Bad shoulder, worried about nursing school

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Hello all,

I wanted to ask your opinion on a matter that concerns me regarding my shoulder. When I engage in certain activities like putting on a shirt, blow drying my hair, slamming a car door shut my shoulder undergoes an anterior subluxation. It hurts when it occurs and my arm is stuck in an awkward upward position with the joint partially dislocated until it spontaneously pops back in. This happened to me again today. I know I need an MRI and the wait lists are so long!!!

Anyway, the activities that aggravate my subluxation involve my arm being in an upward position, do you think this will greatly impact my ability to assist in patient turning and lifting during clinicals? I plan on seeing a doctor and I'll probably choose to do physiotherapy before choosing surgery depending on MRI, but has anyone else experienced subluxation of their shoulder? Did you make It through nursing school?? I've already competed my fist year which counts as all the pre-requisites and will be starting my second year this January! 🎉

I just hope my shoulder won't be an issue. This issue happens a few times a year since 2010... I thought it would heal on its own and resolve. Because I was pregnant twice from 2010 and now I attributed it to lax joints from the hormone relaxin, but my youngest child is now two and it's happened again, so I guess it's something more :S however, it's rather infrequent.

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I would speak to your PCP and be sure that they clear you before starting nursing school. Your school more than likely requires a physical exam anyway. You won't be doing yourself any favors by attending nursing school with a bum shoulder. You don't want to injure yourself more and you don't want to put others at risk for falls, etc.

Again, see your PCP and see what they say. Good luck!

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Definitely. See you doctor and ask them your questions about nursing school. None of us here can diagnose your shoulder -- and a good diagnosis is what you need.

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Thanks, I know you guys can't diagnose on here. I am looking to see if any other nurses or nursing students have had a similar experience and what was the outcome?

Yes my school requires a physical exam. Hopefully I can learn some techniques through physiotherapy to strengthen my arm as well as techniques to manoeuvre patients safely. I'll for sure be seeing a doctor, this whole thing is saddening me.

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Well I saw my physician and he has sent me for X-rays and physiotherapy he doesn't seem to think it will effect school!! :D

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I have Ehlers Danlos and I dislocate my shoulder on an almost daily basis. I have worked on the floor for 6 years. Mostly it's okay except when I try to have iv fluid with that arm. You find ways to adapt. Don't let something like an injury stop you. I thought I couldn't be a nurse because I have EDS and I put off nursing school for years. I finally decided I could do it and it's easier on my body than I thought.

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I have Ehlers Danlos and I dislocate my shoulder on an almost daily basis. I have worked on the floor for 6 years. Mostly it's okay except when I try to have iv fluid with that arm. You find ways to adapt. Don't let something like an injury stop you. I thought I couldn't be a nurse because I have EDS and I put off nursing school for years. I finally decided I could do it and it's easier on my body than I thought.

Thank you for your words of inspiration! I'm sorry you have to deal with that on a daily basis you're so strong! I would hate to allow this shoulder issue prevent me from being the best nurse I aspire to be!

I have put off MRIs in the past for fear that I may require surgery and I kept putting school first. I've come to realize I might have to miss a day or two of school for a needed MRI and if that MRI dictates I require surgery I'll try my darnedest to book it for summertime when my school gives us two months off. That's the ideal plan anyways. In the meantime I will try physio and an X-ray and hope to god my arm won't do its thing again anytime soon.

Kitzela, I really hope I too will find ways to adapt. It sucks having an injury, but I'm willing to work with it.

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