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Dislocated Shoulder

Posted Friday, 16 December 2022

Date issued: December 2022

Review date: December 2024

Ref: A-554/NB/ED/Dislocated Shoulder

Your shoulder is a ball and socket type joint. During dislocation, the ‘ball’ of the humerus (the bone of the upper arm) comes out of the ‘socket’.

Your dislocated shoulder has now been put back into its correct position and checked with X-ray
Your shoulder is held in place by muscles. These will all have been stretched when your shoulder was out of joint, and they take time to settle down. In the meantime, you may re-dislocate the joint if you move it too much
You should keep your hand and fingers moving but must not remove the sling or bandaging which has been fitted at all before you are seen in the Fracture Clinic, even to have a bath or shower.

Painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication are both vital to help you recover
Paracetamol is useful to ease pain. It is best to take it regularly for a few days or so, rather than every now and then. An adult dose is two 500 mg tablets, four times a day. A doctor may prescribe additional painkillers such as codeine if the pain is more severe. If you are prescribed a combination of paracetamol and codeine (e.g. cocodamol or codydramol) then it is important not to take additional paracetamol as you will accidentally overdose Anti-inflammatory medication can be used with paracetamol or as an alternative. There are many types and brands. They relieve pain and reduce inflammation and swelling (often the cause of the pain). You can buy ibuprofen at pharmacies or supermarkets without a prescription. The dose varies depending on your age and other medical problems. Side-effects sometimes occur with anti-inflammatory painkillers. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice regarding them
If pain is not controlled by these simple painkillers, do not exceed the recommended dose but see your general practitioner to discuss the possibility of stronger painkillers
You will be seen in fracture clinic, and you can expect to wear your sling for about a month. Following this you will probably require treatment by a physiotherapist.

No. You will be unfit to drive until you are told you no longer need your sling.