What are the symptoms of a dislocated shoulder?
What are the symptoms of a dislocated shoulder?
Symptoms of a dislocated shoulder include:
- Extreme pain and/or weakness
- Swelling
- Bruising or redness
- Muscle spasms
- Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arm, hand or fingers
- Immobility of the arm, or difficulty moving it
- Shoulder visibly out of place
If you believe your shoulder is dislocated, take the following steps:
- Don’t move the arm, and keep it close to the body. Don’t try to jam the shoulder back into place, because that can damage blood vessels, muscles, ligaments and nerves.
- Apply an ice pack to the injured area. Ice can ease swelling and reduce pain.
- Take ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve® or Naprosyn®) or acetaminophen (Tylenol®) for pain. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider before taking pain medication, especially for patients with heart disease, high blood pressure or kidney disease, or if they’ve suffered from stomach ulcers or internal bleeding.
- Go to an emergency room or call 911.