Your Care Instructions

A shoulder separation is a tearing of the ligaments that connect two bones of the shoulder—the collarbone (clavicle) and the end of the shoulder blade (acromion). The ligaments can be partially or completely torn. This is usually caused by a blow to the top of the shoulder or a fall onto an outstretched arm.

Shoulder injuries can be slow to heal, but with time and effort, your shoulder should get better. Physiotherapy can help you regain strength, motion, and flexibility in your shoulder.

How can you care for yourself at home?

• If your doctor put your arm in a sling, wear the sling as directed. Do not take it off before your doctor tells you to.
• Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• Rest your shoulder as much as you can.
• Put ice or a cold pack on your shoulder for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake) or until the swelling goes down. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• You may use warm packs after the first 3 days for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to ease pain.
• If your doctor gave you exercises to do at home, do them exactly as instructed.
• Do not do anything that makes pain worse.
• Go to all follow-up appointments. You and your doctor will decide if you need further treatment, including surgery. You and your doctor will also decide when to begin physiotherapy, if it is needed.