Advertisement
The short answer from an orthopaedic surgeon
A: Has your shoulder ever popped out of place? You feel the pop — and then the pain. Unfortunately, if this happens, you are more at risk for shoulder instability and re-injury, especially if you’re young and active.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
In some cases, the ball at the top of your upper arm bone (humerus) may come out of the socket only partially — called “subluxation.” This means that your shoulder moves past the normal location on the socket but is not completely out of place.
When it pops out completely, it’s known as dislocation. Both injuries can cause pain, arm weakness and swelling.
Some dislocations spontaneously reduce, and it’s difficult to determine if they were subluxations or dislocations. Your doctor can use advanced imaging, such as an MRI, as well as conducting a thorough history and physical to help determine this.
A shoulder dislocation may stretch or tear surrounding ligaments, tendons and muscles. It may even bruise or damage the bone.
Both immediate medical treatment and follow-up care are important because tearing muscles or ligaments typically leads to shoulder instability, which makes it easier for your shoulder to pop out again.
— Orthopaedic surgeon Anne Marie Chicorelli, DO.
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
If you don’t have an underlying condition, cold plunges might help ease sore muscles, decrease inflammation and even heighten your focus
Tendinopathy tends to get better with rest, ice, pain management and physical therapy
Wearing shoe inserts, maintaining a healthy weight and using cold or heat therapy may give you relief
Full recovery takes a year or more, but you’ll likely be walking and driving within a few weeks if you follow your provider’s recovery plan
Try stretching, massage, elevation and a supportive pair of shoes to help relieve foot aches and pains
Concussion protocol describes the steps needed to test for concussion and return to play — timelines vary
Using proper form and the right equipment can help keep you injury-free while gathering up that colorful foliage
Both are forms of tendinopathy, but one is more of an acute injury caused by inflammation, while the other is the result of degeneration over time
When you get bogged down with mental tasks, you can experience mood changes, sleeplessness and more
You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being