Shoulder injuries are one of the most traumatic injuries, especially for victims of car accidents, sports accidents, and falls. Shoulder injuries can range from minor soft tissue damage that heals quickly on its own, to fractures and torn ligaments that can require surgery to repair. Serious shoulder injuries can sometimes result in a significant period of disability or a permanent reduction in the range of motion of the shoulder.
When you’re suffering from a shoulder injury due to the negligence, recklessness, or intentional act of another person, it’s helpful to know that you could be able to collect a substantial amount of compensation. An experienced Orange County shoulder injury lawyer can help you collect money for medical expenses, current and future lost earnings, pain, suffering, and mental distress. Call the Crockett Law Group today to schedule your free consultation with our personal injury attorneys and learn more.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s important to watch for symptoms of a shoulder injury so that medical treatment can begin without delay.
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Common Types of Shoulder Injuries
The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the entire body, making it extremely vulnerable to injury. It’s composed of two major bones, the humerus, and the scapula. The humerus has a round head that fits inside the scapula, surrounded by muscles and ligaments.Fractures
Due to the delicate nature of the shoulder, open, closed, simple, and compound fractures all need to be treated immediately and with great care to avoid permanent loss of use.Dislocations
Violent twisting can cause the scapula and humerus to become dislocated. An experienced practitioner may be able to relocate the shoulder, so assistance should be sought immediately.Sprains
When the muscles and ligaments of the shoulder are stretched beyond their normal limits, it can cause the shoulder to become unstable. Trauma such as a high-speed collision or a fall can cause a sprain or shoulder separation.Torn Ligaments
When the ligaments supporting the shoulder bones tear, it can cause a serious injury that may require surgery.Rotator Cuff Tear
These muscles of the upper arm allow you to rotate and raise your arm. When they are torn, the result is pain and limitation of motion.Shoulder Injury Symptoms
Traumatic fractures and dislocations will have immediate symptoms of severe pain and visual indications of serious injury such as lacerations and bruising. Less severe injuries may not show the full range of symptoms until days or even weeks after the trauma. Symptoms of shoulder injuries include:- Dull ache deep in the shoulder
- Difficulty sleeping
- Limited range of motion
- Weakness
- Swelling
- Redness or Bruising
If you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s important to watch for symptoms of a shoulder injury so that medical treatment can begin without delay.
Shoulder Injury Treatment
Fractures and dislocations of the shoulder require immediate emergency medical treatment. Less serious injuries are usually treated with physical therapy, acupuncture, and other conservative methods. If conservative treatment is not successful in reducing pain and increasing range of motion, epidural injections into the shoulder are usually the next step. Sometimes the pain relief from the epidural injections allows the physical therapy to be more effective. If all conservative treatment fails to reduce pain and provide a full range of motion, arthroscopic or open surgical techniques can often repair the damage.Can a Car Accident Cause Shoulder Pain?
Car accidents are a leading cause of shoulder injuries. For drivers and passengers in cars, it’s usually the shoulder that’s near the door that’s injured. Pedestrians that are knocked to the ground by vehicles often injure their shoulders when they hit the ground. High-speed impacts, head-on collisions, and rollovers can cause catastrophic shoulder injuries such as fractures and dislocations, but low-speed collisions can cause shoulder pain that requires treatment and can prevent you from working. Shoulder pain may not arise until several days after an accident, but when it does it’s important to seek medical attention from an emergency room or health care practitioner.Further Reading
How Much Is a Shoulder Injury Claim Worth?
Shoulder injury claims vary greatly in value depending on the following factors:- The severity of the injury
- How much medical treatment and rehabilitation is required
- How much time is lost from employment
- The impact of the injury on the person’s enjoyment of life
- How painful the injury and treatment are
- The impact on the family
