If you’ve ever dislocated your shoulder, you’re familiar with the intense pain. It’s often sharp and immediate that may turn into a dull, constant ache, like a broken bone. Moving your arm the wrong way can make it worse.

A dislocated shoulder happens when the humerus (upper arm bone) pops out of the shoulder socket. Because of the shoulder joint’s mobility, it’s more likely to be dislocated from falls, sports-related injuries or accidents. 

What causes a dislocated shoulder? 

“A dislocated shoulder is typically caused by a traumatic injury such as a fall, car accident or collision in a contact sport,” explains Nebraska Medicine orthopaedic surgeon Matthew Teusink, MD. “The ball of the shoulder joint, or humeral head, comes out of the socket and gets stuck out, often in the front of the shoulder.”

Traumatic events like falls can include landing on the shoulder or an outstretched hand. Collision sport athletes such as football and hockey players are particularly at risk. 

What are some symptoms of a dislocated shoulder?

If you’ve dislocated your shoulder, you’ll know it immediately. Some common symptoms and signs include:

• Severe shoulder pain.
• The shoulder looks visibly out of place.
• Inability to move the arm.
• Swelling or bruising.
• Muscle spasms.
• Numbness or tingling in the arm, hand or fingers.

Seek immediate medical care if you’ve had trauma to the shoulder or can’t lift your arm away from your body.

What is shoulder instability? 

“Shoulder instability refers to the shoulder feeling loose, rather than the ball being completely out of the socket like in a dislocation,” says Dr. Teusink. 

Instability symptoms are more common with swimmers, throwers and gymnasts, and younger people with hypermobile joints. Instability can develop after a single dislocation or from repeated overhead motion in patients with “loose” shoulders.

Patients say they feel like the shoulder is “slipping” or feels loose, even if it looks normal. 

“The shoulder may look normal, unless it’s a complete dislocation, in which case the shoulder will likely lose its rounded appearance,” says Dr. Teusink. 

When a shoulder dislocates multiple times, chronic shoulder instability can develop. This is often caused by a tear in the labrum, a ring of cartilage that lines the rim of the shoulder socket. The labrum acts as an anchor point, helping keep the ball in the socket.

“If someone has chronic shoulder instability, it often requires arthroscopic surgery to repair the labrum,” says Dr. Teusink. “If damage is more severe with bone loss in the socket, an open repair or bone transfer may be necessary.”

How is a dislocated shoulder treated?

Quick medical attention is key to avoiding long-term damage or chronic shoulder instability. After an X-ray confirms the diagnosis, a medical professional performs a closed reduction – a gentle maneuver to guide the bone back into the socket. 

Never try to pop the shoulder back in yourself, as this can cause nerve or tissue damage.

“Typically, a first-time dislocation requires sedation in the ER,” says Dr. Teusink. “After sedation, it only takes seconds to pull and maneuver the ball back into the socket. Patients are in a sling for one to two weeks with a recovery time of four to six weeks.” 

If left untreated, a dislocated shoulder can cause limited range of motion, loss of shoulder function and severe bone deformity over time. 

That’s why it’s important to treat any dislocation with urgency.

“Your health care provider may order an MRI to check for damage or refer you to physical therapy to improve range of motion and strengthen your rotator cuff,” says Dr. Teusink. “If a patient feels like their shoulder is unstable or they experience another dislocation, it’s likely they’ll be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon to discuss possible surgical treatment.”