Problems with your shoulder can be detrimental to your life. The question comes of whether or not you know your shoulder is out of alignment. In some instances, you could have an unstable shoulder joint that was typically caused by an injury or overuse of the joint. In some other cases, it’s possible that it could be a dislocated shoulder which is most commonly caused by an injury. One common denominator these two conditions have is pain, which is the primary indicator that your shoulder may be out of alignment.
With shoulder instability, the pain and weakness can come on slowly and build over time, or it can be suddenly painful. In some cases, you may only notice it when making a particular motion, and it goes away when you avoid that movement. However, a dislocated shoulder is often very painful, swollen, has a noticeable deformity, bruising, and the inability to move the joint. Both of these conditions require you to be seen to address the issues with your shoulder alignment. Some of the treatment options for an unstable shoulder include rest, physical therapy, and icing. Treatment options for a dislocated shoulder include closed reduction, medication, immobilization, and in some cases, surgery. When in doubt about your shoulder’s alignment, seek medical attention.