What Does a Dislocated Shoulder Feel Like?

The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the arm to move in many directions. Its mobility makes the shoulder unstable and particularly vulnerable to dislocation. Shoulder dislocation is painful.

Definition

• You can have partial or complete dislocation. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "A partial dislocation (subluxation) means the head of the upper arm bone (humerus) is partially out of the socket (glenoid). A complete dislocation means it is all the way out of the socket."

Identification

• There are a number of signs and symptoms indicating dislocation. They include, the mayoclinic.com reports, "a visibly deformed or out of place shoulder, swelling or discoloration (bruising), intense pain and an inability to move the joint." You may also feel tingling or numb in the neck or arm of the injury side.

Causes

• Great force is needed for the shoulder to dislocate. According to Mayoclinic.com, "A dislocated shoulder may be caused by sports injuries involving sports such as football, hockey and skiing, trauma not related to sports, and falls in general."

Treatment

• You need to see a doctor who can put your shoulder back in place promptly. It will be painful, but when it is over the pain is also over. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons points out that, "It is important that the doctor know how the dislocation happened and whether the shoulder had ever been dislocated before."

Expectations

• While most people recover fine from shoulder dislocation, your shoulder is likely to always feel somewhat unstable. Rehabilitating the shoulder muscles is strongly recommended to avoid re-injury.