How Your Doctor Diagnoses Shoulder Instability

When you have shoulder instability it feels as though your shoulder is out of place. So with shoulder instability, your shoulder bones are not very stable.

Some people think that shoulder instability and a dislocated shoulder are one and the same thing. They are not, although, shoulder instability can lead into dislocation if shoulder instability is left untreated. With a dislocated shoulder, your shoulder is totally knocked out of place. And another attribute of a dislocated shoulder is torn ligaments. This is not true in shoulder instability. In shoulder instability, your ligaments, etc., become weakened. This is as a result of over-stretching too much, and overuse of the shoulder bones such as in sports.

So the main symptom of shoulder instability is shoulder pain. Your pain may be very sudden or else progress in a slower way.

The way you doctor can tell if you are having shoulder instability is by having you move your arm that is affected, and asking you where it hurts as he feels the areas there. An x-ray may be done to see whether or not your shoulder bones are just misplaced, or actually dislocated. An MRI can give a complete and thorough image more than just a regular x-ray will. The orthopedic doctor may also decide to use an arthroscope, which you will be put under for. An arthroscope uses a small TV camera that is placed into your shoulder. Through this camera device, the doctor can see directly into your ligaments and also muscles, and will be able to determine exactly what is going on there.

After it is determined that your shoulder is out of place, treatments will ensue such as the following:

It is common to wear a sling so that the arm is held still and in place. The sling will need to be worn for six weeks.

Also using a pillow between the shoulder that is affected and your body will act as a support, and probably make you more comfortable.

Medications will no doubt be given to help your levels of pain you are experiencing. This is usually a muscle relaxant drug type that is given to not only soften pain, but to help those muscles relax more.

Physical therapy is highly recommended for shoulder instability to help the muscles regain their strength, and keep them from weakening. Once you are out of a sling after six weeks, exercises can be done to help.

If the shoulder does begin to dislocate itself, then surgery will no doubt be required.