Of all the injuries you could suffer, a rotator cuff injury is among the most uncomfortable and frustrating. It limits your mobility and may cause significant pain throughout the shoulder, chest and arms.
Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint. These help hold your shoulder socket in place so that the joint doesn’t dislocate. Unfortunately, overuse, strain, and other issues may result in the tendons and muscles working dysfunctionally or not at all.
It’s possible to tear your rotator cuff at work
Whether you fall, swim for work, lift heavy items or just use your shoulders often, there is a risk that you could tear your rotator cuff at work. If that happens, it’s important to seek medical care as soon as you can. If there is an extensive tear, you may need surgery to address it. Sometimes, the specific tears may not be operable, but other tendons or joints could be used to repair the region.
What are the symptoms of an injured rotator cuff?
Some symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include:
- Trouble sleeping on the affected side
- Dull, achy pain that feels deep in the shoulder
- Trouble with weakness in the affected arm
- Difficulty combing your hair, moving your arm behind your back or other signs of inflexibility
There are many possible complications of rotator cuff injuries, such as a permanent loss of motion. If you have this injury, tell your employer as soon as possible, so that you can seek medical attention and get workers’ compensation. If you’re having trouble accessing the workers’ compensation benefits you need, an attorney may be able to help.