Zeuser

I dislocated my left shoulder last thursday and now the doc says i can't go biking for several weeks, perhaps even months.

Grrrrr... that means i'll have to use the car to commute.

Eggplant Jeff

Months? Because of a dislocated shoulder? Just pop it back in like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, good to go!

I feel for ya, I had surgery (jaw surgery of all things) and couldn't ride for 8 weeks . It sucks.

Fuzzydave

Dislocated shoulder? i've been there. It'll be a while before you get over your fear to use that arm for anything.
I did it twice, four years apart, but both were before I started riding a lot.
It ended my touch football career.
You could always ride and not tell the doc....

thdave

Did you fall?

Zeuser

I had a stupid accident early this month. The shoulder popped out. Then, as i was getting dressed last thursday, it popped out again.

So the doctor told me: no biking until further notice... unless you want it to pop out again.

It's a forward dislocation; the bone pops out forward. That's the most common type of shoulder dislocation. Problem with a bike is that i need my left hand and i need to put my left arm out forward to hold the handlebar. That in itself is a big risk for another dislocation.

Considering how much a dislocation really hurts, and i had to wait for 5 hours in the ER, i just don't want to do it again anytime soon.

dalmore

Misery loves company so here's another temporary cager for you. I was attacked by a rabid box cutter and can't reach the brakes without reopening the cut. So no biking for a few days for me. I should be good to go by weeks end though.

Anyway, I feel your pain - at least the no riding pain... You can keep the shoulder pain - been there and done that don't want to visit again.

oboeguy

Ow! Have you made an appt with a PT? Regular PT worked wonders for my latest knee problem.

GreenGrasshoppr

Have you considered shopping for a (perhaps used, cheaper) recumbent?

ontheroadid

More sympathy and camraderie from me -- after aggravating my back last weekend laying cement pavers, I'm off the bike for a full week. Pedaling, especially on the upstroke, was bothering the injured muscles in my lower back and glutes. Hopefully next week, I'll be back on the bike.

K4LK

Isn't repeated dislocation caused by a torn posterior ligament? If so, surgery followed by PT might cure your problem.

Zeuser

Not yet. That's the next step once the doc says its ok to start physio.

Zeuser

that's probably what will happen. First i need a CT scan since the doc spotted a fracture in the x-ray. Then we'll take it from there.

Sheik_Yerbouti

I dislocated a shoulder backpacking in Kananaskis. My now fiancee, then friend picked up a snowball, so I dove, and slid down some scree until a boulder met my shoulder stopping me from going over the cliff. The worst was that I was a 2 day hike to the trailhead, so I just took advantage of pain killers, and sat at home getting fat for the next few months.

Zeuser

I've always wanted to have a tadpole. Can it be controlled with only one hand (right hand) ?

BigRedSnackFoam

I dislocated my shoulder skateboarding about 9 years ago. Not fun, I also enjoyed a 5 hour wait in the ER. I did it again snowboarding a few years later but it popped back in by itself that time. It took years before I was comfortable using it 100%. In fact, even as recently as a year ago I could feel it "slipping" when I played volleyball. It's a weird feeling and pretty painful too.

Good luck and hope you have a speedy recovery. My doc said that once a dislocation occurs its extremely likely to happen again. Yay.

Zeuser

Yup... mine said the same thing which is why we're talking about a possible operation.

This isn't the first time though. Last time it happened was twice in 1995 playing some beach volleyball. After the second one I said : "ok.. i got the message!" and gave up volleyball.

I was dislocation-free since then up until earlier this month. I gotta tell you, typing one handed sucks!

crtreedude 

It took 6 hours of manipulation to get my back in - nearly had to take me in surgery. It was seriously messed up. But, they strapped it to me for a couple of months and then the physical therapy started.

It really never did get back to normal till I started rock climbing - I kid you not. After rock climbing for a year or so, the shoulder is better than ever - but if you do it, start slow.

froze

Your not a true bike ride unless you dislocated your shoulder or broke a collar bone! I've dislocated shoulders before and rode the bike about a week afterwards.

Inthe10ring

THANK YOU!!! I am about to order a TerraTrike cruiser for just such occasions... My friend just picked up a nearly new Haluzak SWB bent for about a grand. You can find a rans rocket for 500-600 bucks. A bike that's comfy, and hauls ass? Deal!
Ryan

Inthe10ring

Yes, check out Terratrike.com and go to the accessories page. They have conversions that they will do for you, and you can pick right or left side...

Bikepacker67

So she accepted your proposal out of guilt?

GRedner

My dad (a lifelong cyclocommuter) had a terrible shoulder dislocation some years ago. I've never seen him so miserable as when he couldn't bike to work on account of the shoulder.

Even years later, he retained a strong sense of needing to protect that shoulder. Several times I've been ice skating with him when he's caught an edge and started to fall, only to twist to get the shoulder behind him and smash down on his face instead!

Good luck on getting better!

Schwinnrider

I feel your pain, man. I got hit by a truck while riding three weeks ago, and I've been unable to commute since. My injuries are healing but the bike is out of commission. Heal up, go walking or something.

KrisPistofferson

I feel ya, man. Next semester I'm using my financial aid to buy a four-stroke, 125cc scooter because my classes will keep me in school 'til well after the last bus runs, and the college I go to is too far to cycle to, and on a pretty much unbikeable highway. Scooters are way cool, though!

I can also feel for you because I have a recurring sprained ankle, and while it is theoretically possible to cycle with the immobilizer-boot on, it sucks, and cab rides are pretty dang expensive. The scooter (80-100 mpg,) should help in case I injure it again. Hope the shoulder heals up soon.