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Symptoms of a dislocated shoulder include:

• Deformity
• Swelling
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Bruising

Sometimes a dislocation may tear ligaments or tendons in the shoulder or damage nerves.

The shoulder joint can dislocate forward, backward, or downward. A common type of shoulder dislocation is when the shoulder slips forward (anterior instability). This means the upper arm bone moved forward and out of its socket. It may happen when the arm is put in a throwing position.

The muscles may have spasms from the dislocation, and this can make it hurt more. When the shoulder dislocates time and again, there is recurrent shoulder instability.

Your doctor will examine the shoulder and may order an x-ray. It is important that your doctor know how the dislocation happened and whether the shoulder had ever been dislocated before.

Your doctor will place the ball of the upper arm bone (humerus) back into the joint socket. This process is called a closed reduction. Severe pain stops almost immediately once the shoulder joint is back in place.

Your doctor may immobilize the shoulder in a sling or other device for several weeks following treatment. Plenty of early rest is needed. The sore area can be iced 3 to 4 times a day.

After the pain and swelling go down, your doctor will prescribe rehabilitation exercises for you. These help restore the shoulder's range of motion and strengthen the muscles. Rehabilitation may also help prevent dislocation of the shoulder again in the future. Rehabilitation will begin with gentle muscle toning exercises. Later, weight training can be added.

If shoulder dislocation becomes a recurrent problem, a brace can sometimes help. However, if therapy and bracing fail, surgery may be needed to repair or tighten the torn or stretched ligaments that help hold the joint in place, particularly in young athletes. 

At times, the recurrently dislocating shoulder can result in some bone damage to the humerus or shoulder socket.  If your surgeon identifies some bone damage, he or she may recommend a bone transfer type of surgery.