Patient education: Separated shoulder (The Basics)

What is a separated shoulder? — A separated shoulder is a condition that causes shoulder pain and swelling. It happens when certain ligaments in the shoulder joint tear or get stretched too much. Ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones. The shoulder joint is made up of 3 bones: the collar bone, the shoulder blade, and the upper arm bone.

The most common causes of a separated shoulder are falling on the shoulder or getting hit in the shoulder.

A separated shoulder can be mild or severe, depending on how many ligaments are torn.

What are the symptoms of a separated shoulder? — Symptoms can be mild or severe. They usually include:

●Shoulder pain

●Swelling in the shoulder

In some cases, there might be a bump or point where the collar bone pushes out against the skin.

Will I need tests? — Maybe. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you and do an exam. They will also probably do X-rays of your shoulder.

How is a separated shoulder treated? — Most separated shoulders heal on their own, but they can take weeks to months to heal completely. To help your shoulder heal, you can:

●Rest the shoulder – Avoid lifting things, reaching overhead or across your chest, or sleeping on that shoulder.

●Use an arm sling to protect your shoulder and keep it still

●Ice your shoulder – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. Use the ice (or other cold object) for at least 6 hours after your injury. Some people find it helpful to ice longer, even up to 2 days after their injury.

●Take a pain-relieving medicine – Ask your doctor or nurse about taking an over-the-counter medicine for your pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand names: Aleve, Naprosyn).

If you have a severe separated shoulder, you might need surgery.

Is there anything I can do on my own to feel better? — Yes. Different exercises can help your shoulder get better.

To keep your shoulder from getting too stiff, you can do an exercise called the pendulum swing. To do this exercise, let your arm relax and hang down while you sit or stand. Gently move your arm back and forth, then side to side, and then around in small circles (figure 1). Try to do this exercise for 5 minutes, 1 or 2 times a day.

Other exercises can help strengthen the muscles around your shoulder. Your doctor, nurse, or physical therapist (exercise expert) can show you how to do these types of exercises. They will tell you when to start them and how often to do them.

When you do shoulder exercises, it's important to:

●Warm up your shoulder first by taking a hot shower or bath, or putting a heating pad on it

●Start slowly and make the exercises harder over time. For example, when you do the pendulum stretch, make small circles with your arm at first. Over time, make this exercise harder by making bigger circles or holding weights in your hand.

●Know that some soreness is normal. If you have sharp or tearing pain, stop what you're doing and let your doctor or nurse know.

When will I be able to do my usual activities again? — It depends on how severe your separated shoulder is. If your injury is mild, you might be able to return to your usual activities after a few days. If your injury is more serious, it might take weeks to months. If you do sports or other very physical activities, ask your doctor when you can start doing these again.

More on this topic

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Patient education: Acromioclavicular joint injury (shoulder separation) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Frozen shoulder (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Beyond the Basics)