One of the most internal agonizing pain is going through joint dislocation. This can happen to anyone, be it a child or an adult. It mostly affects the shoulders, fingers, elbows, knees, jaws, and hips. Most times it usually occurs as a result of a fall or a blow during play or sports activities.
In most cases, people do get perplexed about what specifically might be the cause of the excruciating internal pains they experience in joints, muscles, or bones. Learning more about joint dislocation will help you identify what truly results in certain pains.
What Is Joint Dislocation?
A joint is an articulation where two or more bones meet to enable movement. Dislocation leads to the separation of two bones where they meet at a joint. Dislocation can affect any meeting joint in your body except for the hyoid bone in the throat.
The total estimated number of joints in the body is 350 which supports movement from your head to the toe, although not equally agreed upon by experts. Dislocation causes extreme pain and it makes it impossible to use the affected joint.
Dislocation is always the least expected to happen, it’s an unforeseen circumstance that happens during trauma or sports injuries. The best advice is never to try to push back a dislocated joint on your own, it can lead to your worst nightmare.
Dislocation can strain or tear the surrounding tissues of your joint such as muscles, nerves, tendons, and blood vessels.
Types Of Joint Dislocation
Dislocation of joints is classified or grouped based on how the bones in the joint were moved as stated:
- Luxation: this is often known as complete dislocation which happens when the bones in your joint are totally separated and pushed out of place.
- Subluxation: this is a medical term for partial dislocation. This happens when something pushes your joint out but the bones still touch, but not fully as usual.
Causes Of Joint Dislocation
Joint dislocation could be from rough play, hard push, or accidental but any force that leads to the joint being pushed out of its place can cause a dislocation. The most common causes are:
- Car Accident
- Spot injuries
- Falls
Symptoms Of Joint Dislocation
The most common symptoms you feel when your joint is dislocated include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Difficulty in movement
- A feeling of instability in the affected joint
- Obvious difference in the affected joint
The symptoms you will experience may vary depending on the joints affected.
Diagnosis Of Joint Dislocation
During joint dislocation diagnosis, a medical professional will thoroughly examine the joint and the area around it thoroughly. You need to be truthful about the activities you did that resulted in the dislocation when interrogated by your medical professional.
After this, an imaging test will be done to properly ascertain the severity of the dislocation and the damage your joint has been subjected to through the following:
- Ultrasound
- X-rays
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- A computed tomography (CT) scan
Treatment Of Joint Dislocation
When your joint is dislocated, it is best to consult a professional healthcare provider to properly fix it. Do not attempt self-treatment. The only reliable and suitable person to correct the dislocation is a professional medical personnel.
The healthcare professional will carefully push and pull on the dislocated joint to move back into alignment.
If the dislocation is serious, you might undergo the following process:
- Immobilization: This involves wearing a splint, sling, or brace to hold your joint in place while it heals.
- Medication: medication for pain relief and inflammation will be prescribed by your healthcare personnel. Avoid taking over-the-counter pain relievers over 10 days without consulting your healthcare provider.
- Rest: a good remedy to easily heal the affected joint is avoiding any form of stressful physics activities.
Related Topic: How To Fix A Dislocated Shoulder? Fast And Effective Tips
Conclusion
Accidentally you might encounter a joint dislocation, it’s best to avoid self-treatment. Endeavor to consult a professional healthcare provider for immediate diagnosis and effective treatment. After you’ve been given the necessary medication and treatment, take enough rest for the joint to properly heal before engaging in any exhausting physical activity. If the dislocation is extreme and involves broken bones, your healthcare personnel will give you anesthesia or sedatives to help you sleep or feel less pain while treatment is ongoing.
