HomeAnswersInternal Medicineshoulder dislocationI have numbness on the center of my shoulder near my elbow after a dislocation. Why?

My shoulder dislocated while dancing, but went back right in and now it is numb. Please help.

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At July 3, 2017
Reviewed AtNovember 13, 2021

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am a 38 year old female. My height is 5 feet and 9 inches, and I weigh 130 lbs. I am a professional dancer. I dislocated my left shoulder while dancing. I had to make a move that involved throwing the arms out and across the body to the right side sharply and quickly. It popped out for about two to three seconds and went right back in. It was sore for the first two days. Initially, I wore a swing and then began moving it gently through a full range of motion. I had slight pain when rotating it outwards with my arm at 90 degrees and lifting up with arm straight out to the side. It has since been 11 days since the injury and the pain has completely subsided. However, I am now experiencing periods of numbness along a line down the center of my shoulder toward my elbow. I am wondering if it might just be a nerve swelling because I went back to activity too soon or if I should be concerned that the shoulder went back in and is compressing a nerve. Or is it something else entirely? Should I give it more time to rest or get to a doctor to have it evaluated? Any opinion or advice would be great.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

  • What you described was a dislocation of the shoulder joint and a reduction on its own.
  • When the relocation of this forearm head in the joint cavity does not happen on its own, we try to reduce it again in the joint cavity with some maneuvering, and immobilize it with a sling for one to three weeks with gradual ROM (range of motion) exercises in order to bring it to function normally.
  • In your case, the possible complications can be as follows:
  1. Tearing of the muscles, ligaments, and tendons that reinforce your shoulder joint.
  2. Nerve or blood vessel damage in or around your shoulder joint.
  3. Shoulder instability, especially if you have a severe dislocation or repeated dislocations, which makes you more prone to re-injury.
  • For the confirmation of diagnosis, an MRI is a must.

I recommend you rush to your local orthopaedician for a complete evaluation. Take care.

For more information consult an internal medicine physician online --> https://www.icliniq.com/ask-a-doctor-online/internal-medicine-physician

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Chandwadkar Ashish
Dr. Chandwadkar Ashish

Internal Medicine

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Internal Medicine

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy