Shoulder Injuries On The Job

They say, “you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” While it may seem cliché, it’s absolutely true when it comes to shoulder injuries. When you’re healthy, you may not notice how much you use your shoulders. But if you injure your shoulder at work, you will notice just how much of your productivity depends on this joint. As North Carolina workers’ compensation attorneys, we are dedicated to ensuring you have the information you need about these types of on-the-job injuries and ensuring that you get the benefits you deserve.

Types of Shoulder Injuries That Occur at Work

Depending on the type of work you do, you may encounter many different risks to your shoulder. Some common shoulder injuries on the job include: 

• Rotator cuff tears
• Dislocation
• Severe strains
• Peripheral nerve impairment
• Bursitis
• Frozen shoulder
• Tendonitis 

These injuries can occur as the result of many different problems. However, most of these injuries are caused by things like overexertion, lifting heavy objects, working overhead for too long, or falling. If you do experience shoulder pain of any kind at work, you may have a shoulder injury.

How Shoulder Injuries Make It Hard to Return to Work

Many shoulder injuries heal relatively quickly with proper medical treatment. Unfortunately, other shoulder injuries linger for much longer. For example, tears in the rotator cuff often require surgery in order to recover some functionality. Even when patients are able to move a little more, some shoulder injuries never fully heal. Like knees, shoulders can cause pain off-and-on for a lifetime after an injury. 

If your job depends heavily on the use of your shoulders, this can make it difficult to return to work as usual. For example, nurses who often lift patients may struggle to complete daily tasks. In these situations, you may need light-duty work and/or workers’ compensation benefits.

What If My Job Offers Light Duty Work?

At any point during your shoulder injury recovery, your employer may offer you a light-duty job in which you would not need to use your shoulders as much. At this point, everyone involved must work to decide if the offered position is suitable for you in this situation. Typically, the doctor that oversees your recovery can make this decision.

It’s important to remember that “light duty” is a legal term, meaning that employers must abide by certain terms. The treating physician should set limits for the kinds of work you are allowed to do on light duty. The employer may not require you to do anything the doctor prohibits.

Call a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Today

Although there are strict regulations in place to protect people with shoulder injuries, too many employers and insurance providers try to cut corners. Having an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation attorney on your side can ensure you get all the time and resources you need to recover. Put King Law Firm’s expertise to work for you. Call (800) 635-1683 or contact us through our website today to get started and schedule your consultation.

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Jacksonville, NC 28540

Phone: (800) 635-1683
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