Description

A dislocated shoulder is an injury in which your upper arm bone out of the cup-shaped cavity that form part of the scapula. The shoulder is the body's most flexible joint, which makes it more likely to dislocate.

If you suspect a dislocated shoulder, seek immediate medical attention. Most people regain full use of his shoulder within a couple of weeks. However, once the shoulder is dislocated, the joint can be prone to repeat dislocations.

Symptoms

Dislocated shoulder symptoms may include:

  • A visibly deformed or out-of-place shoulder
  • Swelling or bruising
  • Severe pain
  • Inability to move the joint

Shoulder dislocation can cause numbness, weakness or tingling near the injury, as in the neck or down the arm. The muscles in the shoulder could spasm, which can increase the pain.

When to see a doctor

Get medical help right away for a shoulder that appears dislocated.

While waiting for medical attention:

  • Do not move the joint. Splint or sling from your shoulder joint in the position in which it is located. Do not try to move the shoulder or the strength back in his place. This can damage the shoulder joint and its surrounding muscles, ligaments, nerves, or blood vessels.
  • The ice of the injured joint. Apply ice to the shoulder to help reduce pain and swelling.

Causes

The shoulder joint is the most frequently dislocated joint in the body. Because it moves in several directions, the shoulder can dislocate forward, backward or down. Could dislocate completely or partially.

Most of the dislocations occur through the front part of the shoulder. The ligaments of tissue that unites the bones of the shoulder can be stretched or torn, often making the dislocation worse.

It takes a strong force, as a sudden blow to the shoulder, to pull those bones out of place. Extreme torque of the shoulder joint can get the ball of the upper arm bone out of the socket of the shoulder. In a partial dislocation, the upper arm bone is partially within and partially outside of the cavity of the shoulder.

Because of a dislocated shoulder include:

  • Sports injuries. A shoulder dislocation is a common injury in contact sports, such as football and hockey. It is also common in sports that may involve falls, such as downhill skiing, gymnastics, and volleyball.
  • The Trauma not related to the sport. A hard punch in the shoulder during a motor vehicle accident can cause dislocation.
  • Falls. Landing awkwardly after a fall, as of a ladder or tripping on a loose carpet, you may dislocate a shoulder.

Risk factors

No one can dislocate a shoulder. However, dislocating the shoulders occur most often in people in their teens and 20s, especially the athletes who participate in contact sports.

Complications

Complications of shoulder dislocation may include:

  • The tearing of the muscles, tendons and ligaments that reinforce the shoulder joint
  • Nerve or blood vessel damage in or around the joint of the shoulder
  • Each time more likely to repeat dislocations, especially if the injury is serious

Stretching or tearing of the ligaments or tendons in the shoulder, or the nerves or blood vessels around the shoulder may require surgery to repair.

Prevention

To help prevent a dislocation of the shoulder:

  • Be careful to avoid falls and other injuries of the shoulder
  • Wear protective gear when playing contact sports
  • Exercise regularly to maintain strength and flexibility in the joints and muscles

Have a dislocation of the shoulder joint may increase the risk of future dislocations of the shoulder. To help avoid a repeat, keep doing the strength and stability of the exercises prescribed by the injury.

Diagnosis

A health care provider inspects the affected area for tenderness, swelling or deformity and check the signs of the nerves or the blood vessels of the injury. An x-ray of the shoulder joint can show the dislocation and, possibly, reveal broken bones or other damage to the shoulder joint.

Treatment

Dislocated shoulder treatment may include:

  • The closed reduction. In this procedure, a few mild maneuvers could help to move the bones of the shoulder in the position. Depending on the amount of swelling and pain, muscle relaxant or sedative, or, more rarely, general anesthesia may be given to you before you move the bones of the shoulder. When the bones of the shoulder are in place, the severe pain should improve almost immediately.
  • Surgery. The surgery can help those with weakness in the shoulder joints or ligaments that have been repeated dislocations of the shoulder in spite of strengthening and rehabilitation. In rare cases, damage to the nerves or blood vessels, and could require surgery. The surgical treatment can also reduce the risk of re-injury in young athletes.
  • The immobilization. After closed reduction, wearing a special splint or sling for a couple of weeks you can keep the shoulder from moving while it heals.
  • The medication. A painkiller or a muscle relaxant may provide comfort, while the shoulder heals.
  • Rehabilitation. When the splint or sling, since it is not necessary, a rehabilitation program can help to restore range of motion, strength and stability to the shoulder joint.

A simple dislocation of the shoulder without nerve or tissue damage likely to improve with a couple of weeks. To have a full range of motion without pain and regained strength are required before returning to their regular activities. The resumption of the activity too soon after a shoulder dislocation can cause re-injury of the shoulder joint.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Try these steps to help relieve discomfort and promote healing after being treated for a dislocated shoulder:

  • Rest on the shoulder. Do not repeat the specific action that caused the shoulder to dislocate. Try to avoid painful movements. Limit of lifting heavy objects or overload of the activity up to the shoulder feels better.
  • Apply ice then heat. Place an ice pack on the shoulder helps to reduce the inflammation and pain. Use a bag of ice, a bag of frozen vegetables or a towel full of ice cubes for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Do this every couple of hours the first day or two.
  • Take pain relievers. Medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help relieve the pain. Follow the instructions on the label and stop taking the medication when the pain improves.
  • Keep the range of motion of the shoulder. After one or two days, your doctor may have to do some gentle exercises to help keep your shoulder's range of motion. To be idle can cause the joints to stiffen.

Once the injury heals and the shoulder has a good range of motion, to keep the exercise. Daily shoulder stretches and a shoulder-strengthening and stability of the program could help to prevent another dislocation. Your health care provider can help you plan a proper workout routine.

Preparing for your appointment

Depending on the severity of the injury, your primary care provider or the emergency room physician may recommend an orthopedic surgeon to examine the injury.

What you can do

You may want to be ready with:

  • The detailed descriptions of the symptoms and the cause of the injury
  • Information about the medical problems of the past
  • The names and doses of all medications and supplements you take
  • Questions for the provider

For a dislocated shoulder, some basic questions may include:

  • It is my dislocated shoulder?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What treatment approach do you recommend? Are there alternatives?
  • How long will it take for my shoulder to heal?
  • I'm going to have to stop playing sports? For how long?
  • How can I protect myself from re-injuring the shoulder?

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions, such as:

  • How severe is your pain?
  • What other symptoms do you have?
  • You can move the arm?
  • Is your arm, numbness or tingling?
  • Have dislocated your shoulder before?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of shoulder Dislocation