Sports injuries are common causes of a dislocated shoulder, the most frequently dislocated joint in the body. This injury occurs most in those ages 18 to 25 years old, due to their generally high level of physical activity. The shoulder can be moved in multiple directions, so it can dislocated either completely or partially.
Symptoms
After an acute injury, such as a fall, the first sign of a dislocated shoulder is a sudden intense pain that might feel as if your shoulder "popped out." The muscles can spasm, intensifying the pain, and cause numbness, weakness or tingling near your neck or down your arm. Visually, a dislocated shoulder looks deformed and loses the rounded, smooth contour of a normal shoulder.
At-Home Care
A dislocated shoulder requires medical care. However, you can make yourself more comfortable while waiting to see a doctor. Ice your injured shoulder, which helps reduce pain and swelling. Apply a cold pack for 15 to 20 minutes at a time every two hours for the first day of the injury.
Refrain from moving your shoulder as much as possible. If you can, create a splint or sling to stabilize your arm. Moving the shoulder too much can damage the joint or the surrounding nerves, muscles, ligaments and blood vessels.
Medical Care
Diagnose the extend of injury, a doctor might schedule an X-ray, which will show the dislocation and any other damage such as broken bones; an MRI, which assesses the level of damage to the surrounding soft tissue; and/or an EMG, which evaluates the nerve damage.
The doctor can put your shoulder bones back into place through a maneuver known as "closed reduction." If this doesn't work, surgery known as an "open reduction" might be necessary to return the shoulder to its proper position.
Future Problems
When a shoulder dislocates, there's a chance the joint can become unstable and prone to additional dislocations. Even if surgery isn't necessary to return the shoulder to the proper location, it might be required in the future to replace ligaments or tendons that have been stretched or torn or blood vessels and nerves that were damaged by the dislocation.
