I've dislocated my left shoulder 4 times. The first time, just like yours, was the most painful experience of my life. After the first time I did the whole physio/strength routine and after a few months of that I thought my shoulder was fine. About a year after the first incident it just popped out again. I was swimming and it dislocated during a swimming stroke. The pain wasn't that bad and it kinda just went back in on its own when I got back to shore.
Dislocations three and four were very similar, the shoulder just came apart at weird times, usually when extending it over my head or making a quick jolt with my arm. I finally decided to get surgery after my fourth disconsolation in four years. I hesitated getting it done earlier because I heard about the long wait times just to see a surgeon, and didn't want to be out of commission for weeks after the surgery. Looking back on it all, I should have insisted on surgery right after the first dislocation. It would have saved me a world of hurt, time, rehab etc.
After my first dislocation surgery wasn't really discussed as an option for me, they wanted me to try to rehab it. From my own personal experience I would try to get surgery as soon as you can. I couldn't believe how smooth the surgery went, and how quickly I was back to normal. In fact I'd say my left shoulder feels much stronger than my right one.
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