Can a Dislocated Shoulder Be Popped Back Into Place?

Shoulder dislocation is a painful injury that happens when your upper arm bone (humerus) slips out of your shoulder socket. Because the shoulder is a shallow joint with a wide range of motion, it’s one of the most commonly dislocated joints in the human body. Symptoms include immediate pain, limited movement, and visible deformity.

Whether it’s from a fall, sports injury, or other sudden impact, experiencing a dislocated shoulder makes you wonder: Can it be popped back into place? What’s the best treatment to stop the pain and start healing?

Our team at Full Orthopedics Urgent Care is here to help. We specialize in diagnosing and treating shoulder pain, so if you’re suffering from a dislocated shoulder, come in to get prompt, personalized urgent care in North Miami Beach, Florida.

Understanding shoulder dislocation

Your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint with a shallow socket, making it more susceptible to dislocation than other joints. Dislocations can be partial (subluxation) or complete, and a few common causes are trauma during contact sports, accidents, and falls.

Shoulder dislocation often causes sudden, intense pain. Other symptoms may include swelling, bruising, weakness, and the inability to move the joint. Once your shoulder is dislocated, nearby ligaments, tendons, and muscles can be stretched or torn, making the area vulnerable to repeat injuries.

Can a dislocated shoulder be popped back into place?

In short, yes. A dislocated shoulder can often be repositioned or “reduced” back into its socket. However, this should only be done by a trained medical professional. 

Trying to pop your shoulder back in by yourself or with help from someone untrained is likely to cause further injury like nerve damage, fractures, or damage to blood vessels.

Treatment for a dislocated shoulder

At Full Orthopedics Urgent Care, our team has the experience to safely perform closed reduction techniques to realign your shoulder joint. We also use diagnostic imaging, like X-rays, to confirm the dislocation and make sure there are no fractures or complications before moving ahead with treatment.

We may use local anesthesia or sedation to minimize pain and muscle resistance, and we gently maneuver your shoulder joint back into its proper position. Once your shoulder is realigned, we might recommend immobilization with a sling for a few weeks to allow healing.

Physical therapy can also be an important part of recovery to restore range of motion, rebuild strength, and reduce your risk of future dislocations. If shoulder dislocations become recurrent, or if there’s significant soft tissue damage, surgical intervention may be necessary. In this case, we refer you to a specialist.

If you've dislocated your shoulder or you’re dealing with ongoing shoulder instability, don’t wait to seek professional care. Getting the right care early on is the best way to stop your discomfort and protect yourself from ongoing shoulder problems. Call our office to schedule an appointment or check in online to get started. You can also just walk in.