I've dislocated my shoulder twice now. First time was about 10 years ago, then about 2 years after that. Fingers crossed, other than it clicking in sparring/fighting it hasn't really caused me any trouble. Although sometimes when I hook on the real heavy bag, it twinges occasionally. A lot has to be said for good physio and hard work!

Just wondered if anyone has had surgery for repeated shoulder dislocations and been able to train/fight again without any trouble?

Thanks.

If the joint is weak, loose or unstable the goal would be to tighten it up. Proper assessment of muscle balance, lengths, relative strength etc can lead to a corrective exercise program to strengthen the shoulder gurgle. If the ligaments are too long there is not much you can do with them - so you can tighten the related muscles and must do so in a balanced manner.

Starts in the core though. There is a criss cross of facial activated (tightened) when the core is activated that runs across the back connecting the shoulders and hips. Activating the core stabilizes the shoulder (and hip). This can be demonstrated in minutes.

Core function is ruined by excessive sit-ups and poor exercises.
The body takes the path of least resistance. Sit-ups flex the rectus abdominus (6 pack). When over trained compared with the inner obliques and TVA (some of the main core muscles) the body activates them, from you trained conditioning, when trying to stabilize. All movement (if body functioning) starts at the core.
The core pulls the belly button INWARDS and activates the fascia stabilizing the shoulders.Flexing the rectus pushes the belly button OUTWARDS. If an imbalance in strength and function of abdominal musculature then when the body tries to stabilize it will go to the over trained and over activation of the 6 pack.

Think what happens to your biceps when you flex - they shorten and bulge. Flexing the 6 pack bulges it OUT and pulls belly button out (unless balance with other abdominal muscles and have proper core function.

What you eat strongly affects core function.

All the viscera are connected through the spine to muscles and visa versa. What this means is that any problem with your internal organs will inhibit related muscle function.

example

heart attack - it is felt in the muscles of the left shoulder/arm/chest etc
The heart and those muscles connect at the same spinal segment(s) and the heart problem is experienced by the effected muscles.

What happens is the heart sends info to the spine saying - got a problem here. The spine sends the info to the brain saying - got a problem here - the brain sends info back saying - act like you have a problem... Now what happens here is the info to act like you have a problem goes back to the spinal segment(s) but instead of the info going only to the heart it goes to everything connected to that spinal segment(s)... including the skin, organs, muscles etc

When food is eaten that inflames the gut and digestive organs they send the info to the brain saying - got a prob here... brain says to act like you have a problem and core muscles (which are needed to support shoulder girdle) act like they have a problem and don't function properly...

Muscles are only as strong as your internal organs.

Assessing core function is a huge starting point along with the structure of the shoulder etc The body works as a whole and looking at the problem area is often looking at a symptom of imbalance and not the cause.

Digestive health is HUGE when it comes to core function...
Never mind we have trained and conditioned the core not to work by not knowing how to work it properly.

Proper assessment and program design for rehab includes looking at the core and that means digestive health etc in my opinion.

I totally knackered my right shoulder a few years ago and even went home and slept on the dislocation before going to hospital the next day (waking up several times in the night with a banging hangover head and a dislocated shoulder hanging off isn`t a great look!)

Anyway, I just made sure I really built up the muscle around it i.e. doing twice as much work on that arm/shoulder than the other and it seems to have locked it into place, touch wood. Never had any problems since.

Jumping on this thread, I should be getting rid of my sling on Thursday following dislocating and fracturing my own right shoulder a month ago (anterior dislocation with a fractured greater tuberosity according to my medical notes). Any tips on what to do immediately afterwards? At the moment I'm thinking of a hot bath and plenty of deep heat because I know it's going to be very painful using muscles that have been immobilized for a month. I'll also be arranging to see a private physio as well as an NHS one so I can get some strengthening exercises without having to wait too long. My right shoulder feels a lot bonier and less muscly than my left which I assume is partly muscle wastage and partly the muscles on the left getting more developed because they've been used a lot more than usual. I'm also looking forward to being able to sleep without an arm strapped across my chest.

Not that painful, just aches a bit at first. You will get a large elastic band to exercise with. Do some weight alongside and you will be fine.

Kim Khan Zaki (did I get that even remotely right?) of the Contender Asia has had surgery on both shoulders for repeated dislocation and still fights professionally x

After a month I'm finally allowed to take the sling off and I can make a start on getting my arm moving again. It's very stiff and painful and I don't have full range of movement yet, but at least now I can make a start on proper rehab and I've been told I can see a private physio as well as an NHS one. The consultant also backed up what a nurse friend said about taking painkillers regularly so getting it moving hurts less. I find hot baths and hot water bottles also work quite well for drug free pain relief. Got to wait until the next followup appointment in a month's time before I can return to sport properly but I can't physically punch with my right hand anyway so that's not a problem. For now I can barely lift my arm above my head but at least I don't have to sleep with it strapped across my chest. Dunno how much of this is from the injury and how much is from having my shoulder immobilized, but I suppose it doesn't really matter. Of course I've still got the sling and I've been advised to wear it when I feel I need it.

Work on the mental game of fighting and also work on mental in terms of focusing on your healing. The body-mind heals itself. There is plenty of evidence to show that thinking has a huge role on healing. I also believe from my own experience with myself, with clients and as a client, that energy follows intent (there have been studies done which support this). Focus positively on the area with intention to heal and belief that you will and healing will be facilitated.

Hope your physio is good and do what he says if it feels right to you.. once the main pain or most mobility comes back most people slack off on a rehab program... sticking to it may help it healproperly... that said most professionals will be cautious and suggest being too careful over being too reckless... though that is probably smart.

Listen to your body...

My experience is loads can be done working with the energy system,working with the meridians can go a long long way. Acupuncture can be very good, two or three EFT sessions with an good practitioner (who can also teach you how to do it on your own so you can spend 5 minutes a day on it) would likely get you faster results than most anything.

Eat well, sleep well, keep hydrated and have fun... get in the sun if you can... great for the body.

A couple thoughts and opinions...

I Dislocated my shoulder about 6 years ago fighting F/C and after that it kept popping out on a regular basis, firstly from doing exessive things like sparring until eventually when i would just stretch my arms out and it would pop out....I used to compete on the F/C circuit but the injury forced me to stop.
In my case i ended up having surgery on my shoulder to 'tighten' up the ligaments which so far (fingers crossed) has proved to be effective and have started to train again and even spar on a regular basis..
When i went for the initial consultation with the surgeon he gave me an option of tightening up the ligaments or pinning the shoulder...pinning the shoulder would have meant bigger surgery and also a big scar which i didn't really want. I think pinning the shoulder would almost gaurantee that it would not pop out again...but don't have the surgery on my say so.....;)