Most people know someone who has suffered a rotator cuff tear. These injuries often result from some type of athletic activity – from playing softball to lifting barbells to hitting a punching bag. Workers whose job requires them to keep their arms over their heads can suffer from them as well.
A car crash can also cause a rotator cuff tear if the impact causes the shoulder to hit the door or other hard surface. A motorcyclist, bicyclist or pedestrian can suffer a rotator cuff tear if they fall on their side – particularly if they reach out their arm to try to break their fall.
What is a rotator cuff tear?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons in the shoulder. They keep the ball and socket joints in place so that the shoulder can go through its normal range of motion. Rotator cuff tears, which often occur along with shoulder dislocation, limit the range of motion considerably and are extremely painful.
What kind of treatment is necessary?
A rotator cuff tear doesn’t heal on its own. In fact, without appropriate treatment as soon as possible, the muscles and tissues can degrade and result in permanent damage. While some rotator cuff injuries can be treated with physical therapy, a tear typically requires arthroscopic surgery.
Unless the shoulder is dislocated, it may not be possible to focus on a rotator cuff tear immediately after a crash if there are other serious injuries like lacerations or fractures. That’s one reason it’s important to get immediate medical attention and report any and all pain to the treating physician so they can do an MRI and other tests to better determine the full extent of your injuries. It’s also crucial to detail as much as you can about what happened to your body during and after the collision.
Often, people who are injured in serious collisions don’t know in the days and even weeks afterward just how seriously they will be affected by their injuries and what long-term treatment will be necessary. That’s why if you’ve been injured by a reckless or negligent driver, it’s worthwhile to get experienced legal guidance as early as possible. This can help ensure that you don’t agree to a settlement that won’t cover the full extent of your medical costs and other expenses and damages.