How long does it take to recover from a dislocated shoulder?

Shoulder dislocations are common and they often require emergency treatment and planned surgery. Consultant Shoulder Surgeon Mr Nick Ferran discusses the expected post-operative recovery after arthroscopic (key hole surgery) surgery to stabilise the shoulder joint.

We discuss return to daily activities, return to work, and return to sports.

If you have any specific queries, write in the comments section below. Get all your queries answered by Mr Nick Ferran.

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[lazysherts]

I’ve dislocated both shoulders more than once when I was a teenager and i have not undergone a surgery. I put 150+ lbs over my head regularly pain free.

[bishalsilwal]

Hey doctor I dislocated my shoulder while trying boxing its been 3 weeks…i have slight pain in some activity but i want to get back to soccer i am also doing rehab exercises…so is it okey to play soccer with some kinesiology taping?

[RandomPersonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn]

Hello, i dislocated my shoulder 3 daays ago i went to doctor and he just moved my hand in random ways and said i can go back to gym in 2 weeks no mri or xray was done, do you think hes correct and il be fine in 2 weeks or should i go to another doctor?

[BFMVian]

Hello sir my shoulder is dislocated 2 years ago but i my shoulder doesn't hurt unless i do heavy work

[isaiahmarquart]

Hey i know it may be tiresome responding to all comments but I thought it’d be worth asking i was skating recently around the more earlier half of february and i didn’t even fall but i dislocated from a previous dislocation a couple months before back in about November and i didn’t fall the first time i haven’t been able to see an ortho and i know im not gonna be doing more physically demanding activities for a while but 1 Is my shoulder ever gonna be in the condition of insignificant chance for redislocating it and if yes how long would it take roughly and is there any way to strengthen it in the mean time and if No what do you recommend - Thank you for your time and your a real for trying to better others

[NiKoLa_]

How much time do you need to wear a slung after a shoulder dislocation? Or after how many days you need to remove slung?

[rqygojn]

Excuse me doctor when i was 17 i dislocated and was relicated by surgeon for 30 days with elbow reduction method using sling and physio theraphy is done 👍🏻 i have gained some strength like i can lift my arm straight horizontal but one complete rotation is not possible 😅 like what should i do to get complete range like if i dont play any sports for 2 years will it heel completely

[vsharky-]

I recently dislocated my shoulder on 2/11, it’s currently 2/16. i’ve been staying in a sling, and i haven’t really felt any pain for the past 2-3 days now, but i felt more so of a tense/stiff feeling in the shoulder area, but that feeling has lessened though. 1. What might be going on you think? 2. Is surgery like required, or does this sound like it can be treated with rest and physical therapy?

[karanjjariwala]

Hello sir my shoulder is dislocated my cavical bone is moving n hand humuous bone is move can you tell how time it take to recover back normal my hand is moving properly I had a bike accident now it's 24 days happen it's painning very Badly my cavical bone plz help me n can u suggest what should I do 🙏🙏🙏

[karanjjariwala]

My age is 28 I have showed to doctor they told me Vissco USI Belt to wear plz guide me sir

[eun-solkim]

Hi, I dislocated my shoulder 2 years ago (at 18 years old) and still haven’t completely recovered (maybe 70-80% what I used to be). I’ve got ok range of motion, some pain, and it’s impossible to do the sports I used to, but the good news is there has been no second dislocation. What kind of issues could I be looking at here? Is it too late to get to 100% with physical therapy? Thanks for taking the time to reply to all these comments!

[parth]

Hello sir hope you read this I dislocated my shoulder about 1 week ago while swimming but it was not fully dislocated because when I held the swimming pool bars to go out it popped back in. I did the xray and it showed no dislocation everything is normal there was no passive pain after it popped in but the shoulder felt weird and weak as if it will happen again if i did try to lift something or do work with it. I it showed to a specialist next day he gave me an around the neck support and told to wear it 3 weeks ** I wanted to ask what should I eat for better recovery cause I love gym and also was curious about full recovery time**

[franciszeksobaszczyk]

Hi doctor. I have multidirectional instability of shoulder and I don't know if is this the same as dislocation of shoulder? My question is that how long I need to wait to go back to gym? Now I'm on physical therapy from October but I "destroyed" my shoulder 20th August. I'm 16 years old and I'd loved to go back to the gym even If I'll need to take it carefully and work on lower weights.

[josephksajan]

When I excercise my shoulders just dislocate for few seconds and then relocate this has happened for 4 or 5 times whenever I am doing hand excersises or when playing badminton is a surgery is necessary or do I have to do some shoulder excercise? To get better

[RelixeR_]

Hi Doc! I'm a 15 year old boy, I've dislocated my left shoulder awhile back and now I did my right too! My right also had a broken clavicle..

I want to get back into MMA, my dream is to become a pro, is there any way I can fix this without surgery? It's been 3 days. :(

[kousarbanu]

Sir am in immobilitation in 3rd week.. 30years housewife.. Right shoulder one time dislocated.I have no weight lifting works.. And very much fear to combing back to my hair and hands up to dressing whether it will dislocare again??? Can i comb my hair in future sir..

[edlcl]

I just dislocated my shoulder two weeks before a big long trip and I still intend to go through with it. The trip involves backpacking and trekking. Will I need to adjust eg. Using a luggage? The doctor helped me to pop it back into the socket but currently there's quite a bit of swelling so I'm slung up right now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

[merrickgardner]

Hey doctor. I was recently playing baseball and getting some hitting practice in when my shoulder dislocated, but only for a split second. I was in a sling for a couple of days until it felt sturdy enough to be without. I have been trying to get back into some physical activity again like some light basketball. My shoulder doesn’t bother me unless I bend down to grab something or try to reach my back. Should I see a doctor or go to get an MRI? I’m just confused and don’t want anything permanent to set in.

[tosifkhan]

Hlo.. I am right arm fast bowler my shoulder dislocated 2 year ago injury after 8 month surgery and 11 after back to bowling normal pain but horror feel

[Sal_on_YT]

Hey doctor, I dislocated my shoulder during January and got full range of motion back in 2 months with no pain/stiffness and even went back to weight lifting in 4 months, but I recently dislocated my shoulder again throwing a football, how long til I’m able to weightlift/go to gym or do anything with it