Recovering from a dislocated shoulder after a crash
An orthopedic shoulder specialist and a physical therapist on keeping the joint stable
A shoulder dislocates when the ball at the top of your arm pops out of its socket. Your care team puts it back in place. That fixes the most pressing problem. Still, the same force can break bone or tear the tissue that holds the joint steady. Some people find the shoulder keeps slipping out of place over time. [1]
A shoulder specialist checks for these other injuries. A physical therapist helps you get your movement back without causing another dislocation. [1]
Find out what else was hurt
Ask if the team found a broken bone or a torn tendon. Find out about any injury to the rim of cartilage around the socket or any nerve changes. Ask what the X rays showed after the shoulder went back in. If your symptoms or exam point to another injury, a CT scan or MRI may be considered. [1]
Tell your doctor about numbness over the shoulder or weakness in the arm. Also mention it if the shoulder feels like it could slip out again. [1]
Wear the sling as long as you're told
Ask when you can take the sling off to wash, sleep and do your exercises. Too little protection can irritate the injury. Keeping the arm still for too long can leave the shoulder stiff. [1]
Follow your therapist’s order of steps, starting with gentle motion and then building strength and control. Stay out of the positions your team has flagged as risky. Check with them before you go back to lifting, driving or overhead work. [1]
When to go back right away
Get urgent care if the shoulder looks out of place again or your hand turns cold or pale. The same goes for new, marked weakness or numbness. Call the specialist if pain or a loose, unstable feeling lasts even though you’re following the plan. A shoulder that keeps dislocating may call for a new talk about treatment. Do not try to push the joint back in yourself. [1]
Questions for your shoulder team
- Was there a fracture or an injury to a tendon, a nerve or the socket?
- How long do I wear the sling, and when does therapy begin?
- What would change the decision about surgery?
Bring your X ray report to the next visit
Take the report from the X ray done after your shoulder was put back in to your next checkup. Ask your therapist to write down the first movements that are safe to do. [1]
Sources and further reading
This article offers general information from orthopedic shoulder care and physical therapy. A shoulder can look back in place and still have a broken bone, a nerve injury or torn supporting tissue.
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