Our shoulders literally “shoulder” a lot of work in our daily life. Whether it’s lifting, pushing, exercising, dancing, walking or engaging in sports, the shoulders are a vital aspect in helping us perform a wide range of activities.

Being the most mobile joint in the body, it is extremely flexible and has a wide range of motion. Along with this, it is also not a very stable structure and can easily be dislocated or injured.

Slip or trip and fall accidents are a common reason for shoulder injuries. Unfortunately, accidents aren’t always chance events. They are caused by someone’s fault or negligence.

A seriously injured victim and his/her family face physical, financial and emotional issues when accidents occur. This is because the injured person requires medical care and rehabilitation, during which time he/she is unable to work. Loss of income/wages would put a strain on their finances, while the mounting cost of medical expenses causes mental and emotional strain. There may be severe pain and suffering that the victim has to undergo till the joint is completely healed.

If you or a loved one has suffered such injuries as a result of another’s negligence, talk to a Kingston personal injury lawyer without delay. You may be entitled to compensation.

Shoulder Joint Facts

There are two main bones that make up the shoulder – the upper arm bone and the shoulder blade. The end of the arm bone is shaped like a ball and it fits into a socket in the shoulder blade. A bunch of muscles, nerves and ligaments surround this joint, with tendons connecting muscle to bone.

Based on the type of fall, location, your body weight, how the fall impacted your body and whether you attempted to prevent the impact etc are aspects which determine the nature and extent of injury.

Dislocated shoulder is a very common result of a fall. Sprains, shoulder separation, ligament tear, rotator-cuff tear, nerve injury, fractures, pulled muscles, frozen shoulder etc are some of the results of a slip and fall accident. Falling on your outstretched arm can cause severe ligament tears.

Getting immediate medical help to alleviate pain and to start treatment is of vital importance. The symptoms of shoulder injury can last for a very long time. They affect your mobility and restrict your normal routine. This means you may not be able to resume your accustomed work or play habits until complete healing has taken place. 

Treatment

Rest, ice-packs, muscle relaxants, use of a sling, medications for pain relief, keeping the area elevated etc are some of the home-care aspects of dealing with shoulder pain.

However, it’s important to get professional medical help immediately. A primary health-care professional like a general physician, family-medicine specialist etc can help diagnose the problem. Based on the severity you may need further assistance from an orthopedic specialist or surgeon. Later you may need physiotherapy etc to complete the treatment.

An experienced Kingston personal injury lawyer can help you get the right treatment and ensure that your rights are protected during the compensation process.