I've dislocated my shoulder, tired of hearing these stories...?

Question

Im 17 years old and Ive dislocated my shoulder yesterday for the first time playing basketball when I reached for the rebound and hit the floor (I cant really remember exactly how it happened). And at ER I had it put it back in after waiting 4 hours. Im also a pitcher who throws a top speed of 91 mph. I looked all over the internet and I hear people say they dislocated their shoulder 50 times every week or some **** like that just from having their hand above their head and it hurts all the time. And that once it happens for the first time, it happens easy as h**l the next time. I dont wanna quit baseball cuz I believe that I had a good chance to make it. But these stories make me wanna quit on something I love. I also love swimming and I hear you easily dislocate it. As of now Im following what the doctor said with wearing the sling and icing it for 3 weeks. What can I do to make a full recovery? Can I still swim and play baseball w/o it dislocating it? And please if your going to respond PLEASE DO NOT mention whatever surgery I also keep hearing. I feel like I just messed up my whole life in athletics and make me not wanna do anything. Please encourage me or something for real

Answer 1

Take a deep breath...

1st off what you have "heard" is only partially true, yes you do make it easier to dislocate your shoulder after it has already been dislocated but tou have had it slightly exagerated.

Chances are that your shoulder will be weaker for a while after you get out of the sling, with some light resistance excersises strengthening you shoulder you will be almost %100 within a month.  After this period if you did not dislocate your shoulder it will be almost back to normal. I say almost because yes it will be easier to happen again but no it will not make much of a diffrence (chances are that if you dislocate it again it would have happened anyway) if not treated with care in the first moth then there might be some structural issues but it should be fine.  I have never met a person who has had issues with one or two dislocation.

Whatever you do do not quit baseball!!! doctors can easily fix any problems that might occur without surgry through PT (physical therapy)

Well anyway that is my $.02 hope it helps ease your mind