Dislocation. If your shoulder is pulled back too hard or turned too far, the top of your arm could pop out of its socket. Your shoulder will hurt and become weak. You might also feel swollen, numb, or get bruises.
Separation. This injury affects the joint where your collarbone and shoulder blade meet. The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is its name. When it falls or gets hit hard, the ligaments that hold it together get torn. If your collarbone gets pushed out of place, you’ll have a bump on the top of your shoulder.
Fracture. If you fall or get hit hard, you can break or crack a bone. The collarbone and humerus are the bones that break most often (arm bone closest to your shoulder). It will hurt a lot, and you might get a bruise. If you break your collarbone, your shoulder may drop, and you may not be able to lift your arm.
Cartilage tear. You can injure the cartilage that goes around the edge of your shoulder joint. This is the rubbery padding. It can happen when you keep doing the same thing. You can also hurt it by falling or by putting a lot of force on your shoulder. If you have this kind of injury, reaching over your head might hurt, and your shoulder might feel weak. It could also feel like it’s catching, locking, or grinding.
Rotator cuff tear. Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in your shoulder that keep your arm in place and let you lift your arm above your head. You can break it by using it too much or by falling on it. As you age, it also starts to show signs of wear and tear. You may have pain in your shoulder at night and when you try to lift things. When you move it, you might hear a crackling sound.
Frozen shoulder. This condition limits how much your joint can move. Adhesions are abnormal bands of tissue that build up in the joint and keep your shoulder from moving freely. Your shoulder might “freeze” because pain or surgery has made you use it less, allowing adhesions to build up.
Impingement. This happens when the tendons of the rotator cuff get pinched between the bones of the shoulder. It may cause swelling and pain. If you lift your arms over your head a lot, it can cause this.
Bursitis. If you keep doing the same things over and over, the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that cushions your joint, can get swollen and irritated. But a fall or another injury can also cause it. If you have bursitis, your shoulder may hurt most when you move it.
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