Things you should never do in a dislocation injury are manipulate or move the joint as trying to straighten or pop the joint back into place when it's dislocated can result in further damage to the surrounding tissues such as blood vessels, ligaments and nerves.
And never leave the dislocation injury untreated.
If you have a dislocation injury you should use a sling or splint to immobilize the joint in the position that it's in and then apply some ice to reduce swelling and seek immediate medical attention by going to the ER or urgent care.
If dislocations are left untreated it can result in long term complications which include instability, chronic pain, reduced range of motion and increased risk of future dislocations.
Also damage to the surrounding tissues such as blood vessels, nerves, tendons and ligaments can also occur if a dislocation is left untreated.
These complications from an untreated dislocation could result in numbness, weakness and even tissue death and in severe cases untreated dislocations can even result in arthritis.
Dislocations and fractures both require prompt medical attention to prevent complication and prevent them from getting worse.
A fracture is also painful, although a dislocation is more painful than a fracture, especially immediately after the injury.
Both fractures and dislocations are very painful, but a dislocation involves the bones being forced out of their normal joint alignment, which can also put significant pressure on the nerves, ligaments and surrounding tissues, which leads to intense pain.
Fractures, although painful, aren't always as immediately debilitating as a dislocation is.
In a dislocation, there is sudden and severe immediate pain, which is also intense as the bones are forced out of their position, and the dislocation and pain is also often accompanied by a visible deformity.
The dislocation can also cause nerve and tissue damage as the displacement of a dislocation can stretch or damage the nerves and surrounding tissues that contribute to the pain.
And the joint in a dislocation is also no longer stable and any movement can be excruciating.
A fracture can also cause immediate pain, although the intensity of the pain can vary depending on the location of the break and the severity of the break.
Fractures can also damage the nerves, especially if the bone fragments become displaced or are sharp.
Swelling and bruising are also common in both fractures and dislocations, but the swelling and bruising may be more pronounced with fractures which also involve significant soft tissue damage.
Both fractures and dislocations also require prompt medical attention to stabilize the joint and manage pain.
And some severe fractures and dislocations may even require surgery to realign the bones and to stabilize the joint.