Shoulder Injuries

Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint. Because the socket of the shoulder joint is extremely shallow, it is much more unstable than other joints, leaving this part of your body more susceptible to injury.

While shoulder injuries can be caused in a variety of ways, such as heavy lifting, repetitive overhead motion, and falls, we know from experience that car accidents are a common cause of shoulder injuries.

Types of Shoulder Injuries

In almost all cases of shoulder injuries, individuals will feel pain, swelling, and discomfort. This is the most common symptom and could mean a variety of different types of shoulder injuries, such as:

• Rotator cuff tears

• SLAP (Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior) tears

• Dislocated shoulder/shoulder instability

It is the responsibility of your medical provider to properly diagnose your shoulder injury and provide you with the right treatment options.

Detecting a Shoulder Injury

Some individuals feel shoulder pain immediately and receive medical care after a car accident. Others, however, may have delayed signs and not immediately realize they sustained a shoulder injury.

Your doctor will want to determine the exact cause of your shoulder pain. They will do a physical examination and ask about your medical history. Make sure to tell them if you were recently involved in an accident.

They will feel for tenderness and swelling in your shoulder and assess your range of motion and stability. Imaging tests, such as an X-ray or an MRI, can be used to produce details of your shoulder and help with diagnosis.

Recovery Options

Shoulder injuries can be debilitating and prevent you from doing daily activities. While some shoulder injuries will heal overtime on their own, most require one or more of the following treatments:

• Physical therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Rehabilitation

• Surgery

We understand that any injury can be absolutely devastating. Our firm is here to help you during these incredibly difficult times. Armed with over 38 years of legal experience, our Kirkland personal injury attorneys are prepared to work as your legal advocates so you obtain the compensation you need to recover after sustaining a severe injury.