Comments on: Shoulder Dislocation Relocation DIY: How to fix yourself in the backcountry http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/ Gear Articles for Gearheads Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:04:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Bobby http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-429081 Bobby Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:02:10 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-429081 Dislocated my shoulder about 8 months ago playing soccer (of all sports). I'm definitely not trying to recommend doing it yourself over going to the hospital, but i waited 4 hours in the emergency room and then got scolded for not being able to move my arm in order for them to get blood (eventually they realized i had another arm). Doctor finally came in and it took him 3 extremely painful efforts to pop it in. Only the 3rd effort was a technique listed above (90-degree arm fly), so i'm starting to think that most emergency room physicians dont have this kind of training for some reason. Anyways, it's happened six times since and i dont have the patience or the pain tolerance to wait 4 hours and pay money for shoddy work, so I've done it myself and have found the "Reach for the Sky" technique to be my favorite. Simply involves reaching the dislocated arm straight up in the air. If it doesnt relocate on its own then might need a small yank upward from the other arm. Happened 3 days ago at work, took about 15 seconds to pop in, been icing it, now it feels completely normal again. This injury definitely sucks, but not panicking in that split second when it pops out is the best thing to do. No clue if that was helpful, but i like this website, so figured i'd give my thoughts. Dislocated my shoulder about 8 months ago playing soccer (of all sports). I’m definitely not trying to recommend doing it yourself over going to the hospital, but i waited 4 hours in the emergency room and then got scolded for not being able to move my arm in order for them to get blood (eventually they realized i had another arm). Doctor finally came in and it took him 3 extremely painful efforts to pop it in. Only the 3rd effort was a technique listed above (90-degree arm fly), so i’m starting to think that most emergency room physicians dont have this kind of training for some reason. Anyways, it’s happened six times since and i dont have the patience or the pain tolerance to wait 4 hours and pay money for shoddy work, so I’ve done it myself and have found the “Reach for the Sky” technique to be my favorite. Simply involves reaching the dislocated arm straight up in the air. If it doesnt relocate on its own then might need a small yank upward from the other arm. Happened 3 days ago at work, took about 15 seconds to pop in, been icing it, now it feels completely normal again. This injury definitely sucks, but not panicking in that split second when it pops out is the best thing to do. No clue if that was helpful, but i like this website, so figured i’d give my thoughts.

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]]> By: montey http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-419452 montey Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:24:54 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-419452 just two hours ago i had my shoulder dislocated , it happened to me 20 times b4 , after a surgery also to fix it forever .. but it didn't work ... so i was lying on my belly and the typing on my laptop i moved in a wrong way and bang .. an i was screaming .. half an hour trying .. alon .. then i called the ambulance .. wile i waiting them i sate on the bed and bent wile my injured hand between my legs .. for two minuts .. then with one finger i pushed the bone up .. from my Armpit .. it clicked three times .. and it was back in place .. its like using gravity .. i think newton , if he had a dislocated shoulder would know the gravity law a long time b4 the tree accident :) wish that helps just two hours ago i had my shoulder dislocated , it happened to me 20 times b4 , after a surgery also to fix it forever .. but it didn’t work … so i was lying on my belly and the typing on my laptop i moved in a wrong way and bang .. an i was screaming .. half an hour trying .. alon .. then i called the ambulance .. wile i waiting them i sate on the bed and bent wile my injured hand between my legs .. for two minuts .. then with one finger i pushed the bone up .. from my Armpit .. it clicked three times .. and it was back in place .. its like using gravity .. i think newton , if he had a dislocated shoulder would know the gravity law a long time b4 the tree accident :)
wish that helps

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]]> By: nancy http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-395672 nancy Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:02:49 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-395672 thanx for info!!!... at 70, i fell and dislocated shoulder and thought i was near death... see it mostly happens to the "athletic" which i never was - athletic that is... the nearest hosp. was only a mile away but every bump made me scream... i have never screamed as much and truly don't want to do this again.... as i have fibromyalgia, i am "rehabbing" it myself ... the thought of someone just "yanking" on that arm is excruiciating... it's been a bit more than a month now and i have been true to exercise it.... it is one of the "life dates" to be always remembered, just like the day a man fell out of a tree ... he had a chain saw in his hands and hit an icy spot on a ladder... slipped and fell on ME.. implosion fracture: 12/10/76... now 11/10/2011 is added... appreciate your input and i pray i NEVER do this again.... thanx for info!!!… at 70, i fell and dislocated shoulder and thought i was near death… see it mostly happens to the “athletic” which i never was – athletic that is… the nearest hosp. was only a mile away but every bump made me scream… i have never screamed as much and truly don’t want to do this again…. as i have fibromyalgia, i am “rehabbing” it myself … the thought of someone just “yanking” on that arm is excruiciating… it’s been a bit more than a month now and i have been true to exercise it…. it is one of the “life dates” to be always remembered, just like the day a man fell out of a tree … he had a chain saw in his hands and hit an icy spot on a ladder… slipped and fell on ME.. implosion fracture: 12/10/76… now 11/10/2011 is added… appreciate your input and i pray i NEVER do this again….

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]]> By: Shelley http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-373601 Shelley Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:00:45 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-373601 So I have my shoulder "dislocate" daily. Its not from stressing the joint to the point of dislocation, but more of I have hyper-joint mobility in my entire body and slipping out of socket happens just from breathing. Lol. One time when I was swimming at my friends house I did have complete and udder socket removal happen; we were basically playing violent tag/marco polo, and since I'm short I was trying to escape the deep end to avoid drowning. In my thrashing state of not drowning and getting away from whomever was "it", my shoulder went out upwards... Not foreward, or backwards. Now I've had to go to ostheopaths and chiropractos for many years now since I have this daily issue, and I can honestly say I was dumbfounded. And without even thinking I dragged my arm as high to my head as I could get it to go on its own, grabbed my hand with my other hand, and pulled my arm up and behind my head, like when you go to stretch to work out or something. Painfully, it worked. Luckily, I was in the shallow end by this point. So if you ever somehow go out upwards, youll know what to do. And to emphasize what "daily dislocation" I have, my first through third ribs go out, and so does my clavical (collar bone), which pushes my shoulder forewards and partially out.. Which causes mu shoulder blade to go out too. Its very annoying and complicated to get back in.. Simple rotation wont do a thing. So if you've knocked out ribs and your clavical you need to go to an ostheopath or chiropractor (ostheopaths are better) because you need adjustment and the rotation. So I have my shoulder “dislocate” daily. Its not from stressing the joint to the point of dislocation, but more of I have hyper-joint mobility in my entire body and slipping out of socket happens just from breathing. Lol. One time when I was swimming at my friends house I did have complete and udder socket removal happen; we were basically playing violent tag/marco polo, and since I’m short I was trying to escape the deep end to avoid drowning. In my thrashing state of not drowning and getting away from whomever was “it”, my shoulder went out upwards… Not foreward, or backwards. Now I’ve had to go to ostheopaths and chiropractos for many years now since I have this daily issue, and I can honestly say I was dumbfounded. And without even thinking I dragged my arm as high to my head as I could get it to go on its own, grabbed my hand with my other hand, and pulled my arm up and behind my head, like when you go to stretch to work out or something. Painfully, it worked. Luckily, I was in the shallow end by this point. So if you ever somehow go out upwards, youll know what to do.

And to emphasize what “daily dislocation” I have, my first through third ribs go out, and so does my clavical (collar bone), which pushes my shoulder forewards and partially out.. Which causes mu shoulder blade to go out too. Its very annoying and complicated to get back in.. Simple rotation wont do a thing. So if you’ve knocked out ribs and your clavical you need to go to an ostheopath or chiropractor (ostheopaths are better) because you need adjustment and the rotation.

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]]> By: Erik http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-170398 Erik Sat, 19 Mar 2011 17:39:40 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-170398 As a surfer with a torn labrum and no insurance this site is a godsend. I'm now recouping after 4th (2nd post surgery) disloc and can't sleep due to fear of either not being able to surf or surfing and having to go to the er AGAIN. So I won't give up what I love and hopefully it never happens again but atleast I have something to try to keep me from another dreaded round at the hospital/bills. Thanks guys! As a surfer with a torn labrum and no insurance this site is a godsend. I’m now recouping after 4th (2nd post surgery) disloc and can’t sleep due to fear of either not being able to surf or surfing and having to go to the er AGAIN. So I won’t give up what I love and hopefully it never happens again but atleast I have something to try to keep me from another dreaded round at the hospital/bills.
Thanks guys!

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]]> By: wildchild http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-162927 wildchild Sat, 12 Mar 2011 04:57:50 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-162927 I have now dislocated my right shoulder 22 times. My tendons, ligaments etc aren't the isue. Its instead about a third of the head missing. I pray to the great god Morpheus when I am in this situation. The last two were firsts for me. I couldn't physically ask anyone for help. I was laying on my belly, and fell asleep. My three year old was asleep, and god knows he wouldn't understand, maybe just drag me around the house. Previously I have tried to put my own shoulder back in place, even the help of morpheus in VERY LONG, very high strength prayers wouldn't help(read 100mg ms oral), only unconsciousness to allow my musces to relax. This time I Had woken up with my shoulder out of place and aunty emma was too far away to even consider, well both times really. The first I was able to put pressure on it in very unusual, excruciating ways, I'm surprised that I not only didn't wake up my son, but none of my neighbors around for ten acres either. My shoulder slipped in, I was able to bring it near my body, and lay there for a few, every muscle in my body aching from fighting what mustve been an hour. Within 20 minutes I passed out, not fell asleep mind you, I've had enough battles with the human body to know the difference between passing out from pain(yeah I've had about 10 or 12 of those) versus just being plum worn out(worked the farm many years). The very next morning I had a custody hearing for my son, my ex is not really fit to take care of him, but that's a different story. I stayed that night at mom and dads. I woke up at 1130pm in the same samn stupid position(that and I wanted to die) I tried for half an hour to relocate said joint to no avail. I called my father in who helped me by starting to get things ready. By some miracle when lifting myself from the bed, I felt it slip back in. Ate some muscle relaxers and visited aunty emma, and her cousin mary jane. Woke up the next morning ready to see a judge. Btw I do have custody of my boy, he is my life. No I am not a habitual drug user, however, I believe thoroughly in staying stocked up for the zombie apocalypse, er shoulder dislocations. I have now dislocated my right shoulder 22 times. My tendons, ligaments etc aren’t the isue. Its instead about a third of the head missing. I pray to the great god Morpheus when I am in this situation. The last two were firsts for me. I couldn’t physically ask anyone for help. I was laying on my belly, and fell asleep. My three year old was asleep, and god knows he wouldn’t understand, maybe just drag me around the house.

Previously I have tried to put my own shoulder back in place, even the help of morpheus in VERY LONG, very high strength prayers wouldn’t help(read 100mg ms oral), only unconsciousness to allow my musces to relax. This time I Had woken up with my shoulder out of place and aunty emma was too far away to even consider, well both times really. The first I was able to put pressure on it in very unusual, excruciating ways, I’m surprised that I not only didn’t wake up my son, but none of my neighbors around for ten acres either. My shoulder slipped in, I was able to bring it near my body, and lay there for a few, every muscle in my body aching from fighting what mustve been an hour. Within 20 minutes I passed out, not fell asleep mind you, I’ve had enough battles with the human body to know the difference between passing out from pain(yeah I’ve had about 10 or 12 of those) versus just being plum worn out(worked the farm many years).

The very next morning I had a custody hearing for my son, my ex is not really fit to take care of him, but that’s a different story. I stayed that night at mom and dads. I woke up at 1130pm in the same samn stupid position(that and I wanted to die) I tried for half an hour to relocate said joint to no avail. I called my father in who helped me by starting to get things ready. By some miracle when lifting myself from the bed, I felt it slip back in. Ate some muscle relaxers and visited aunty emma, and her cousin mary jane. Woke up the next morning ready to see a judge. Btw I do have custody of my boy, he is my life. No I am not a habitual drug user, however, I believe thoroughly in staying stocked up for the zombie apocalypse, er shoulder dislocations.

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]]> By: DIY Shoulder Dislocation Relocation | GyroKumpass http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-2218 DIY Shoulder Dislocation Relocation | GyroKumpass Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:35:26 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-2218 [...] dislocate your shoulder miles from the nearest ER: “Another important fact to note is that the sooner you’re able to re-locate your arm, the less soft-tissue trauma, lasting pain, and recov.... More often than not, an arm is at least usable immediately after relocation—this is huge when [...] [...] dislocate your shoulder miles from the nearest ER: “Another important fact to note is that the sooner you’re able to re-locate your arm, the less soft-tissue trauma, lasting pain, and recov…. More often than not, an arm is at least usable immediately after relocation—this is huge when [...]

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]]> By: Patrick http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-1830 Patrick Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:43:53 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-1830 Oh, what a painful post. I relocated my shoulder after a skiing accident when I accidentally adjusted myself in my car to drive home/hospital. Had my arm down my side arm bent. I pressed on the arm rest to adjusted where i was sitting slighty and it popped right back in. Was on the blue tooth with my gf at the time who was many states away. I think she might have heard me yell both through the phone and through the air. Ended up having a broken shoulder as well as the dislocation, not fun especially right before my ski trip to Austria. Oh, what a painful post. I relocated my shoulder after a skiing accident when I accidentally adjusted myself in my car to drive home/hospital. Had my arm down my side arm bent. I pressed on the arm rest to adjusted where i was sitting slighty and it popped right back in. Was on the blue tooth with my gf at the time who was many states away. I think she might have heard me yell both through the phone and through the air. Ended up having a broken shoulder as well as the dislocation, not fun especially right before my ski trip to Austria.

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]]> By: Mark Scholl http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-1714 Mark Scholl Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:37:02 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-1714 Disclaimer: it's my job to fix these. I'm a knee & shoulder surgeon. Kudos to BC for getting this information out there. What you call the 'lace the fingers' and the gravity are the ones I teach for wilderness medicine solo relocations. If you have a buddy, an ER doc in Breck told me he gets most in by supporting the elbow and simply trying to take the hand up to where the palm is behind the head 'lounge position.' He rarely needs to use medicine b/c he uses calming thoughts and breathing techniques ('verbal anesthesia') which will probably be about all you have available. This info would have saved an old HS buddy of mine a heli rescue off Ranier a couple years ago. It was funny because he had two docs on the trip (pediatrics & cardiology) and neither of them knew what to do either. Now some Backcountry.com big pow shredder can tell the cardiologist to "step aside" and handle the situation! Final thought: each time your shoulder comes out of socket, there is significant damage done to the surface cartilage and surrounding soft tissues. If it becomes easier to get it back in, that's actually a bad sign. I know there are time and money considerations, but success rates for arthroscopic repair are very high. I've seen too many guys who have been dislocating for years and have done irreversible damage and now can't climb or even shoot baskets in their early 30s. Sorry to be the wet blanket. Go get some of this amazing April pow! Disclaimer: it’s my job to fix these. I’m a knee & shoulder surgeon.

Kudos to BC for getting this information out there. What you call the ‘lace the fingers’ and the gravity are the ones I teach for wilderness medicine solo relocations. If you have a buddy, an ER doc in Breck told me he gets most in by supporting the elbow and simply trying to take the hand up to where the palm is behind the head ‘lounge position.’ He rarely needs to use medicine b/c he uses calming thoughts and breathing techniques (‘verbal anesthesia’) which will probably be about all you have available.
This info would have saved an old HS buddy of mine a heli rescue off Ranier a couple years ago. It was funny because he had two docs on the trip (pediatrics & cardiology) and neither of them knew what to do either. Now some Backcountry.com big pow shredder can tell the cardiologist to “step aside” and handle the situation!
Final thought: each time your shoulder comes out of socket, there is significant damage done to the surface cartilage and surrounding soft tissues. If it becomes easier to get it back in, that’s actually a bad sign. I know there are time and money considerations, but success rates for arthroscopic repair are very high. I’ve seen too many guys who have been dislocating for years and have done irreversible damage and now can’t climb or even shoot baskets in their early 30s. Sorry to be the wet blanket.
Go get some of this amazing April pow!

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]]> By: Patrick Fink http://backcountrybeacon.com/2010/04/shoulder-dislocation-putting-things-back-together-in-the-backcountry/comment-page-1/#comment-1713 Patrick Fink Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:20:00 +0000 http://backcountrybeacon.com/?p=3142#comment-1713 I've used the 90-Degree-Elbow Arm Fly aka. Baseball Arm on myself before, but it is difficult because the same muscles that support the weight of the arm can impede reduction. My newer technique comes from the kayaking community, and it's for solo relocation. 1. Find a comfortable seated position. 2. As slowly as possible, starting at your sternum, walk the fingers of the injured arm up the center-line of your chest. 3. Continue over your nose, and somewhere between your forehead and the crown of your head, you shoulder should find its way back home. After surgery, I've found that maintaining overall shoulder and back strength and flexibility is the best way to prevent further shoulder instability. I’ve used the 90-Degree-Elbow Arm Fly aka. Baseball Arm on myself before, but it is difficult because the same muscles that support the weight of the arm can impede reduction.

My newer technique comes from the kayaking community, and it’s for solo relocation.

1. Find a comfortable seated position.
2. As slowly as possible, starting at your sternum, walk the fingers of the injured arm up the center-line of your chest.
3. Continue over your nose, and somewhere between your forehead and the crown of your head, you shoulder should find its way back home.

After surgery, I’ve found that maintaining overall shoulder and back strength and flexibility is the best way to prevent further shoulder instability.

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