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Author Topic: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...  (Read 7069 times)

BrooklynSlop

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Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« on: June 30, 2008, 02:18:15 PM »
Last week I hurt my shoulder while moving. I thought it was nothing but a minor pulled muscle or something. The next day I went to the lanes to toss a couple of games and on the third shot **SNAP** my shoulder pops completely out of socket - OUUUUUUCH!!!!! Major pain and constant popping in and out of socket with everything I've done since.

I saw a doctor about it today, who then referred me to a surgeon. I have a separated shoulder with an anterior tear and/or sprain in several of my ligaments around the shoulder joint. This is causing "shoulder instability"  which is why it continues to pop out of joint.

Long story short, surgery may not be necessary right away. I need to tape it up every day and wear a sling for the first couple of weeks to allow everything to properly heal. I am not allowed any strenuous physical activity with the shoulder for at least 4-6 months. At that time the surgeon will perform another evaluation to determine whether surgery will be necessary to correct the problem.

My doctor told me point blank that my bowling days are most likely over for good (unless I want to attempt lefty and re-learn the game from step one).

Anyway, I thought I would share... I'm pretty bummed about it to say the least...

In fact, heck, let's be honest... I'm devastated. I love this game, and I hate to think that I may no longer get to be a part of it...
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"Opportunity is never lost... It is taken by someone else."
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~Slop~

 

abrown

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2008, 10:22:28 PM »
one of the owners at the local house i bowl at  had to switch over it was a real ego buster for him going from a 215 down to a 118 he got arthritis so bad he couldn't pick a ball up right handed now 4 years later he has a 170 + avg and he still improving
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" when you dislodge your head from your a@! make sure to whipe your eyes"
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JOE FALCO

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2008, 10:27:09 PM »
A lot more things in life aside from bowling .. thank God you are OK .. good luck!
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Hit them light and watch them fight
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RIP Thongprincess/Sawbones!

scotts33

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2008, 10:34:06 PM »
Slop,

Let me tell you about 2 issues that have happened to me in the past 30+ years and both times physicians told me that I'd never use my right arm/shoulder again.

At 19 in Vietnam 1968 I took an AK-47 round to my right bicep..clean thru and hit the stock of my M-16 otherwise I'd be KIA right now.  Anyway luckily it only semi-fractured bone.  Dr.s said after re-hab I'd never be able to throw baseball, bowl, etc.  I proved them wrong and played baseball, fastpitch softball and other sports.

2nd incident..fast forward to 1995.  I used to be a hardwood logger.....long story short large branch came out of a tree when I was felling it and hit my right shoulder driving me to the ground and broke my chromium...I still look off kilter chromium sticks up kinda funny <NFL lineman get this kind of injury often from years of blocking>..Doc said you're done.  Not yet Sir I am still bowling right handed and do decently although that year I bowled left handed w/ 14 lb urethane.

Sooooo, my point is it may look bleak right now but don't give up....... get different opinions and work with some great therapists and we will pray for your recovery all is not lost....you may just not have that high backswing anymore.

Chin up you always wanted to be a Wrongsider!  
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Scott

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Scott

mainzer

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #4 on: June 30, 2008, 10:46:55 PM »
oh man good luck Slop I can't imagine being your shoes, Godspeed. my friend
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MainzerPower

JShiff

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #5 on: June 30, 2008, 10:57:19 PM »
some guy at my bowling alley who bowled youth with chris loschetter said chris was lefty, blew out his shoulder and became a right hander.
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wait what?
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Monster Pike

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #6 on: June 30, 2008, 10:59:39 PM »
Yeah, Good luck Slop.  Read Scotts33 reply.  Now that's some inspiration.

Thanks Scotts, for the story & your service.
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"The last time I saw a face like that, it had a hook in it's mouth." Rodney Dangerfield
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John D Davis

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #7 on: June 30, 2008, 11:02:21 PM »
I agree... you should go left handed if you have a love for the game. If I could never bowl right handed again, I would mind. Heck frankly I cant beat those left handers so why not join them...
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nextbowler

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #8 on: June 30, 2008, 11:35:58 PM »
For right now, I think you should exercise some patience and wait and
see.  No, I do not know more than your Dr., but in over 25 years of
teaching and coaching, most of the shoulder injuries (especially
separations) do heal and most people have resumed normal activities.
You may not ever be a cranker, but you may very well be able to par-
ticipate on a high level.  The biggest problem would be if the
ligaments do need surgery.  Good luck.
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scadreau

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2008, 11:57:27 PM »
brooklynslop,

Don't worry about it too much.  The fact is that most people can recover from shoulder problems if they rehab with discipline.  Physically, one of the worst things for a shoulder is throwing hard and look at how many pitchers are able to return from major surgery.  

On a side note, get a 2nd opinion.  The fact that he wants to try to let it heal on its own is a bit concerning.  Before he makes that decision he should have ordered an MRI to see if it was a complete or partial tear of any of the ligaments.  There are many options and very few should prevent you from bowling again right handed.
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JessN16

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2008, 01:03:29 AM »
Slop,

I'd encourage you to see someone who specifically deals with sports injuries and ask them to devise a surgical/rehab plan for the express purpose of getting you back onto the lanes.

Sorry to hear about your injury, man. That's a tough one. I hope whatever you decide to do, it gets you back out there quickly.

Jess
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se7en

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2008, 07:43:45 AM »
I tore my shoulder really bad opening a stuck trunk on my car in the parking lot before league one night. Felt like someone stabbed me. After 3 months in a sling, I could lean forward from a sitting position on a couch to grab something off of a coffee table without using my other arm to pull myself forward.

Long story short, when I returned after a few months, I had almost no mobility and quit bowling.

10 years later a family member invited me out to bowl and I shot 257 my first game. Ended up making a come back.

A sports therapist I know told me how scar tissue likely strengthened the area and the chances I re injure it are low. Hope for the best.
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There is nothing so easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply.
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BrooklynSlop

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2008, 08:06:21 AM »
Thanks for the support, folks. I appreciate it.

As for an MRI, it's on the books for early next week. I am also seeking a 2nd opinion after the MRI is done just to be sure.

Maybe I'll give it a go as a south-paw? Like someone said earlier... What's the worst that could happen?
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"Opportunity is never lost... It is taken by someone else."
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~Slop~

Dan Belcher

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2008, 08:09:02 AM »
Who knows, maybe you'll end up being even better left-handed over time?    And if you do get to bowl with your right hand again in the future, you'll probably have learned new things by experimenting with teaching yourself how to bowl all over again with your left hand that may translate over to your right.

And remember to let your shoulder heal, don't rush things.  And don't get lazy with any physical therapy they might have you do in the future!
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baccala8872

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Re: Separated Shoulder: Bye-Bye Bowling...
« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2008, 08:26:07 AM »
Brook,

Good luck man.  Just give yourself the time to heal and you never know what may happen.  Keep thinking positive and know that we're always here for you.

--Chris
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If I ever saw an amputee being hanged, I'd just yell out letters.  --DM
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