Shoulder dislocation or something else?

[Anonymous]

I have a small self-harming problem where I will punch (or otherwise inflict brunt force on) myself hard frequently, and very infrequently cut as well. On Monday I punched right into my left shoulder very hard and since then, I've had a small bit of pain but with some kind of dislocation or something else. If I lay down on my belly and turn my arm in a certain way, I'll feel something like the top of my bone sticking out of the shoulder, but if I sit normally I don't feel it. I also feel the "bone" if I extend my arm and stretch it behind my back. When my arm is at rest, I don't feel the "dislocation", but I can feel something moving around if I shift it.

What can I expect the doctor to tell me? This isn't something I'd need surgery for, is it?

[Anonymous]

OP here, it's also probably worth mentioning I seem to have full range of motion in the arm...it just appears to be moderately deformed or something.

I'm not in the medical field so I really can't really say what's wrong. It could basically be dislocated....which is a quick easy but possibly painful solution. Usually they just 'pop' a dislocated shoulder back in. Is it still bothering you today? Gotten worse? Better?? The same???

I would suggest seeing a doctor if it is the same or worse. It sounds like it's normal other then when you are in some odd positions.

I'm others will tell you this also....hitting yourself (especially with that kind of force) can be damaging....not only physically but mentally/emotionally. Do you know why you do this? Have you ever talked to a counselor/therapist about this?

I hope by replying to (and bumping) this thread...maybe someone can suggest something better.

[Gravity]

I am by no means a specialist, so take this for what it's worth, but if you have a full range of motion in the arm, and you can't even feel anything different some times, then can it really be dislocated? I suppose it's possible, but you could also have done something else - like some sort of muscle or other structural damage. You may want to get it checked out if you have easy access to a doctor - especially if it doesn't go away.

Also, I agree with Inthedark - what's happening here can be damaging in ways that are more than physical. I'm not sure that hitting yourself so hard you may have dislocated your own arm is such a "small" problem - in addition to the problems with cutting, etc., that's a lot of rage to be directing at yourself. I know it isn't the point of what you were asking in the post, but if you can, I would try to talk to someone about this (whether a family member/friend, a counselor, or someone here on EC).

[Anonymous]

o properly train a doctor, you have to show him the disease, not just the cure. That is why I think it is helpful to pay careful attention to what the Bible identifies as a sin. This avoids false-diagnoses. Our culture may think cutting a tree down is a sin, but that is only the case if you trespassed onto your neighbour’s property first.

[Bobbgooduk]

If you have full range of movement, I think it's unlikely to be dislocated - it would hurt like hell if you'd popped your shoulder out and you wouldn't be able to bear weight on the arm. The bump might be a swelling around the 'injury'.

I'd be worried about next time, though. Do you self-harm through frustration, anger?

It's not something I've ever done myself, but my son cut himself for a while. In his case it was low self-esteem due to abusive treatment he'd had before I adopted him. It was traumatic for both of us!

School counsellor? What would your parents'reaction be if you told them?

Careful thought needed, but don't expect all the answers at once.