What is a shoulder dislocation?

A shoulder dislocation is a question of position: a joint that was in the right place is now out of it. Start with that idea and the remaining steps are easier to follow.

What is a dislocation?

Cleveland Clinic explains it with a simple example: "For example, if your shoulder pops out of its socket, it’s been dislocated."

So a dislocation means the joint has moved out of the socket it normally sits in.

What to know before you are seen

How a dislocation is treated and how long it takes to heal are for the clinician who examines you. So is telling a dislocation apart from other shoulder injuries.

If you think your shoulder came out of its socket, treat it as something to have examined and not something to wait out. When you are seen, have these ready, in this order.

• What you were doing when it happened.
• Whether the shoulder has done this before.
• Medicines you take and any allergies.

Getting the shoulder looked at

To see where the socket sits, read a guide to the shoulder joint. A broader pain overview gives language for describing what you feel.

If you are near Bloomfield, bring your notes to the person who examines you.

One last point

Learn the plain definition first. Once you can say where the joint should be, you can describe what changed, and that description is what a clinician needs.