How to Relieve Dislocated Shoulder Pain Fast

Your shoulder joint is one of the most mobile joints in your body. That makes it particularly vulnerable to dislocation. When you dislocate your shoulder, the ball of the joint slips out of its socket. You may hear or feel a “pop” when the dislocation occurs. 

And, as soon as the injury takes place, you experience sudden and severe pain, as well as potential numbness, tingling, or weakness. One side of your upper body hangs lower than the other, and you can see the deformation of the dislocated joint. You also won’t be able to move the affected shoulder joint.

This type of injury requires professional treatment to readjust the joint. Without the right care, you can sustain damage to the nearby tissues and nerves. The team of experienced orthopedic specialists at Go To Ortho provides expert treatment for dislocated shoulders in Beaverton and Lake Oswego, Oregon.

While you wait for professional care, here’s how to quickly and effectively relieve your pain.

Relieving dislocated shoulder pain

To manage your pain symptoms, use these strategies.

Rest and immobilize the joint

Avoid moving the affected arm. Unless you’re in an emergency situation, don’t try to relocate your shoulder by yourself. Instead, while you wait to see a medical professional, you need to immobilize and rest the injured part of your body.

Immobilizing your arm prevents further injury or tissue damage. Bending your elbow, place your forearm across your stomach. Use a sling to hold your arm in this position until you make it to Go To Ortho.

Reduce pain and swelling with ice

You can ice a dislocated shoulder right away. In fact, it’s a good idea to apply ice to the area as soon as possible. Cryotherapy reduces swelling and inflammation and is an important part of initial pain control. Icing causes your blood vessels to narrow, which is a good thing after this kind of injury.

To prevent skin irritation, don’t apply ice directly, but wrap the ice or cold pack in a cloth or towel first. Ice the injured area for about 20 minutes, then take a break. Ice your shoulder once an hour.

Use over-the-counter pain medications

Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers are easy to find and work fast to control your pain. Medications like ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen (Tylenol) relieve your pain and also reduce inflammation. 

You should know that ibuprofen and naproxen, while providing the most anti-inflammatory results, also produce a blood-thinning effect, so avoid these options if you have an open wound or bruising that suggests a lot of internal bleeding.

Treatment for your dislocated shoulder

The pain of a dislocated shoulder won’t get better without the right care. Use pain management while you wait for treatment from the Go To Ortho team. Healing becomes more complicated without prompt treatment, so don’t delay coming in for care.

We X-ray your shoulder to check for breaks or fractures. Then, we can safely reduce your shoulder joint. If needed, your provider prescribes a general anesthetic, muscle relaxant, or sedative to manage pain during treatment.

You may ultimately need surgical treatment to repair your shoulder joint fully. Whether you undergo surgery or not, you’ll need to take time to recover from your injury and rehabilitate your shoulder joint. It typically takes about 3-6 months to complete your recovery.

For dislocated shoulder injuries, seek care at Go To Ortho right away. Call ahead, or request an appointment online. You can also walk in for care today.