Shoulder Injuries

Ohio Workers Compensation Shoulder Injury Attorneys 

Injuries to the shoulder are frequently encountered in Ohio workers’ compensation claims.  A shoulder joint is composed of three bones: the clavicle (collarbone), the scapula (shoulder blade), and the humerus (upper arm bone). Shoulders are the most movable joints in your body. To remain in a stable or normal position, the shoulder must be anchored by muscles, tendons and ligaments. Because the shoulder can become unstable from work injuries, it is the site of many common problems, including sprains, strains, dislocations, separations, tendinitis, bursitis, torn rotator cuffs, frozen shoulder, fractures and arthritis. shoulder injuries are relatively common in the workplace, coming about due to lifting injuries, overhead work, or as the result from a significant fall. A shoulder injury can be a minor sprain / strain or it can be as serious as a torn rotator cuff with associated labrum tears or impingement syndrome. An MRI is usually necessary to ascertain the damage to the shoulder.  At Gruhin & Gruhin, we have considerable experience handling all types of shoulder injury cases.

Gruhin & Gruhin, Compensation Lawyers Experienced in Shoulder Injury Cases

An injury to the shoulder can be a serious matter, particularly, where some form of shoulder impingement or disturbance of the shoulder capsule is involved. Most problems in the shoulder involve the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, rather than the bones. Workers subjected to constant or repetitive lifting are susceptible to shoulder problems. Many times, shoulder problems develop slowly through repetitive use of the upper arm at work.  Many people have the tendency to ignore the pain and "play through" a shoulder injury, which only aggravates the condition, and may possibly cause more problems. People also may underestimate the extent of their injury because the steady pain, weakness in the arm, or limitation of joint motion starts to become second nature to them. If you are injured on the job or due to a work accident, you need to report your injury and take prompt action. There are strict time limits. To protect yourself and your family from lost earnings and medical bills, call Gruhin & Gruhin, Attorneys. Mike Gruhin, Board Certified Ohio Workers’ Compensation Specialist Attorney stands ready to help you get your claim accepted and get you the money and medical care you need.

Shoulder problems are grouped into the following categories:

Shoulder Sprain Strain

Muscle strains, lumbar sprains, and cervical sprains are the most common causes of spine pain. A muscle strain occurs when the muscle fibers are abnormally stretched or torn. A sprain occurs when the ligaments, the tough bands of tissue that hold bones together, are torn from their attachments. Differentiating a strain from a sprain can be difficult, as both injuries will show similar symptoms. Many doctors refer to both injuries as a category called "musculo-ligamentous injuries" of the lumbar spine or simply a sprain/strain. In general, it doesn't matter what you call the problem because the treatment and prognosis for both back and neck strains and sprains is the same.

Shoulder SLAP Tear

A SLAP tear is an injury to a part of the shoulder joint called the Labrum. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint, similar to the hip; however, the socket of the shoulder joint is extremely shallow, and thus inherently unstable. To compensate for the shallow socket, the shoulder joint has a cuff of cartilage called a labrum that forms a cup for the end of the arm bone (humerus) to move within. A specific type of labral tear is called a SLAP tear; this stands for Superior Labrum from Anterior to Posterior. The SLAP tear occurs at the point where the tendon of the biceps muscle inserts on the labrum.
 

Shoulder Instability

Sometimes, one of the shoulder joints moves or is forced out of its normal position. This condition is called instability, and can result in a dislocation of one of the joints in the shoulder. Individuals suffering from an instability problem will experience pain when raising their arm. They also may feel as if their shoulder is slipping out of place.

Shoulder Dislocation

Dislocations are joint injuries that force the ends of your bones out of position. This can be caused by a fall or a blow on the job.  When a dislocation occurs, you can't move the joint. You can dislocate your ankles, knees, shoulders, hips and elbows. You can also dislocate your finger and toe joints. Dislocated joints often are swollen, very painful and visibly out of place.

Shoulder Impingement

Impingement is caused by excessive rubbing of the shoulder muscles against the top part of the shoulder blade, called the acromion. Impingement problems can occur during activities that require excessive overhead arm motion. Medical care should be sought immediately for inflammation in the shoulder because it could eventually lead to a more serious injury.

Shoulder Rotator Cuff Injuries

The rotator cuff is one of the most important components of the shoulder. It is comprised of a group of muscles and tendons that hold the bones of the shoulder joint together. The rotator cuff muscles provide individuals with the ability to lift their arm and reach overhead. When the rotator cuff is injured, people sometimes do not recover the full shoulder function needed to return to their former employment.

Protect your rights after a workplace shoulder injury!

Contact Board Certified Specialist Attorney, Mike Gruhin, to discuss your shoulder injury case due to your on the job accident.
 

Given the time limitations surrounding the filing of a workers' compensation claim against your employer, it is important to act promptly. Speak to an experienced attorney about how an aggravation of your preexisting injury will affect your workers' compensation claim.

To receive fair compensation for a serious on the job injury, you should consult with a Board Certified Ohio Workers’ Compensation Specialist Attorney. Don’t think that all attorneys are work comp specialists. Ask the attorney you contact if he or she is Board Certified. If not, look elsewhere. Don’t wait, there are specific time limits. Call Mike Gruhin, Board Certified Ohio Workers’ Compensation Specialist Attorney now!