The Recovery Period for a Dislocated Shoulder
Elderly people are most likely to suffer from a dislocated shoulder, as their bones become more fragile as they age.
There’s a myth that there is zero recovery period from a dislocated shoulder, which is likely perpetuated by the few individuals who can pop their shoulder out and back into its socket painlessly.
The fact is: the recovery period to regain full motion of your arm after a dislocated shoulder is 3-4 weeks, perhaps longer for some people.
How is a Dislocated Shoulder Caused and How Can You Recover?
The biggest cause of a dislocated shoulder in elderly people is from falling over. If you fall and land on your arms in a certain way, the shoulder ball can dislocate from the front of the socket.
If this happens, you’ll have to wear your arm in a sling for 2-3 weeks, and you may also perhaps be prescribed some light physiotherapy in order to regain full motion of your arm.
If you’ve invested in the home nursing care Chesterfield or Macomb has to offer, you’ll have access to a trained medical professional who can look out for you and help you nurse your shoulder back to health.
They may also be able to assist with basic tasks in and around the house that become harder with your arm in a sling, such as showering, cooking, or getting dressed. These are the sort of tasks that these nurses are trained to help less physically able people to perform, so you’re in good hands.
Certainly, if you’re an older person who is prone to losing their balance around the home, home nursing care may be a sensible investment to make.
The Long-Term Recovery from a Dislocated Shoulder
Bear in mind that once a shoulder has been dislocated once, it’s most susceptible to popping out of its socket again, as the initial dislocation can widen the socket and loosen the muscles that hold it in place.
If you’re an older person who tends to lose their balance, it’s highly recommended to invest in this area, especially if you’re suffered from a dislocated shoulder before, as falling onto your arm is likely to result in a recurrence of this injury.
There are shoulder operations you can have to help prevent recurrences, but this can be very expensive and are usually only recommended for individuals who have suffered from multiple dislocations. The recovery period from these operations can be between nine months and one year, and involves more intense versions of the exercises described above. For an elderly person, this is unlikely to be recommended by a medical professional.
Nevertheless, those who have invested in the home nursing care Macomb or Chesterfield has to offer will have access to nurses that can help them with this type of recovery too.