The Doctor Is In: Shoulder Instability

Published on July 15, 2008 by Women’s Adventure Magazine

How it occurs. Typically, the shoulder will dislocate out the front from an injury when the arm is stretched out away from the side of the body and the hand is rotated backward, such as during a fall. Some experience the shoulder coming out of joint in the front, back, and bottom of the shoulder joint; this is called multidirectional instability.

Who it affects. Women sustain dislocations less frequently than men do. The younger you are when you first dislocate your shoulder, the more likely you are to dislocate the shoulder again in the future. This is called recurrent shoulder instability.

What to do. If a shoulder is dislocated, it should be put back in the socket by a medical professional. X-rays are important in case a fracture occurred with the injury. If you try to relocate the shoulder without knowing if there is a fracture, the fracture fragment can be dislodged and require surgery. Relocation is done with a simple local injection of anesthetic or intravenous pain medication followed by gentle traction. If you’re stuck in a remote area and you dislocate your shoulder, trying to relocate it could make matters worse. You can try it if you have experience, but without analgesics, it can be tough to get the shoulder back in place. Once the shoulder is back in the socket, conservative treatment consists of keeping your shoulder immobile in a sling, followed by physical therapy. Surgery is recommended if you are still experiencing instability after four to six months of conservative treatment. —Dr. Joanne Halbrecht

http://www.womensadventuremagazine.com/your-body/shoulder-instability