Does your shoulder look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?

Do you think you have broken or dislocated your shoulder?

Did your shoulder pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position and then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your collarbone look twisted, bent out of shape, or out of its normal position?

Do you think you have broken or dislocated your collarbone?

Did your collarbone pop, move, or get pulled out of its normal position and then return to its normal position?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have severe pain?

Do you have shoulder pain (not from an injury) that does not change when you move your neck, shoulder, or arm? Note: Shoulder pain that does not change with movement may be related to chest pain or symptoms of a heart attack.

Do you have pain with swelling or bruising that began within 30 minutes of an injury?

Do you have moderate pain that is getting worse?

Is a young child protecting a shoulder or unable to use an arm?

Do you have moderate pain that has not gotten better after 24 hours of home treatment?

Is your shoulder tender to the touch but not red or swollen after 24 hours of home treatment?

Does moving or lifting your arm still cause shoulder pain after 48 hours of home treatment?

Does shoulder pain keep you awake at night?

Have you had mild pain that comes and goes with no other symptoms for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is your arm pale, white, blue, or cold below the shoulder?

After having a shoulder splint applied, has your hand or arm turned pale, white, blue or cold? Note: See first aid for a cast or splint that may be too tight.

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Have you had new numbness or tingling for more than a few minutes?

Do you have numbness or tingling in your hand or arm, and your hand or arm is pale, white, blue, or cold?

Are you unable to move your shoulder normally (not because of pain or because a splint is in the way)?

Have you had steady numbness or tingling in your arm or hand for 1 hour or longer without other loss of function?

Has your numbness or tingling become worse?

Have you had brief episodes (less than 1 hour) of numbness or tingling off and on for 1 week or longer?

Has numbness or tingling that comes and goes slowly been getting worse for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is your shoulder locked in one position, and you are unable to move it normally?

Do you have severe pain?

Does your shoulder feel loose or unstable, and a lot of swelling has developed within 30 minutes?

After having a shoulder splint applied, are you unable to move your arm normally (not because the splint is in the way)?

Does your shoulder feel loose or unstable, but you do not have other symptoms?

Is a young child carefully protecting his or her shoulder or unable to use an arm?

Are you unable to lift your arm above your head after an injury?

Do you have shoulder stiffness or decreased movement after 48 hours of home treatment?

Do you have muscle spasms with movement?

Does your shoulder lock up from time to time, but it is not locked up now?

Has your shoulder felt loose or unstable off and on for a long time, and your symptoms have not been evaluated by a doctor?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Is the area below the swollen area is cold or pale?

Has a lot of swelling developed within 30 minutes of an injury?

Have you had joint swelling for longer than 24 hours but you have not had an injury?

Do you have moderate swelling from an injury after 48 hours of home treatment?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Does your shoulder look twisted, bent, or out of its normal position after an injury?

Are you unable to move your shoulder normally after an injury?

Does your shoulder feel loose or unstable after an injury?

Do you have snapping, popping, or grating in your shoulder after an injury, but there are no changes in its appearance or movement?

Have you had a lot of swelling within 30 minutes of the injury?

Have you had snapping, popping, and pain in your shoulder with normal movement for 1 week or longer?

Does your shoulder snap or pop during normal movement, but it does not cause pain?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you think that a shoulder injury may have been caused by abuse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Do you have increased swelling, redness, or warmth around your shoulder?

Do you have severe pain with movement of your shoulder?

Do you have red streaks extending from your shoulder toward your chest or neck?

Is your shoulder tender to the touch?

Do you have any drainage of pus from your shoulder?

Do you know or think you have a fever?

Do you have diabetes?

Do you have peripheral arterial disease?

Do you have a disease or take a medicine that causes problems with your immune system?

Do you have any symptoms of a skin infection around your shoulder?

Have you had mild pain and swelling with redness less than around the shoulder for 48 hours or longer?

Have you had swollen lymph nodes in the armpit or neck for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Did a bruise that is as large as the injured person's palm develop within 30 minutes of an injury?

Did a painful, swollen bruise develop within 30 minutes of an injury?

Are you worried about how easily you bruise?

Have bruises from an injury lasted longer than 2 weeks?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may need immediate care. Call your health professional now to discuss your symptoms and arrange for your care.

• Symptoms are likely to worsen without medical care.
• If you do not have a health professional, seek emergency care.
• Emergency transportation is not needed. However, if you are not able to travel safely either by driving yourself or having someone else drive you, call an ambulance.

You do not need to answer any of the other questions.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you need to call your health professional to discuss your symptoms and arrange for care.

• An appointment today is usually needed.
• Symptoms are unlikely to improve without medical care.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.

You have answered "Yes" to a question that indicates you may wait to see if your symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or the specified time period). If symptoms improve, no appointment is needed.

• If symptoms do not improve after 24 hours (or the specified time period), an appointment within the next 24 hours is usually needed.
• If appropriate, try home treatment to relieve your symptoms.
• Check your symptoms in 24 hours, or sooner if there is any change.
• Call your health professional if symptoms get worse.

Return to the Check Your Symptoms section and answer the questions. You may need to see a health professional sooner if you have other more serious symptoms.