Locations:
SearchThe short answer from an orthopaedic surgeon
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X-ray visual of a shoulder dislocation.
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.
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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.
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Sometimes, it does require surgery
Looking down at your smartphone or computer screen can stress muscles in your neck, shoulders and back
Rest, physical therapy, pain relief medication and steroid injections may be able to help instead
Tendinopathy tends to get better with rest, ice, pain management and physical therapy
It could be an injury, arthritis, a bone infection or even the position of your collarbone
Don’t ignore obvious warning signs of more serious shoulder issues
Find the right sleep position to tame your joint pain
Improve your shoulder’s range of motion before moving to strengthening workouts
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