Dislocated Shoulder

What is a Dislocated Shoulder?

A dislocated shoulder is an injury in which the upper arm bone (humerus) pops out of the cup-shaped socket (glenoid fossa) that is attached to the shoulder blade (scapula). If a dislocated shoulder injury is suspected, quickly seek medical attention. Fortunately, most people will fully regain shoulder function within a few weeks. Nevertheless, once a shoulder has dislocated, there is an increased risk that the joint may dislocate again.

Dislocated Shoulder Symptoms

The following are symptoms of a dislocated shoulder:

• Severe one-sided shoulder pain
• Increased pain with movement
• Shoulder is visibly deformed/out of place
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Shoulder tenderness
• Arm weakness
• Arm numbness
• Lack of mobility

Causes of a Dislocated Shoulder

A dislocated shoulder is usually caused by a strong force that pulls the shoulder beyond the normal range of motion. Since the shoulder joint has the greatest range of motion of any other body joint, it is the most frequently dislocated joint. A dislocated shoulder can happen through a variety of ways such as:

• vehicle accidents
• contact sports
• work-related injuries
• slip and fall accidents

Dislocated Shoulder Consequences

Immediately after dislocating a shoulder, the pain can be excruciating and will persist until the shoulder is set back into place. For someone who depends on their shoulder for work, this can be a very debilitating injury, especially if they try to overcompensate with the other arm too much.

Treatment for a Dislocated Shoulder

The RICE method is usually useful in treating a replaced dislocated shoulder.

• R - Rest
• I - Ice
• C - Compression
• E - Elevation

In order to prevent the injury from worsening, a sling may be used until the shoulder dislocation has healed as much as necessary. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or acetaminophen, can also help with the pain and swelling. Once the pain starts to subside, the patient will then work on strengthening the shoulder muscles by using a series of motion exercises; if necessary, physical and occupational therapy may also be of assistance. However, a further evaluation may be required if the shoulder is still not healing correctly. At that point, a surgery consultation will be made to determine whether or not surgery should be an option.

Contact Us

If you or a loved one has experienced a dislocated shoulder, please contact our Shoulder Injury Attorneys for a free, personal, and confidential consultation. You can contact the Law Offices of Michael Cordova at 602-265-6700.

Our attorneys not only work on dislocated shoulder cases but in other personal injury areas, as well as criminal defense and DUI, dog bites, motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, and product and premises liability, so please contact your local Phoenix attorneys for a free consultation.

*Contingent fees are charged on total recovery. **No Fee Guarantee applies in the event there is no recovery.