After this type of injury, the joint may remain unstable. The ligaments that are supposed to hold the shoulder in the socket may not heal properly, or they may remain stretched and too loose to keep the shoulder in the socket in certain positions. This can result in repeated episodes of dislocation, even during normal activities. In some cases, instability may be present without an initial dislocation. The initial injury may not have been severe enough to cause a dislocation.
Chronic instability causes several symptoms.
The shoulder may slip when in certain positions. One of the common positions is with the hand raised above the head in a throwing motion. Sometimes the shoulder does not come completely out of the socket but slips partially out and then returns to its normal position. This is called subluxation, and usually causes a quick feeling of pain, like something is slipping, or pinching, in the shoulder. The shoulder may become so loose that it dislocates frequently.