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Causes Of and Treatments for Shoulder Impingement

You were injured in a car crash in Rolla, Missouri, and now you’re wondering how you can support yourself. Fortunately, you have the right to seek compensation if the other driver clearly caused the accident, and if your claim is successful, you could be covered for lost income, pain and suffering and both the past and future expenses related to your medical condition. Perhaps one of those conditions is shoulder impingement syndrome.Causes of and treatments for shoulder impingement

How shoulder impingement syndrome can arise

This condition involves the tearing of the rotator cuff, the muscles and tendons surrounding the shoulder joint, and the rubbing of that rotator cuff against the acromion, the bony end of the shoulder blade. What causes it are rotational forces, usually arising from a car collision or a fall, that go through the arm and shoulder.

It most often happens to drivers who brace for the impact of the crash by clutching their steering wheel tightly. There are times, though, when people can experience an asymptomatic form of the condition. Usually, they are older people with degeneration in the shoulder (shoulder osteoarthritis).

How it is normally treated

To reduce the inflammation and swelling, doctors may put an ice pack on the shoulder and prescribe certain drugs. Afterwards, patients may need to undergo a regular regimen of physical therapy. They may have chiropractic care or therapeutic massages recommended to them as well.

When symptoms persist, patients could consider something more extensive like a cortisone shot in the shoulder though cortisone is known to weaken muscles. Surgery would be the last resort; patients could undergo an acromioplasty to give themselves more space between the acromion and the rotator cuff.

A lawyer who takes your case seriously

Those who are involved in car accidents usually see a lawyer before filing any claim against the other driver’s insurance company. You may want to schedule a legal evaluation, then. While you continue to recover from your injuries, the lawyer may help build up the case with evidence gathered from accident investigators and negotiate on your behalf for a fair settlement.