joint. The "ball part of the joint is the top part of your upper arm bone. The "socket" part of your joint is a cup shaped indentation in your shoulder blade. The socket is smaller than the large ball of the upper arm bone. Because of this, the shoulder can move in many ways. But, it is not very stable. Strong bands of tissue called ligaments help hold the shoulder in place. Muscles and tendons also hold it in place. When the top of the upper arm bone does not stay in the indentation of the shoulder blade, you have shoulder instability. There are three ways that a shoulder can become unstable: ‚
- Dislocation ¢ ˆ ’ Sometimes, the arm bone is pushed out of its normal place. This may be just a little or all the way. If it is just a little, you have a shoulder subluxation or partial shoulder dislocation. If the arm bone is pushed all the way out of the socket, it is a shoulder dislocation. Often, the ligament in the front of the shoulder tears. This makes that part of the shoulder weak. Then, the shoulder can dislocate over and over.
- Repeated strain ¢ ˆ ’ Repeated overhead motions can stretch out the shoulder ligaments. Some sports may cause this, like swimming, tennis, or volleyball. Doing a job that needs you to work over your head often may also cause strain on your shoulders.
- Instability in many directions ¢ ˆ ’ Some people are born with very loose ligaments. They are able to move their joints in many directions. Some people call this "double jointed".
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What are the causes?
- Car crash
- Fall, especially if your arm is straight when you fall
- Direct blow to the shoulder
- Sports injury like hard throwing and lifting
- Working at a job where your arms are over your head often
- Born with loose ligaments
What are the main signs?
- Pain in your shoulder
- Shoulder feels loose or unstable
- Shoulder feels like it "gives out" sometimes, weakness
- Shoulder may go out of its normal position
- Numbness at the outside of the arm, just below the top of the shoulder. May go down into your arm.
How does the doctor diagnose this health problem?
The doctor will feel around your shoulder and arm to find where the pain is. Your doctor may move your arm and push or pull on your arm to check your motion and see how strong the muscles and joint are. ‚
The doctor may order: ‚
How does the doctor treat this health problem?
- Rest
- Ice
- Sling to keep your shoulder from moving
- Special strap or sleeve to keep the shoulder from moving into a position where it may dislocate
- Heat may be used later but not right away. Heat can make swelling worse.
- Exercises
- Surgery
Are there other health problems to treat?
Ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves may get stretched or torn with chronic dislocations. You may need to have surgery if this happens. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
The doctor may give you a shot of an anti-inflammatory drug called a corticosteroid. This will help with swelling. Talk with your doctor about the risks of this shot. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Repeated dislocations
- Ongoing pain, stiffness, or soreness
- Infection
- Long-term damage to nerves and blood vessels
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Stay active and work out to keep your muscles strong and flexible.
- Warm up slowly and stretch your muscles before you work out. Use good ways to train, such as slowly adding to how far you run. Do not work out if you are overly tired. Take extra care if working out in cold weather.
- Wear protection when playing sports.
- Follow pitch count guidelines if you are a baseball or softball player.
- Take breaks often when doing things that use repeat movements.
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00529 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚