Region: Shoulder
The ball of the upper arm bone pops fully out of the shoulder socket, usually forward.
What is a Shoulder Dislocation?
The ball of the upper arm bone pops fully out of the shoulder socket, usually forward.
Symptoms
- Shoulder looks out of place
- Intense pain
- Muscle spasms
- Can’t move arm
- Numbness/tingling
What does a Shoulder Dislocation feel like?
- Extreme pain with obvious abnormal shoulder position
- Arm feels stuck
What are common causes of a Shoulder Dislocation?
- Fall onto arm/shoulder
- Contact/collision
Self check
- Does the shoulder look out of place and you can’t move it normally?
Educational only — not a medical diagnosis.
What to do now
- Go to ER immediately
- Do NOT try to pop it back in yourself
Red flags
- Worsening numbness/weakness
- Loss of sensation over outer shoulder (“regimental badge”)
Recovery tips
- After reduction: sling briefly
- rehab is critical to prevent recurrence
Educational only. Not a medical diagnosis.