| A dislocated shoulder is not only painful, but is also an | | | | then the shoulder needs to be reset only while the |
| injury that must be corrected immediately to avoid any | | | | patient is under a general anesthetic. It is not a good |
| long-term damage. If you throw out your shoulder, then | | | | idea to try to set a posterior shoulder dislocation. |
| you should do the following. | | | | Verify that the patient is as comfortable as possible. |
| Always be cautious of a patient's history! Prior to trying | | | | Of course, there is a great deal of pain from a |
| to set a shoulder that has been dislocated you will | | | | dislocated shoulder, so be sure they're as comfortable |
| need to learn the individual's previous medical history. If | | | | as possible. They should lie down or sit. Give some |
| dislocation has occurred for the first time, you would | | | | pain killers. Apparently even caffeine and nicotine can |
| want to hurry them to the hospital. It's hard to say if | | | | help with the pain. |
| the dislocated shoulder is the only injury, or if there are | | | | Re-position the shoulder. It is now time to re-position |
| additional ones present. It would be wise to leave the | | | | the dislocated shoulder. Put the top of the arm so that |
| first diagnosis up to the doctors. | | | | it is resting and facing downward. It is also okay to |
| Ask yourself, "Can I set this dislocated shoulder by | | | | bend his elbow or draw it into his chest as well. Create |
| myself?" If it has happened to the person before, you | | | | a 90 degree angle at the elbow and rotate the arm in |
| can probably re-position the shoulder yourself. This | | | | to create a letter 'l'. Then slowly and gradually rotate |
| procedure can be performed on the spot if no other | | | | the whole of the arm and shoulder out, ensuring that |
| severe trauma is apparent. | | | | you keep the upper part of the arm as still as you can. |
| Determine what type of dislocation has happened. | | | | Hold down their wrist and push with your other fist on |
| Now that you have discovered that it is not the first | | | | the injured arm. With luck, the shoulder should fall back |
| dislocation of your patient, you need to see what has | | | | into its joint. |
| been dislocated. You can re-position set an anterior | | | | It is important to know that dislocation of the shoulder |
| dislocation (the most common) if this is not a new | | | | is very uncomfortable, but once it is re-set you will both |
| injury for the patient. For a posterior dislocation, which | | | | feel a lot happier. |
| could have been caused by a fit or even electrocution, | | | | |