Shoulder dislocation: What you need to know

Treating a dislocated shoulder always looks so easy in the movies and on TV. We’ve all seen those dramatic scenes when an actor just “pops” a dislocated shoulder back into place, then is ready to jump right back into the action.

In the real world, this injury is more serious and not quite so quick and easy to treat. In real life, you should seek medical attention right away, tells Joseph Scarcella, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeon from Cleveland Clinic on the channel Health Cleveland CLinic.

A shoulder dislocation happens when the upper arm bone (the humerus) comes out of the socket of the shoulder joint.

The shoulder is our body’s most mobile joint, making it highly functional but also easier to injure than most other joints.

How to know if it’s dislocated?

If your shoulder is truly dislocated, you’ll know. You’ll experience severe pain and a feeling of instability in the joint.  You may experience numbness or swelling in your arm. Even if you try to move it, it won’t happen, tells doctor Scarcella.

No matter how many times you have seen those action movies, don’t attempt to “pop” your shoulder or someone else’s back into place on your own. That’s something that should only be done in an emergency room, he said.

Until you can get a doctor’s help, keep the arm in the same position and apply ice to help with any swelling.

After a doctor puts the bone back into the socket, you’ll feel some immediate relief. But your shoulder may still be sore and swollen for a while. 

Doctors often recommend a rehabilitation program, once the pain and swelling are under control. Exercises are designed to strengthen the ligaments and muscles to help prevent re-injury.

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