Shoulder dislocation cure

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi all,

I am suffering shoulder dislocation and have already been operated on it. I am a good athlete, I play badminton, cricket and football. My dislocation problem hinders me a lot in the former 2 games. I can still feel the shoulder moving out of socket (kind of!) but it is not being dislocated. This does not occur always but only when I play (rather to extremes). What is the solution? Will I be a good athlete or rather leave these activities. I am not a professional in sports though but would like to have some athleticism.

Before I had been operated, I had dislocated the shoulder many times.

Any good solutions?

Thanks and Regards,
Raj Pawan

#2

LOL, that is funny. You made me laugh - and now reply with no sanskrit whatsoever :slight_smile:

Being able to maintain the humerus in that flimsy joint we call a shoulder is challenging. IN fact, based on my observations, most yoga students are not being taught this action and are not finding it on their own. This is even present in many long-time practitioners.

That challenge is exacerbated when there’s a dislocation.

I would not do poses that require weight-bearing by the arms. That means avoiding Wheel (which I think Sunyuting refers to above as Bridge), handstand, headstand, downward facing dog, plank, low plank, baby plank, and any other names my caucasian brethren have tagged on to plank.

I would find and work with a therapeutically trained yoga teacher (assuming this is a methodology you would like to pursue for support of your healing process) and have some sessions to retrain your body in how to secure that joint. It is more difficult post-surgery as there are things to consider and scar tissue to navigate. But it is what it is.

As far as returning to sport - again, from my own personal experience, we have to interprets life’s messages for ourselves in mindful, attentive, introspective ways. It may be that sports you’ve chosen are not ones that you can continue IF you want shoulder integrity (you get to choose). Or you may return to those activities. I had to stop playing basketball and move on to other things as a result of the message I was getting, expressed through my sacroiliac joint.

#3

Yeah i’ve had problems with this as well…

I am by no means “beyond” the issue, but i can provide some advice.

I have realized over time that the shoulder joint muscle complex is extremely complicated, and that my shoulder injury was the result of certain muscles being weak and others being too strong (and overcompensating).

I am trying to correct this, primarily by strengthening my rhomboids, serratus and teres muscles.

If you can do downward dog, plank and other hands-to-the-floor asanas, then focus on correct positioning of the upper back. I’ve been doing yoga for years, but I’ve never had a teacher correct my shoulder positioning in these types of asanas before a couple weeks ago. But it was wrong all these years! Evidently, many yoga teachers do not themselves completely understand anatomy and the asanas.

The serratus muscle should be taking the weight of the upper body, with the shoulder blades pulled all the way back, and the rhomboids and inner traps should be working hard. If you’re like me, it will be very difficult to perform a correct down dog/plank/wheel at first because the injured shoulder is accustomed to a “compensated” version of the pose, and its probably very weak in some areas. Perservere and listen to your body. Take it slow and study and try to improve your strength and flexibility and technique in the shoulder girdle.

If you have any questions, go ahead and ask :slight_smile:

#4

Thanks all for suggestions, I now understand that some AsanAs will help me strengthen my shoulder. Just as suggested I will try find a yoga tutor. I have no idea of downward dog, plank or Setu Bandhasana, but these will be good pointers. Thanks for all this.

I am still concerned whether this is completely curable?

#5

It should be something you can fix.

Of course, that depends on the particular injury you have sustained.

I don’t know that you will ever have a “perfect” shoulder again, and it will probably be somewhat painful for the rest of your life.

However, if you work hard and work persistently, you will probably be able to fix this. That depends on you, however, because you need a youthful body/mind to do this… it has nothing to do with age, only with attitude…

#6

Thats something encouraging. I am ready to whatever it may take. So should I meet a yoga tutor or can I go on and perform yogAsAnas on my own? I agree as you all have suggested that consulting a yoga tutor is better but I dont know of anyone over here who is a professional in teaching yoga. :frowning:

Thnx for all your support.

#7

in what region do you live?

I would say the best route is to learn as much as you can on your own, through practice, DVDs, books, the internet, etc, but you should also give local yoga teachers a shot as well.

It is usually through a combination of teachers teaching us and teaching ourselves that we succeed.

Teachers rarely know their thing. They will hardly know your thing. It would surprise me if you found an exceptional teacher who could help you “cure this”.

I recommend you just start trying a little bit every day, read, study and practice.

#8

I am currently in Udupi, Karnataka in India. I guess the pointers by you all should be enough to start with? As you have suggested, I will try find a tutor too, but would keep in mind that they will “hardly know your thing”!

The AsanAs you all have suggested here will be enough to start with?

Thanks

#9

I realize Mumbai is several hundred miles north of you but it may be worthwhile for you to find your way there and spend some time studying with Jehangir Palkhivala or perhaps his Mother, one of the senior-most Iyengar teachers in the world, now in her 80s.

#10

[QUOTE=Sunyuting;28277]I have a shoulder that used to pop out. Join a yoga class and learn some basics. Then you could use Setu Bandhasana (bridge pose).

I would go up into bridge on my upper back first. Reach back and put my hands on the floor. From here I would slowly roll up onto the top of my head. Then slowly press up into a bridge or what ever you can do to not hurt yourself. Depending on how you feel, you could do small push ups. Just dont fall down on your head. Be careful because if your shoulder pops out like mine has, you will fall. Bridge pose really helped that for me.

I would like to stress being in a class so that you can have good focus and some guidance. Home practice never worked for me, too many distractions. If you are serious about this, yoga will cure that.

You could probably get a more complete answer from Inner Athlete or Asuri, but you better have your sanskrit dictionary ready.[/QUOTE]

Hi,

Is it really true? that yoga can cure or get your bones back in its proper place after it has been dislocated? I am new to yoga and I am just starting to learn the basics by searching in the internet. I also have a kind of dislocated bone on my shoulder. It happened when I was taking a shower and as I reached for my back to apply soap on it, I heard a sound on my shoulder and it hurts although it is bearable. I thought it was just a sound but I noticed and felt that my left shoulder is not proportioned with my right shoulder. Please advise. Thanks a lot.

#11

Bones are held by muscle, muscles are used in yoga postures (asana). The appropriate use, activation, alignment, relaxation of muscle can assist the body’s own healing mechanism in the process of “healing”. So I suppose “yes it is really true” is my answer.

Dislocated shoulders are immensely painful. If you can sit and type at a computer without howling in pain it is likely you do not have a dislocated shoulder. More likely you’ve done something to one of the five rotator cuff muscles.

#12

@famousblue
Yes, as innerAthelete points, you have definitely not dislocated your shoulder. The pain in the shoulders when it is dislocated reminds you of your forefathers in heaven! But yes it is curable. As I believe.