Shoulder Subluxation

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BlsdMama

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Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
98
Reason
PALS
Diagnosis
05/2017
Country
US
State
IA
City
Cedar Rapids
About 16 months ago, I fell with my arm upright. I hurt the shoulder of my weak arm. It was a likely rotator cuff injury, but I didn't see a whole lot of point in pursuing a full diagnosis or methods to fix. I did receive an injection of steroids in the shoulder to take down inflammation which was lovely! It's an uncomfortable arm. If I sleep on that side, it goes through periods of being uncomfortable, but I've found that if it's hurting, I can cross the arm in front of my body while lying down and then turn ONTO the arm. I hear a pop and you can feel a shift and there is instant relief. It's not terribly painful, just uncomfortable and is fully relieved when it pops. I kind of thought it was similar to cracking my knuckles. However, I'm starting to believe it's shoulder subluxation? This is my weak arm so I can't see any atrophy, though the arm and back are obviously becoming weaker. If it is subluxation, is there a way to reduce that movement comfortably or something I ought to do? Or just shrug and think, "Such is life," and be so glad the pain dissipates fast! ;)
 
You should probably check with an occupational therapist or orthopedic and get recommendations for range of motion exercises or other recommendations they may have.
 
I have a 60% tear in my left rotator cuff. Some of it probably happened from golf or other sport but it really started hurting after I fell on a run prior to my diagnoses. That arm stretched out and I planted my face.

I think if your shoulder dislocated you would feel a very sharp pain.

I would probably want an MRI and PT. Physical therapy is best done when an accurate diagnosis is made.
 
There’s little worse than shoulder pain when it comes to
sleeping.

Playing soft ball I separated my clavicle from the acromion
humeral head… straight to the ER and onto surgery.
They put in a 4 inch steel pin through all into the clavicle.

While you’re in the hospital you get pain killers that let you
sleep. So much for that when you get home. The next day
Oxycontin becomes just two clicks above Tylenol.

For the next 4 or 5 days I could count the number of hours
sleep I got - I could count on two hands. Eventually I
was able to sleep for 4 or 5 hours straight on my back.

Then… 10 days later I slipped getting into my office
chair and my elbow landed on the arm rest.

The pain was unreal, after 3 or 4 hours back to ER, back
to surgery… the pin broke in two pieces. They had to do
surgery to remove the piece broke off in the clavicle.
Start all over.

This time they also gave me something to sleep. 30 years
ago but I remember it well. That was a month lost.

What it means to just sleep with a hurting shoulder.
 
Subluxation as distinguished from dislocation is painless. The joints weaken in ALS (soft tissue doesn't hold them together as well) so it can happen. If it is popping out and in, that could result in a permanent "out" [complete subluxation, which in ALS is generally forever] so I would consult PT and also avoid movements that pop it, e.g. use a shoulder pillow with a cutout at the shoulder. There are some on Amazon. They can also be called CPAP pillows because the cutouts are used for the hose. Honestly, I would try not to sleep on your back, though I know that's hard.
 
Laurie, both stays I had in the hospital they had me on my
back, tilted up, with just an arm pillow, I brought both home.

I had to buy a big wedge pillow along with the arm pillows.
(Foam block type... not really a pillow.)

A shoulder pillow with a cutout at the shoulder would have
you sleeping just on one side all night. Yes, that would be
hard to do.

I shouldn't have written "straight on my back".... I was
propped up with the big wedge whatever and the arm pillow.

I guess it's whatever works for each just to get some sleep.

Shoulder pain is.... aggravating. Maybe being so close to our
heads and an arm hanging off it. :)
 
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No, you can sleep on either side with dual cutouts.

On your back, many PALS need extra foam support under their forearms/elbows to stabilize the shoulder.
 
Ok, that was 30 years ago for me. Whatever.

Have you ever had shoulder dislocation, rotary cup
or scar tissue in your shoulder?

I'll say it again... it's one of the most aggravating
discomforts, pain to deal with.
 
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