Shoulder Injuries
LAS VEGAS SHOULDER INJURIES ATTORNEY
Get the Compensation You Deserve for Your Shoulder Injury
The shoulder’s muscles and ligaments are essential to keeping the bones in place. When these tissues are injured, the shoulder can be damaged.
Different forms of shoulder problems are:
- Impingement or tendonitis of the shoulder
- Rotator cuff tears
- Frozen shoulder
- Dislocated or unstable shoulder
- Arthritis of the shoulder
Most of the time, these injuries result from accidents experienced by athletes, passengers in motor vehicles, people falling, bicycle riders, and warehouse and construction workers. Sometimes, no cause can be found. This is called idiopathic shoulder injury or pain.
Impingement or Tendinitis of the Shoulder
Three bones make up the shoulder:
- The upper arm bone
- The collar bone
- The shoulder blade
Rotator Cuff Damage
The rotator cuff, composed of muscles and tendons, covers the top of the upper arm bone (the head of the bone) and attaches the bone to the shoulder blade. The bursa is between the head of the upper arm bone and the rotator cuff. This sac lubricates the rotator cuff’s tendons, enabling them to slide freely when you move your arm.
A common cause of shoulder pain is damage to the rotator cuff. Tendinitis occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff become irritated or damaged. Bursitis results from an inflamed, swollen bursa, causing pain. Impingement causes pain and irritates the tissue when the bone on top of the shoulder rubs against the tendon and bursa.
Rotator cuff pain commonly occurs in young athletes who use their arms overhead in sports like swimming, baseball, and tennis. Other causes of rotator cuff pain occur in people who use repetitive overhead motions, such as painters, paper hangers, or construction workers.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder or stiffness of the shoulder often occurs without a known cause, although a shoulder injury may bring on the condition. Its main symptoms are pain, stiffness, and loss of motion. A doctor usually diagnoses a frozen shoulder by taking a patient history and doing a physical exam. While an X-ray may be done to rule out other causes, an X-ray or MRI is usually not necessary to make a diagnosis.
Frozen shoulder typically goes through three phases:
- Freezing phase – very painful and during which the patient gradually loses mobility.
- Frozen phase – the pain eventually subsides, but the shoulder is still painful and difficult to move.
- Thawing phase: During this phase, the shoulder slowly gains mobility. However, improvement can take from a year to a year and a half without treatment.
Frozen shoulder is more common in:
- Women
- Diabetic patients
- Patients with hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
The treatment of a frozen shoulder depends upon the patient’s condition. When a frozen shoulder begins, a cortisone injection may eradicate the problem. Physical therapy to stretch the shoulder and break up scar tissue is very important during the early and middle phases. In some patients, surgery may be an option to break up scar tissue and reestablish motion.
Dislocated or Unstable Shoulder
The shoulder is dislocated more often than any other joint in the body. The ball-and-socket shoulder joint is relatively flat, more like a golf tee than a coffee cup. This provides people with more flexibility but also makes the joint more prone to instability or dislocation. This occurs when the head of the top of the long bone of the arm (the humerus), or the ball of the joint, slips out of the socket.
There are two types of slippage:
- Subluxation is when the ball begins to slip out of the socket but immediately moves back into place.
- Dislocation is when the ball ultimately comes out of the joint. This usually occurs from some injury.
In either case, the tissues holding the bones in place tear. This sometimes heals, but at other times, the joint becomes more unstable and may result in repeat dislocations.
A sports medicine physician usually makes the diagnosis by discussing the situation with the patient and performing a physical examination. If the doctor believes surgery may be necessary, X-rays and an MR arthrogram (a particular type of MRI) are performed. The latter helps doctors see and evaluate how badly soft tissues are torn.
The treatment of shoulder dislocation depends upon the severity of the instability. In patients with a first dislocation, their arm is placed in a sling. Then, physical therapy is done to help strengthen surrounding muscles. In the case of more than one dislocation, surgery may be done to repair the torn soft tissue and tighten the joint.
Arthritis of the Shoulder
Arthritis of the shoulder occurs at two sites, consisting of the two shoulder joints. They are:
- The AC joint, where the collar bone meets the tip of the shoulder blade
- The glenohumeral joint, where the top or head of the long bone of the arm meets the scapula or shoulder blade
Five types of arthritis can affect the shoulder.
- Osteoarthritis occurs as the cartilage wears away over time, allowing the shoulder bones to rub against each other and cause pain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s defense system attacks the patient’s tissues. This often occurs in both joints of the shoulder.
- Posttraumatic arthritis occurs after an injury that fractures or dislocates the shoulder.
- Rotator cuff tear arthritis damages the bones’ surfaces and causes arthritis to develop. This condition may be severely painful and prevent a patient from lifting the arm away from the side of the body.
- Avascular necrosis. In patients with this condition, the blood supply to the top or head of the humerus (the long bone of the arm) is disrupted for some reason. This has the potential to destroy the shoulder joint and cause arthritis.
Arthritis of the shoulder is characterized by pain and limited range of motion. It is diagnosed by physical examination and X-rays to distinguish among the various types of arthritis.
Understanding the Long-Term Effects of Shoulder Injuries
- Chronic Pain: Ongoing discomfort that can become a persistent issue.
- Reduced Mobility: Difficulty in performing everyday tasks and movements.
- Limited Range of Motion: The inability to fully use the shoulder joint affects daily activities.
- Permanent Stiffness: Conditions like frozen shoulder may lead to lasting stiffness.
- Weakness and Susceptibility to Re-injury: Untreated rotator cuff injuries can result in ongoing weakness, making the shoulder more prone to future injuries.
- Emotional and Psychological Effects: Chronic pain and decreased physical capability can lead to conditions such as anxiety and depression.
- Impact on Quality of Life: Hindered participation in previously enjoyed activities and decreased work performance can affect overall well-being.
To prevent these long-term consequences, early intervention and effective treatment are essential.
Statute of Limitations for Shoulder Injury Claims in Nevada
In Nevada, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including those resulting from shoulder injuries, is generally two years from the incident date. This legal timeframe is critical for those seeking to recover damages due to negligence or misconduct that led to their injury.
Grasping this timeline is essential, as failing to file a claim within the two years two years may result in losing the right to seek compensation. Some exceptions could influence this timeframe, including cases involving minors or instances where the injury was not immediately apparent. Consulting with a knowledgeable attorney is highly recommended to navigate this process effectively, as they can provide valuable guidance throughout the legal journey.
Contact Our Las Vegas Should Injuries Lawyer Today
If you are suffering from the pain and physical limitations of a shoulder injury because of an accident caused by another person or company’s negligence or because of repetitive stress from a job, you should know that you may be eligible for financial compensation.
The Las Vegas personal injury lawyers of Bertoldo Carter Smith & Cullen help persons who suffered shoulder injuries because of motor vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, defective products, construction accidents, and other situations caused by negligence. We also represent workers who suffer shoulder injuries from the repetitive stress of their occupation.
If you or someone you love is battling with the pain and physical limitations of a shoulder injury, you should talk to an attorney to find out if you are eligible for compensation.
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