Shoulder dislocations are pretty common for those who are heavily involved in sports or are engaged in strenuous employment. It’s not as easy to fix as popular media portrays it, so it’s important that you don’t try to fix a dislocated shoulder. Before you start believing other popular myths about shoulder dislocation, here are five common questions that people ask.
What Is Shoulder Dislocation?
Doctors who have orthopedic surgeon specialties will tell you that a dislocated shoulder is no easy thing. Within the shoulder is a join where two bones come together. These bones form what is called a ball and socket joint, and a dislocation occurs when the “ball” slips out of its socket. A shoulder dislocation can be one of two types: atraumatic (the joints are already loose) and traumatic (injury occurs to dislocate the shoulder).
What Causes Shoulder Dislocation?
As stated earlier, a traumatic shoulder dislocation takes place in people who play sports, as well as manual laborers. The injury can also occur in seniors when they experience a fall; they will try to catch themselves and fall on their sides, leading to their shoulders becoming dislocated. Shoulder dislocation is common in those who experience generalized seizures, as they will commonly dislocate their shoulders during episodes.
Typically, after the first dislocation of a shoulder, it has an increased tendency to dislocate again.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Shoulder Dislocation?
The first sign that you’ll notice is that the shoulder joint will look out of place. Other symptoms include swelling, bruising, discolouration, numbness, weakness, being unable to move the shoulder, holding the arm in a fixed position, and general pain in the shoulder. This pain can travel down in the arm and hand.
How Is A Shoulder Dislocation Diagnosis Reached?
It will take a trip to a medical professional to diagnose a shoulder dislocation. They will conduct a physical examination of the shoulder and ask about the events leading up to the injury. After the physical examination, they will schedule an X-Ray and other imaging tests to see what condition your shoulder joint is in.
What Is The Treatment For A Dislocated Shoulder?
There are many treatment options and recommendations that your healthcare provider may make. The first thing they’ll do is to move the joint back into place. Once this is accomplished, the arm will be placed in a sling or splint in order to minimize movement so that the shoulder has time to heal. They may prescribe you any pain medications to help with the pain and inflammation experienced during the healing process.
Secondly, the medical professional may recommend going to a physical therapist, where you will learn specific exercises to help strengthen the muscles of the shoulder during the healing process without further injuring the shoulder.
If the shoulder becomes weak and dislocates often, then there might be a referral to an orthopedic specialist.
A shoulder dislocation is no easy matter and you shouldn’t attempt to fix it yourself. If you recently injured your shoulder and find it difficult to move, you should speak to your medical professional as soon as possible to receive a diagnosis and treatment.
