Shoulder Dislocations.. what can I do?

I have had a series of dislocations in my right shoulder, five to be exact. I have had to change my sleeping patterns, the way I move, the way I weightlift, everything..

My questions are..

One: what can I do besides get surgery that will help to permanently make maneuvering easier? I am already doing physical therapy, but is there anything else I can do? Like a nightly thing?

Two: I was a weightlifter before and a little during the dislocations, they happened over a period of five years. How can I get back into the weightlifting world while still working on my right arm? Curls and barbell weights are fine, but I need to get my shoulder stronger.. any ideas?

well you probably tore your rotater cuff, i tore mine, and its still toren...i hate to tell you this, but the best thing you should do is get surgery...unless you want it to keep happening, then just dont work it to much. im a wrestler and boxer. and i need to get surgery so i can wrestle and box without having my shoulder weigh me down, and your a wieghtlifter, i mean yeah you can get it stronger but there is still that chance of dislocating your shoulder, just take my advise buddy, just get the surgery...i hope i helped

I've been there myself--I would say I have dislocated both shoulders at least 3 times each. The most recent time was in summer of 2006, I dislocated my left shoulder on a waterslide. I wound up in the ER for several hours.

Since then, sleeping has been a problem. I tense up and think my shoulder is popping out. Very frustrating.

I would not focus on surgery but instead on the physical therapy. PT is the number one thing to get your shoulder tightened back up. I went to an ortho doc and they had the mentality that surgery was truly a last resort.