Urgent Orthopedic Care Tips
Shoulder dislocation is a painful, common orthopedic injury. Whether you take a tumble from a ladder while cleaning out your gutters, land on your side on the football field (after making that incredible catch, of course), or experience an extreme arm rotation of some sort, a resulting dislocation is a possibility.
You may be feeling pain, but how do you know if it’s dislocated?
Common Signs That Your Shoulder Is Out of Joint
The severity of the injury can vary, but there are a few universal symptoms that are important to take seriously:
- Pain throughout the shoulder and upper arm
- Swelling and developing bruises
- Limited arm mobility
- Tingling sensations
- Numbness in your neck and arm
- In extreme cases, the dislocation is obvious because of deformity
What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Shoulder Is Dislocated?
Never:
- Ignore it and hope the pain goes away
- Try to move the arm or shoulder excessively
- Try to slide the shoulder back into joint on your own. This can result in damage to the nearby blood vessels, nerves, ligaments, and muscles
Definitely:
- Apply ice to reduce inflammation
- Seek medical help immediately
- Follow your orthopedic doctor’s advice for care, recuperation, and strengthening the shoulder
Do Shoulder Dislocations Require Surgery?
Sometimes, but not always.
The need for surgery is determined on a case-by-case basis, and often is dependent on the severity and cause of the dislocation. Frequent dislocations, for example, can create substantial enough damage to require surgery, or may indicate an ongoing problem that needs to be corrected.
Typically, however, a first-time dislocation that is treated quickly and properly does not require surgery for a full recovery.
Remember, Seek Out Urgent Orthopedic Care As Soon As Possible!
The longer you wait and allow your injury to go untreated, the wider you open the door to potential long-term damage. The symptoms we mentioned above are all serious enough to make a trip to your local urgent orthopedic care center a top priority.
