15 Questions About Dislocated Joints – Symptoms, Types, and More

28 Oct 15 Questions About Dislocated Joints – Symptoms, Types, and More

Dislocated joints are an injury in which bone segments separate from the joint socket.

Sounds painful! And for good reason…

Dislocated joints can leave you with damaged ligaments, cartilage, and tendons. It can also cause temporary immobility of the affected joint with visible swelling. 

It usually happens in the shoulders and fingers. Apart from these, knee, elbow, and hip dislocations are also very common. 

Furthermore, most of the time dislocation occurs because of falling, sudden pulling, or playing sports.

Dislocated joints can, in fact, get severe in the absence of proper treatment. Hence, if you have suffered joint dislocation, seek proper medical treatment right away. 

Now, surely, this overview on dislocated joints is not enough to address all the burning queries regarding it. 

The Q&A blog answers most of the Frequently Asked Questions regarding types of dislocation injury and causes and more. 

Dislocated Joints – 15 Most-Asked Questions Answered

Right below are quick answers to the top 15 questions often asked about dislocated joints.

#1. What are the Symptoms of Joint Dislocation?

If you know what is dislocation, or if you have ever experienced a dislocated joint, you must be aware of how painful it is. 

A dislocation happens suddenly and some of the symptoms of joint dislocation often include:

#1. Pain and swelling in the affected area: This is the most obvious and common symptom of joint dislocation. You may feel intense pain followed by swelling around the affected joint. 

#2. Inability to normally move the joint: Joint dislocation makes it difficult for you to normally move that joint. For instance, in the case of a dislocated knee, you will not be able to make normal walking movements or standing positions.

#3. Bruises due to internal bleeding of the skin: Sometimes due to sudden blowout, dislocated joints can also cause internal damage to your skin. This, as a result, can leave you with bruises around the affected area.

#4. Tingling, numbness, and unusual sensation: This is yet another common symptom of joint dislocation. If you have dislocated your joint, you might feel a tingling feeling or an unusual sensation. At times, people also experience numbness. 

#5. Visible deformation of the joint: When joint dislocation is severe, you may also witness a visible deformation of the joint. It is easy to differentiate between a dislocated joint and the normal joint placement.

So, if experiencing any of these symptoms, get proper treatment.

#2. What Causes Dislocated Joints?

Joint dislocations are the result of physical injury. The cause of dislocation could be anything from⁠—Wear and tear, overuse of muscles, to direct force. 

1. General wear and tear: This can happen to anyone. It includes joint dislocation due to sudden pull. For instance, lifting anything heavy, falling from stairs, and kickstarting your bike can also cause dislocation. 
2. Overuse of Muscles: Gym goers, athletes, and weight lifters are often prone to this type of injury. For sudden results, they tend to put extra and unnecessary pressure. This, as a result, might lead to joint dislocation. 
3. Direct Force: It happens when your joints feel a direct force. It could happen during an accident. It can also happen to athletes for instance while playing baseball, cricket, or even football. Getting hit by a ball also results in joint dislocation. 

These were the major causes of joint dislocation. Further, there are certain people who are more likely to experience this painful occurrence. It includes: 

• Older people
• Double-jointed people
• People with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome 
• Younger people who play sport

If you are living with an elderly person or people who are more likely to damage their joints, keep an eye on their movements.

#3. What are the Types of Joint Dislocation?

The most common types of joint dislocation include:

1. Finger Dislocation: This injury majorly affects the middle figure and the thumb. It can happen while playing sports, getting fingers stuck in the dress, and even when falling on the hand. 
2. Dislocated Knee: This is also very common among athletes. However, it also happens with weight lifters trying to lift unusual weights all of a sudden. Further, it is a common occurrence while skiing. 
3. Elbow Dislocation: It is the 2nd most common joint dislocation among adults. It requires a lot of force to dislocate an elbow. Hence, there are chances of damaged blood vessels too. Hence, dislocated elbow requires quick action. 

Apart from all these, some other types of dislocated joints are: 

• Kneecap dislocation
• Wrist dislocation
• Dislocated Collarbone
• Jaw Point Dislocation
• Ankle dislocation
• Foot dislocation
• Dislocated Knuckle

As compared to larger joints, smaller ones require less force to get dislocated.

#4. What Happens When a Joint is Dislocated?

As the bones dislocate with one other forcefully, there is pain, internal bleeding, and bruises. 

When joints are damaged, structures holding them can get severely damaged. Due to displacement of the bones, there is a hindrance to the normal mobility of the joints. 

For instance, in case of wrist dislocation, you won’t be able to move your wrist without any pain. In the case of jaw dislocation, it’d be difficult for you to open the mouth. So, yes a dislocated joint in any part of the body restricts movement and is a hassle in everyday life. 

#5. What is the Most Commonly Dislocated Joint in the Body?

The most frequently dislocated joint is shoulder joints.

You may experience shoulder dislocation because of the wrong sleeping position. 

Some other common joint dislocations also include:

• Finger Joints
• Kneecap (patellar) Joints
• Elbow Joints

Shoulder, elbow, and finger joints are mostly used to do the majority of things.

It accounts for simple tasks from eating to lifting heavy things. Hence, the chances of these dislocations are also higher.

Kneecap dislocation, on the other hand, is common among teenagers, especially girls. It can happen while playing sport or even while getting up from the chair or floor. 

Moreover, kneecap dislocation is recurring and you may hear a crack or clunk noise when it happens. The chances of the dislocation of the kneecap joint increases if you’re overweight. 

#6. What is Shoulder Dislocation?

As per reports, shoulder dislocation accounts for around 50% of the major joint dislocations. 

Out of this around, 95-97 percent account for anterior dislocation of the shoulder, and around 2-4 percent cover the posterior dislocation of shoulder.

The shoulder is the most unstable joint of the body. It can move in many directions. This makes it more exposed to dislocation. 

The popping out of the upper arm bone (humerus) from the shallow shoulder socket (glenoid) is how one can define a dislocated shoulder. 

Further, this type of dislocation can be partial and full. Many people are often confused when it comes to subluxation vs dislocation. 

Notably, partial dislocation is also called a subluxation. It happens when the upper arm bone slips out of the socket and then sets back. Whereas, full dislocation is when the humerus completely pops out of the socket.

Main causes of a dislocated shoulder include:

• Falling
• Accident
• Forceful Throwing, lifting, and hitting

Moreover, a dislocated shoulder is often associated with fractures and ligament damage. Hence, it requires immediate treatment. 

#7. Can a Dislocated Joint Pop Back Itself?

At the time, joints might pop back. For instance, in the case of a dislocated shoulder joint. 

However, this mustn’t be mistaken as a cure. You must see the doctor even if your joints pop back. 

There may be issues regarding damaged ligaments and tissues which might require treatment. 

#8. Can a Dislocated Joint Heal on Its Own?

This is one of the most commonly asked queries regarding dislocated joints. People often want to know if a dislocated joint heals on its own. 

The answer is no!

Unless the upper arm bone is popped back in its place by the doctor, you may not find relief. The continuous pain and pressure on the muscle can, in fact, lead to further damage. 

People often get inspired to do it by themselves after watching it in the movies. This is not recommended at all.

While it is a way of getting relief quickly, it can also result in further damage. Hence, you must not try it unless you’re 100% sure of what you are doing. 

#9. How is Joint Dislocation Diagnosed?

A dislocated joint gets diagnosed by the doctor by examining the affected area. You will have to go through different tests:

#1. X-RAY: It is the first and foremost thing you’ll have to do. X-RAY helps in identifying the type and location of the dislocated joint accurately. 

#2. MRI: The next test that you may need to go through is an MRI scan. It helps identify the subtle injuries in the knees and shoulders. 

#3. CT Scan: CT scan is required to examine the hip and elbow injuries. If you fear hip subluxation or dislocated elbow, get ready for a CT scan. 

After going through the required tests, the doctor will start your treatment accordingly. 

#10. How Do You Fix a Dislocated Joint?

It’s better to get your dislocated joints fixed by the doctor. 

Nevertheless, you can try first aid for dislocation to minimize the pain.

• Swing the area but try avoiding the movement that caused the dislocation
• Put an ice pack to reduce the swelling
• Take a painkiller (only if it’s unbearable)
• Rush to the emergency. 

These are the steps you can take to reduce the pain before you reach the doctor. 

#11. What is the Treatment for Joint Dislocation?

The options available to treat your dislocated joints are:

#1. Rest: If the dislocation is very minor, immobility can treat it easily. People are even recommended to wear immobilizers. After a short resting period, your joints might get back to their original position.

#2. Manipulation: In this process, a doctor pushes the bone back to its original place. 

#3. Medication: Patients may require to take painkillers to get relief from the pain. 

#4. Rehabilitation: Active-assisted range of motion exercise followed by isometric strengthening exercises can also help. 

#5. Surgery: At last, in case of severe dislocation, surgery is required to treat irreducible dislocations. You may also need surgery in case modulation didn’t work. Also, if there is bleeding in the muscles or your bones and ligaments are also damaged, you might need to go through surgical treatment.

#12. What Happens If You Leave a Dislocated Joint Untreated?

In any case, you leave a joint untreated, you may experience the following changes: 

• Difficulty in performing day-to-day activities: You might find it difficult to perform your daily activities. For instance, lifting weights, sleeping, and even bathing will be troublesome. 
• Damage to blood vessels and nerves: The untreated joint dislocation can damage your nerves and result in loss of movement and sensation.
• Bursitis and Tendinitis: Inflammation of the bursa (Read: Can bursitis kill you) and tendonitis of tendons of supraspinatus muscle can be painful.
• Recurring pain: Untreated joint dislocation can give you a frequent feeling of pain and spasms. 
• Multi-directional inability: The untreated dislocation of a particular joint can lead to multi-directional inability. For instance, in the case of the shoulder, the joint ball can move, forward, backward, and away from the shoulder.
• Permanent damage: Damaged ligament, when left untreated for long, can result in permanent damage as well.

Therefore, it is highly recommended to get the required treatment as soon as possible.

#13. How to Prevent Joint Dislocation?

The best way to prevent dislocation is to:

• Avoid falls or accidents. 
• If you’re an athlete, try to play safe. 
• If you lift weights, make sure you aren’t lifting any unnecessary extra weight all of a sudden. Also, try to do it in the presence of experts.
• Wear protection gears to keep yourself and your joints safe during an unfortunate incident. 
• Maintaining a healthy weight can also prevent kneecap dislocation. 

In the case of specific bone dislocations, such as the dislocated jaw, develop the habit of supporting the chin while yawning. 

#14. How Long Does It Take to Recover from Dislocated Joint?

It depends on the severity and the type of joint dislocation you have. In the case of a dislocated shoulder, it takes around 12-16 weeks to recover from it.

Further, it also depends on the treatment required to get your bones back to normal. For instance, in the case of minor dislocation treated with immobility, it will take nearly 1-2 weeks.

Once a joint dislocation happens, it is more likely to occur again. Hence, it’s better to be careful and take proper treatment to prevent any further severe injury.

#15. What Do I Do If My Joint Keeps Dislocating?

Some lifestyle modifications are imperative in the case of repeated joint dislocations. Consulting a doctor for proper instructions and guidance on physical therapy is also important.

If nothing else works, a surgery might be the last resort as this may indicate severe misalignment. 

Winding Up

Dislocated joints are common but painful conditions that require proper treatment under guidance. However, many people often mistakenly assume it to be a minor strain.

While you can relieve minor dislocations with stretching, it’s recommended to do it only under supervision.

To get relief from the pain, people opt for painkillers as well. If the uneasiness and difficulty in doing everyday activities still persist, wait no more and consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Feel free to get in touch through the comments section if you’ve any more questions that are not addressed above.

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