A dislocated shoulder is an injury that happens when a strong force, like a football tackle, knocks your shoulder bones out of their normal position. This shift can damage the rotator cuff (a key group of muscles and tendons), nerves and blood vessels. A shoulder dislocation can cause intense pain, numbness, swelling and weakness in your shoulder joint.
If you think you’ve dislocated your shoulder, it’s essential to seek emergency medical care right away. Most of the time, doctors can put the shoulder back in place without surgery. At Summit Orthopedics, our shoulder specialists and physical therapists in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area can provide personalized care while your shoulder heals. If you need surgery, you can be sure our experts will perform the safest, least invasive procedure to fix your damaged joint.
Types of Dislocated Shoulder
To form your shoulder joint, the ball at the top of your upper arm bone (humerus) fits inside the shoulder socket, part of your shoulder blade. Shoulder dislocations happen when the bones are forced apart.
Doctors consider the direction of the dislocation to understand the injury better.
- An anterior dislocation occurs when the shoulder moves forward out of the socket while your arm is raised away from your body.
- A posterior dislocation happens when the shoulder shifts backward out of the socket while your arm is raised in front of you.
What Does a Dislocated Shoulder Feel Like?
A dislocated shoulder can be extremely painful. You may feel a sharp, stabbing pain when the joint moves out of place. The pain may worsen if you try to move your shoulder.
Other symptoms of a shoulder dislocation may include:
- Bruising
- Inability to move your arm
- Limited range of motion
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness or tingling in your arm and hand
- Swelling
- Weakness
What Causes a Dislocated Shoulder?
Your shoulder can dislocate when a strong force pushes against it. Common causes include falls, car accidents and sports injuries, particularly from contact sports.
What Are the Risk Factors?
Several factors can increase the risk of a dislocated shoulder, including:
- Aging. As you get older, you’re more likely to fall, which can cause a shoulder dislocation.
- Being male. Young men are more likely to participate in contact sports and are at a higher risk of dislocating the shoulder.
- Having dislocated your shoulder before. If you’ve had this injury in the past, it’s more likely to happen again. A previous dislocated shoulder makes the joint less stable.
- Playing sports. You can fall or get hit during sports, knocking your shoulder out of place.
Diagnosing a Dislocated Shoulder
Go to the nearest emergency department if you dislocate your shoulder. Don’t move your arm or try to put the joint back in place, which may damage the shoulder muscles or other soft tissues. A doctor will examine the joint and order imaging to learn more about the injury.
Medical History and Shoulder Exam
The doctor will ask you how the injury happened, what symptoms you have and whether you’ve dislocated the shoulder before. Then, they will examine the joint to see if it looks out of place or feels tender. They may check the circulation in your wrist to be sure the injury didn’t damage the blood flow to your hand. They may also check for numbness in your arm or shoulder, which can signal nerve damage.
Imaging
Your doctor will order an X-ray to look for damage to the bones. This test may also show which direction the shoulder slipped out of place.
If your doctor is concerned about a broken bone, you may need a CT scan so they can see the bones in more detail. Your doctor may also order an MRI scan to look for tendon or ligament injuries.
Shoulder Dislocation Treatment
Like all major joint dislocations, the first treatment for a dislocated shoulder is to put the bones back in their correct position, either with nonsurgical techniques or with surgery. If left untreated, the shoulder won’t heal on its own. Instead, the pain will continue, and shoulder dysfunction will increase.
Nonsurgical Treatment
Your doctor will perform a nonsurgical procedure called a closed reduction to put the shoulder back in place. You will receive pain medication or a sedative to stay comfortable during the procedure. Then, the doctor will gently move your shoulder until it’s back in the socket.
Your pain should improve once the shoulder is back in place. While the joint heals, you’ll need other treatments, including:
- Icing. Use a cold compress to apply ice to your shoulder a few times a day, which will help control pain and swelling.
- Immobilization. You’ll wear a sling for a few weeks to keep the shoulder still and prevent further injury.
- Pain medicines. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, to stay comfortable.
- Physical therapy. You’ll work with a physical therapist for a few months, learning exercises to strengthen your shoulder, improve its range of motion and reduce the risk of another dislocation.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is unlikely, but you may need it if the doctor can’t put your shoulder back in place with a closed reduction. You may also need surgery if imaging shows bone or muscle injuries, or if you’ve dislocated the shoulder before.
The procedure for a dislocated shoulder is called shoulder stabilization. Usually, the doctor will operate through a small incision, a technique known as shoulder arthroscopy.
Recovering from a Dislocated Shoulder
Whether you have a closed reduction or surgery, you will need to wear a sling and participate in physical therapy as directed by your doctor. Your shoulder will take several months to heal completely.
If you’re an athlete, don’t return to playing sports until your doctor says it’s OK. Getting back on the field or court too soon could lead to another dislocation.
Care for Dislocated Shoulder at Summit Orthopedics
At Summit Orthopedics, you won’t just have one specialist in your corner. You’ll have a whole team. From physicians and advanced practice providers to nurses and physical therapists, our staff will work together to deliver care that fits your needs and goals. Together, we’ll help your shoulder heal so you can return to your active lifestyle.
