned it to my side with my right arm and got the hell away from everyone as best I could. Pulled in a track (obviously can't put left arm forward now) which slammed it even harder, managed to pull it up with my right arm and grab the left toggle. Made right turns all the way down in agony until the left hand landing pattern, had enough strength to get the toggles down to about my shoulders and PLF'd the rest of the way just fine. Thankfully I was under a Pilot 150 at a 1.2 wingloading so it wasn't a super quick landing.
Just had surgery on it 5 weeks ago, it tore my labrum which is cartilage on the front part of the socket that holds it in place. Those injuries have a full complete recovery within 6 months and from there you can return to full un restricted activities, even 5 weeks into recovery it already feels MUCH more sturdy than beforehand.

Whatever you do, PT like crazy and start weight lifting. Get it as strong as possible while getting flexibility back or you'll likely have problems skydiving for quite some time.

EDIT: Forgot to add, buy one of these also http://www.motosport.com/dirtbike/EVS-SB03-SHOULDER-SUPPORT. This thing helps me tremendously.

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I dislocated my right shoulder many years ago while water skiing. Went to orthopedist, did some therapy and PT, and resumed normal activity.

About ten years after that, I had a very hard opening that dislocated the shoulder again. Wow, that hurt, but was able to re-insert the shoulder with my left arm while still at good altitude. Did a controllability check and discovered that I could still fly the canopy if I pulled the toggles forward instead of to the side. Also discovered that I could sort of steer the canopy with both toggles in one hand if I moved the toggles left or right. Prayers for a soft landing were answered.

Went to orthopedist again and was told that as we get older, these types of injuries are more likely to occur unless repaired by surgery. We discussed skydiving and decided to do some therapy followed by some additional physical conditioning that strengthened my shoulder muscles. Also recommended that I flex my shoulder muscles during opening in order to hold my shoulder in place. His last comment was that if it continued to be a problem, surgery would fix it.

I jumped again in about six weeks after the incident. I discovered that a poised exit placed a lot of stress on the shoulder especially when my right shoulder went from airplane to airstream. There were a few other instances that I became concerned about, but don't remember now. The best solution was to strengthen the shoulder, make sure that your body position is good when deploying, and tense the shoulder muscles enough to hold the shoulder in place during deployment.

I have not had another incident.

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chembree

I dislocated my right shoulder many years ago while water skiing. Went to orthopedist, did some therapy and PT, and resumed normal activity.

About ten years after that, I had a very hard opening that dislocated the shoulder again. Wow, that hurt, but was able to re-insert the shoulder with my left arm while still at good altitude. Did a controllability check and discovered that I could still fly the canopy if I pulled the toggles forward instead of to the side. Also discovered that I could sort of steer the canopy with both toggles in one hand if I moved the toggles left or right. Prayers for a soft landing were answered.

Went to orthopedist again and was told that as we get older, these types of injuries are more likely to occur unless repaired by surgery. We discussed skydiving and decided to do some therapy followed by some additional physical conditioning that strengthened my shoulder muscles. Also recommended that I flex my shoulder muscles during opening in order to hold my shoulder in place. His last comment was that if it continued to be a problem, surgery would fix it.

I jumped again in about six weeks after the incident. I discovered that a poised exit placed a lot of stress on the shoulder especially when my right shoulder went from airplane to airstream. There were a few other instances that I became concerned about, but don't remember now. The best solution was to strengthen the shoulder, make sure that your body position is good when deploying, and tense the shoulder muscles enough to hold the shoulder in place during deployment.

I have not had another incident.



I'm not an ortho but I asked one...

Basically the BEST thing you can do to prevent another dislocation is to aggressively do PT. Go back to ortho have them test your shoulder, if loose have MRI, consider surgery if there is something amiss (most shoulder surgery is relatively minor but will set you back a few weeks).

But PT and strength training to overcome the unusual forces on the body is the best
You are not the contents of your wallet.

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muchas gracias for all the good advice...gonna take it slow, PT like crazy, and make sure I never jump without a brace. Looking at March before I can try this again...something tells me I'm gonna be a little bit nervous the first 2 or 3 times when I get back into it :o:o


Airtwardo:"There is a bit of difference between a rigger with a nipper and a guy with 138 jumps and a swiss army knife...usually!"

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After I had surgery to repair my shoulder I did one tandem and flew in the tunnel -- just to be sure I felt confident. (I had had /multiple/ in-air dislocations, though... so it had started to create an emotional reaction in me...)

Do what you need to feel solid - you'll be fine. :)

life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.
(helen keller)

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I’ve got a type III AC (shoulder) separation from a motorcycle crash this summer. I’ve got 95% range of motion but its unstable and weak above shoulder height. I finally went to the doc and it’s going to have to have surgery with a 3-4 month recovery time. I’m bummed but tired of living with it. I actually made 6 military round jumps with it like this and caused some more damage. Not smart……I know. I almost went to the tunnel to see how it would do….again not smart but I didn’t do it. Anyway….I’m going to get it taken care of soon. PT like crazy over the winter. Go to the tunnel to check it out when I’m ready and hopefully start jumping again in the spring.

Moral of the story is get it taken care of. Stupid hurts!

ATW,
Lucky

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Well....my shoulder is still partially dislocated. My injury happened almost 6 years ago in a skateboarding accident. I had Xrays and did PT to make it better, but the sling they initially put it in made it heal in the incorrect location. So now I have a partially dislocated right shoulder.

I have good strength in it and can do pull-ups no problem, flare no problem etc. I just don't have the range of motion to be able to reach my BOC.

All through AFF i had to use a rip cord, intead of a throw out...which sucked. I hate the spring loaded pilot chutes (especially packing them).

Once I got off AFF status and bought my own righ, I had the BOC converted to a left hand deployment by a rigger and I couldn't be happier. I can fly just fine and don't worry about getting hit or anything, it's just the mobility. Hell...I played football for 4 years after my injury happened and took some big hits. Every injury will be different though...but their are options for left handed deployment if that's your concern.
Turn to the storm and say, "Give your worst, and I shall give my best."

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Posterior dislocation in august and no way in hell could I pull with it. Mine was very severe and caused damage to everything sorounding it. I just rode a snowmobile for an hour and set me way back. 10 ortho surgeries and this redefined pre-op pain for me. I am sad and depressed
That spot isn't bad at all, the winds were strong and that was the issue! It was just on the downwind side.

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My rigger just finished switching my rig to a left-hand pull BOC... my right shoulder was too stiff to reach properly, and I had to bend at the waist to get to my handle, which caused me to slide sideways and headdown on opening - not good! so this weekend I'll spend an hour or 2 wearing it and practicing pulling left handed, and probably take an instructor with me in case there is a problem...WTWTCH?? :ph34r:


Airtwardo:"There is a bit of difference between a rigger with a nipper and a guy with 138 jumps and a swiss army knife...usually!"

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Quote

But PT and strength training to overcome the unusual forces on the body is the best



And be sure to keep it up once you are feeling better.

I popped out my shoulder twice in high school (varsity volleyball). It has never happened since, and I stopped a couple of my usual stretches/routine many years ago because it started to "hurt when I do this" and I so I stopped doing it.

I woke up a few months ago with a major shoulder/neck/upper back pain (but had full range of motion/no limited use of anything because of it). I started doing the stretches again even though it cracked/hurt. I have kept it up and it still cracks once in a while, but it does not hurt anymore. Lesson learned.

I should note, I do yoga regularly and am always stretching and working my arm/shoulder and am in very good shape/strength/balance, but I was not doing the specific stretches I was previously recommended to do after popping out my shoulder. I do them daily now. I definitely do not want to go through another two weeks of that irritating/nothing-helps-or-makes-it-feel-better/cannot relax sort of pain ever again.
Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

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