JENKINTOWN PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS

If you do physically demanding work, you could suffer a shoulder injury. Shoulder injuries are very common workplace injuries. You might be surprised to learn that not all Pennsylvania workplace shoulder injuries are treated in the same way.

Shoulder injuries can be placed into two categories:

1. Acute injures
2. Overuse injuries

Acute shoulder injuries: Acute injuries are injuries that occur suddenly and are often the result of trauma. Other causes of acute shoulder injuries include falling objects, car accidents, and sudden twisting or bending from lifting a very heavy object. The symptoms and pain are very sudden.

Acute injuries to the shoulder may include:

• Bruises
• Strains or sprains
• Torn nerves
• Torn ligaments
• Torn rotator cuff
• Fractures
• Dislocation

Overuse injuries: Overuse injuries occur when repetitive movement or constant overuse puts pressure on the shoulder joint and the surrounding tissues. The symptoms may be mild at first but increase in intensity over time.

Overuse injuries to the shoulder may include:

• Bursitis
• Rotator cuff injury
• Tendonitis
• Muscle strains
• Stiff or “frozen” shoulder
• Impingement Syndrome

Both types of injuries are serious, and both cause extreme pain. Both types of injury can lead to long-term complications. So what is the difference?

The difference is that it is easy to pinpoint the cause of an acute injury. If you fell off a ladder and dislocated your shoulder, you know that the fall caused your injury. Your employer will have a hard time denying your injury claim. However, it may be harder to prove that everyday lifting caused a rotator cuff tear.

If you are having difficulty getting Pennsylvania workers’ compensation for a shoulder injury, we urge you to contact a Philadelphia workplace injury lawyer. The attorney will be able to determine if you have a valid workers’ compensation claim. To schedule a free consultation, contact Mednick, Mezyk, and Kredo at 888-807-WORK.

Learn more about your rights in our free book, Your Guide to PA Workers’ Compensation.