Dislocated shoulder (2024)

FAQs

How do I fix my dislocated shoulder? ›

While standing or sitting, grab the wrist of your injured arm. Pull your arm forward and straight, in front of you. This is meant to guide the ball of your arm bone back to the shoulder socket. When the shoulder is back in place, put your arm in the sling.

A dislocated shoulder won't heal on its own, and it won't heal properly unless a healthcare provider diagnoses and treats it. Go to the emergency room if you have any symptoms of a dislocation after a fall, sports injury or accident.

You can stop wearing the sling after a few days, but it takes about 12 to 16 weeks to completely recover from a dislocated shoulder. You'll usually be able to resume most activities within two weeks. You should avoid heavy lifting and sports involving shoulder movements for between six weeks and three months.

You have likely injured (stretched or torn) some of the muscles, tendons (tissues that connect muscle to bone), or ligaments (tissues that connect bone to bone) of the shoulder joint. All of these tissues help keep your arm in place. Having a dislocated shoulder is very painful. It is very hard to move your arm.

Complications of a dislocated shoulder might include: Tearing of the muscles, ligaments and tendons that reinforce the shoulder joint. Nerve or blood vessel damage in or around the shoulder joint. Becoming more prone to repeat dislocations, especially if the injury is severe.

If you think you have dislocated your shoulder, you should never try to pop it back into place yourself. Attempting to do so could cause damage not only to the joint but also to shoulder muscles and ligaments, as well as blood vessels and nerves. Instead, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Recovering from a dislocated shoulder

It usually takes up to 12 weeks to recover from a dislocated shoulder. It may take up to 16 weeks to fully return to playing some sports, but for some recovery can take longer. You'll need to wear a sling to support your arm for the first few weeks.

What Happens If a Dislocated Shoulder Is Left Untreated? An untreated shoulder dislocation will increase in pain and swelling. There will be a significant loss of shoulder mobility. Also, further damage to surrounding blood vessels and ligaments can occur.

After 6 weeks of therapy and rehabilitation, the affected arm can typically be used fairly normally, with the exception of avoiding forceful movements above the head or across the body, and weight-bearing activities, such as heavy lifting or push-ups.

The most difficult thing to have to deal with after a shoulder dislocation is sleep. If you lay down, it's going to hurt. If you have a recliner, plan on sleeping on it for the first few days. If that's not an option for you, place several pillows strategically on your bed to provide your shoulder with support.

What movements should be avoided after shoulder dislocation? ›

Avoid shoulder external rotation at or above 90 degrees of abduction. Avoid shoulder extension past neutral. Avoid traction force of glenohumeral joint. General healing timeline expected is 6+ weeks.

Relax, reach your arm over your head, touch your hand to the bottom of your neck, reach for the opposite shoulder, and the shoulder should pop back into place. After you reduce your shoulder, seek follow-up medical attention as soon as you can.

The shoulder may look sunken or pushed forward, and there may be bruising and swelling. Regardless of whether the dislocation is partial or total, your shoulder feels weak and possibly numb. You may not be able to move your arm at all.

People often mistake a subluxation for a dislocated joint, and vice versa. But in a subluxation, the humeral head does not completely pop out of the shoulder socket. In a dislocation, the head and socket are completely separated.

Surgery might help those with weak shoulder joints or ligaments who have repeated shoulder dislocations despite strengthening and rehabilitation. In rare cases, damaged nerves or blood vessels might require surgery. Surgical treatment might also reduce the risk of re-injury in young athletes.

Most people who experience a shoulder dislocation seek immediate treatment in an emergency room, where a doctor can put the round end of the arm bone, or humerus, back into place without surgery.

The patient lies on the side of the unaffected shoulder. Two practitioners lift the patient by the dislocated arm, while the arm is abducted. If no reduction occurs, the practitioner can place his hand in the axilla and apply pressure on the humeral head to reposition it in the glenoid rim.