What is a shoulder dislocation?
Shoulder dislocations are common and can be difficult to diagnose. When you dislocate your shoulder, the ball of your humerus bone pops out of the socket. The good news is that it’s usually easy to get back into place—you need help from a medical professional and ice. The bad news is that you may have to take some time off from work or sports activities for months.
Furthermore, we will explore what causes shoulders to twist out of place, how to fix a dislocated shoulder (and when) and how long they take to heal completely.
Causes of a dislocated shoulder
Trauma to the shoulder
This can be from falling on an outstretched arm or being hit directly in the shoulder
Falling on an outstretched arm
A fall directly on the shoulder may cause your shoulder to dislocate.
Direct blow to the shoulder
A direct blow to the front or side of your shoulder
Injury to the shoulder joint
Injuries to the shoulder joint include a car accident or sports injury (like a football player who gets hit hard).
Dislocation of the ball and socket joint
Dislocating the ball and socket joint where your humerus bone meets your scapula (shoulder blade).
How to Fix a Dislocated Shoulder?
A dislocated shoulder is another condition that can be treated at home. However, the sooner you seek medical attention for your injury, the better off it will be. You should never try to pop shoulder back in place or use any treatment without consulting a doctor first!
If your arm feels stiff and sore after dislocating your shoulder, it could mean that some damage occurred to its ligaments (the connective tissue around bones). In this case, getting professional help is necessary as soon as possible to help repair these damaged ligaments before they heal incorrectly and cause further problems later on down the road.
A friend or family member might help stabilize one side. In contrast, another member works on placing the arm back into position—but only if they’re willing/able enough physically and emotionally.
Dealing with a Dislocated Shoulder
Recognize the symptoms
If you have encountered a dislocated shoulder and are experiencing any of the dislocated shoulder symptoms, it’s important to get medical attention immediately.
Immobilize your arm
Keep your arm immobilized with an Ace Wrap® sling or similar device until further notice–this helps prevent additional damage while still allowing full range of motion when possible.
Rest your shoulder
Rest your shoulder as much as possible so that swelling does not occur too quickly; otherwise, this will limit movement and cause further injury down the road!
Ice your shoulder
The first aid that needs to be given to your shoulder is to apply an ice pack for 20 minutes or so on the affected area of your body until there is no more pain or discomfort.
Take pain medications
Take pain medication as prescribed by a doctor or pharmacist who understands how long it takes for healing to occur in cases like this (it can vary from person to person).
Getting Medical Attention
If you’ve dislocated your shoulder, it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. However, it would be best if you also prepared yourself for the possibility of surgery later on. Here’s what you’ll want to do:
Go ahead and see a doctor right away. They can help diagnose the problem and ensure that there aren’t any other issues besides your dislocated shoulder (like a severe muscle strain or nerve damage).
Prepare yourself for surgery by resting your arm comfortably until it heals completely—and then continue doing so even after it has healed!
Do so with care and caution if you need to use your arm. You may also consider wearing a sling or brace for extra support. The doctor will likely prescribe painkillers for you as well.
- See a doctor as soon as you can.
- Prepare yourself for the possibility of surgery.
- Rehabilitate your shoulder.
How long does it take to heal a dislocated shoulder?
The first step in healing a dislocated shoulder is to see your doctor. If you’ve severely injured the joint, you’ll likely need surgery to put it back into place, and the dislocated shoulder recovery time gets calculated after that.
The good news is that most people who have minor sprains can also heal themselves with physical therapy and rest. You should feel better in about two weeks if you have no other injuries and no fever or infection caused by dislocation; this timeline may be longer if there are other complications, such as nerve damage or structural damage (such as bone fractures).
Conclusion
A dislocated shoulder can happen to you or anyone at any age (even dogs), but it most commonly affects teens and young adults active in sports. An injury to the shoulder can be very painful, and dislocating your shoulder may be a serious injury. If you have dislocated your shoulder, you must seek medical help immediately. A physician will examine your injury and determine if surgery is necessary to fix the dislocation or if treatment with heat, cold therapy or other methods would suffice for healing.
The bottom line is there are many ways to answer how to fix a dislocated shoulder. You can do it at home with the help of a friend or relative if you are not comfortable with surgery. If you cannot fix it at home or yourself, seek medical attention immediately without wasting time by waiting for months before getting the treatment done, as this will only make things worse in the long run.
