This NHS content is written for people in England. Services, entitlements and contact routes may differ in other countries.
Go to A&E if:
You've injured your shoulder and:
- you cannot move your arm
- your shoulder looks out of place or has changed shape
- your shoulder is painful, bruised or swollen
Call 999 for an ambulance if you cannot get to A&E by yourself.
Find your nearest A&EA&E safety messaging
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
What to do while you’re waiting for treatment
If you think you’ve dislocated your shoulder, there are some things you can do while you’re waiting for treatment.
Do
gently hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) to your shoulder for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
put your arm in a sling or use a towel to support the affected arm
take paracetamol for the pain – always follow the dosage advice on the packet
Don't
do not move your upper arm
do not try to put your arm back in yourself
Treatment for a dislocated shoulder
You will usually have an X-ray to check your shoulder is dislocated.
If it is dislocated, a doctor will rotate your arm back into place.
You will be given a local anaesthetic or a sedative so you do not feel any pain.
Once your arm is back in place, you’ll be given a sling to support your arm
Sometimes you may also need surgery to reduce your risk of dislocating the same shoulder again.
Recovering from a dislocated shoulder
It usually takes up to 12 weeks to recover from a dislocated shoulder. It may take up to 16 weeks to fully return to playing some sports, but for some recovery can take longer.
You’ll need to wear a sling to support your arm for the first few weeks.
A physiotherapist may recommend some regular shoulder exercises to help reduce pain and stiffness.
Your doctor or physiotherapist will advise you on when you can return to daily tasks like driving or playing sport.
Reducing the risk of dislocating your shoulder again
Once you dislocate your shoulder, there’s an increased risk it could happen again.
The risk depends on your age and how well your shoulder joint healed.
You may be offered a scan to check if your shoulder has been damaged.
It’s important to follow any advice you’re given by the hospital or doctor.
The hospital may recommend regular physiotherapy appointments to help make your shoulder muscles stronger and reduce the risk of dislocating your shoulder again.
Dislocated shoulder
Dislocated shoulder
Dislocated shoulder
Dislocated shoulder
Get medical help if you think you’ve dislocated your shoulder. Keep your shoulder still and do not try to put your arm back in yourself.
An X-ray will check if your shoulder is dislocated. If it is, a doctor will move your arm back into place. Surgery may sometimes be needed.
A dislocated shoulder usually takes up to 12 weeks to heal, but it can take longer. You'll wear a sling to support your arm for the first few weeks.
Once you've dislocate your shoulder, there's a chance it could happen again. Physiotherapy can reduce the risk of dislocating it again.
Content supplied by the NHS website, refreshed 19 August 2026. View the original NHS article ↗
Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 ↗. MyPHU is independent and is not endorsed by the NHS.