Sustaining a debilitating shoulder injury, whether it’s in a car accident, a slip and fall, or a construction accident, can be devastating. Even a relatively minor shoulder injury can prevent someone from completing daily tasks. Shoulders are the most moveable joints in the body, and some shoulder injuries can require surgery and extensive medical care.
Common Shoulder Injuries
Your shoulder is composed of three bones: the clavicle (collar bone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm). Because the bone of the upper arm is larger than the joint that holds it, the shoulder has a tendency to be unstable. The shoulder requires healthy ligaments, tendons, and muscles to keep it anchored and in a stable position. If any of these bones, ligaments, tendons, or muscles are damaged, a serious shoulder injury can occur.
Rotator cuff injuries are the most common type of shoulder injury. The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint and keep the upper arm stable in the shoulder socket. Rotator cuff injuries can occur when someone tries to catch themselves during a slip and fall accident or attempts to brace for impact during a car accident. Rotator cuff injuries can also be caused by any impact with a hard surface. These injuries can lead to substantial pain and a lack of strength and flexibility in the joint.
If you suffer from a rotator cuff tear, you may require surgery to repair it. Other rotator cuff injuries can require extensive physical therapy to build back the strength and mobility of the joint.
Other common shoulder injuries caused by negligence include:
- Separation/dislocation
- Shoulder joint tear
- Shoulder instability
- Fractured shoulder blade
- Fractured collarbone
- Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
- Tendinitis or tendon tears
- Bursitis
- Sprains and strains
- Joint injuries
A doctor may recommend a series of numbing medications or injectable steroids to help relieve the pain, and most shoulder injuries will require some type of physical therapy. Many injuries will require surgery. Chronic pain and inflammation, as well as a lack of mobility, can be a long-term result of a shoulder injury.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve sustained a shoulder injury due to someone’s negligence, you should consult with an experienced and trusted attorney. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping injured New Yorkers. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.