I Slipped in the Rain and Dislocated My Shoulder: A Painful Lesson and Recovery Journey

It started as a normal day, but it quickly turned into a painful lesson after I experienced a dislocated shoulder from a fall.

We had just wrapped up a show and were unloading the truck. It had been a long day, and the rain wasn’t letting up. Everything was wet, the ground was slick—but like most days, we just kept pushing to get the job done.

Then, in a split second, everything changed.

I took one step and completely lost my footing.

I went down hard—hitting my head and bouncing backward. Instinct took over and I threw my arm out to catch myself. The moment my hand hit the ground, I felt it instantly.

My shoulder dislocated.

The Pain and the Decision

If you’ve ever experienced a dislocated shoulder, you know it’s not just pain—it’s shock. I lay there in the rain, trying to process what had just happened. Time felt like it slowed down. Every second dragged as I tried to breathe through it, knowing something was seriously wrong.

I couldn’t just stay there.

So I did the only thing I could think of—I reached over, grabbed my shoulder, and forced it back into place myself.

It wasn’t easy. And it’s definitely not something I’d recommend. But in that moment, it felt like the only option.

Still in intense pain, I got into the truck and drove straight to the emergency room.

Emergency and Recovery

When I arrived, the doctor told me they would likely have to sedate me to reset the shoulder. But after taking five X-rays, they came back with a surprise—I had already put it back in, and somehow, I had done it properly.

That didn’t mean I was okay.

The pain was still intense. My arm felt weak, unstable, and barely usable. They put me in a sling and sent me home with instructions to rest and follow up.

A few days later, I saw my doctor again—and that’s when the real challenge began.

I was told to stop wearing the sling and start moving my arm to regain mobility. At that point, even the smallest movement felt difficult. I could barely lift my arm, and everything felt tight, weak, and painful.

That’s when physio became part of my routine.

Week after week, I worked on getting my strength and movement back. It wasn’t fast, and it wasn’t easy. Some days felt like no progress at all—but slowly, things started to improve.

After a few months of consistent physiotherapy, my shoulder is doing much better. I’m not 100% yet, but I’m close—and I’m getting back to doing what I love.

What This Taught Me

Looking back, it’s crazy how fast things can change. One second you’re going about your day, and the next, everything stops.

But it also taught me something important—recovery takes patience. It takes effort. And it takes showing up, even when it hurts.

If you’re dealing with a shoulder injury or recovering from a dislocation, stick with it. Progress might feel slow, but it adds up.

And sometimes, the toughest setbacks turn into the strongest comebacks.