In addition to being painful, debilitating shoulder discomfort can significantly impact your quality of life. Decreased shoulder mobility can make even ordinary everyday tasks challenging. It’s possible that waiting for your shoulder pain to go away on its own isn’t in your best interest.
If a car accident shoulder injury isn’t correctly addressed, it can lead to long-term health problems that follow you around. The therapy and rehabilitation needed to manage and relieve pain can be provided by a shoulder doctor.
Shoulder injuries after a car accident
Whiplash
When your vehicle collides with another car, your neck may be thrown forward and then back, resulting in a whiplash injury. Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. Even though whiplash is most commonly associated with the neck, it can also affect an accident victim’s shoulder, arms, and upper back.
Whiplash can endure anywhere from a few weeks to several years, depending on the vehicle accident circumstances. Do not automatically presume that you have whiplash following an accident! Medical tests must be conducted to rule out more severe harm (such as spinal cord damage or a herniated disc) as a result of your car accident.
Dislocated Shoulder
When your arm bone pops out of its socket, you will experience this. Affected individuals may experience intense shoulder pain and an inability to move their arms. A strong hit to the shoulder joint (such as those suffered in car accidents) can result in a dislocation of the shoulder joint. Closing the wound with a closed reduction, surgery, immobilization, medication, and rehabilitation are all options for treatment.
In most situations, the shoulder will heal on its own within a few weeks, but in certain cases, the shoulder becomes unstable and dislocates on its own multiple times. People who have dislocated their shoulder can usually tell right away because of the outward appearance of the arm and the excruciating agony they are experiencing.
Take pictures of your vehicle, the accident area, and any injuries as soon as possible.
Separated Shoulder
Even though separated and dislocated shoulders seem similar, they are not the same injury.
Separated shoulders occur when a ligament that connects the collarbone to the shoulder blade is torn as a result of an injury. The collarbone may move and press against the flesh at the top of your shoulder, resulting in pain and discomfort.
The severity of the ligament tear will determine whether you will require surgery and subsequent immobilization (sling) while you mend. Keep track of any difficulty you have with everyday life duties, as well as any time you are absent from your job.
Shoulder Fracture
Fractured bones include the collarbone, upper arm bone at the top of the arm, and shoulder blade. An excessively powerful hit can result in a shoulder blade fracture since muscles and the chest cavity completely encloses the shoulder blade.
For the most part, x-rays are used to identify fractures, which is why hospitals are the most common place where automobile accident victims can go for treatment.
The type of fracture and the location of the fracture determines the course of treatment. Observe all medical recommendations and notify your doctor if you are not progressing as expected or if your injury pain becomes worse.
Rotator Cuff Tear
Rotator cuff muscles and ligaments are comprised of four muscles (the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor) and two ligaments. Rotator cuff tears occur when any or all of the above are injured.
A large degree of stress is required to cause an acute torn rotator cuff in someone under the age of 30. When a rotator cuff is torn, impingement syndrome is almost always a result. Steroid injections and physical therapy are examples of non-surgical treatments. Surgery to repair the rotator cuff will be performed if it is determined that this is necessary.
Rotator cuff tears are typically not visible on X-ray, necessitating an MRI to diagnose them.
Bursitis (shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tendonitis, or supraspinatus tendonitis)
Even though impingement syndrome is usually induced by repeated irritation of the affected area, it can also be caused by traumatic injury. This can happen if your bursa is crushed in an automobile accident, causing a healing process to occur.
Bursitis is the medical term for this healing response. The goal of treating bursitis is to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with it. Many clients seek chiropractic therapy after vehicle accidents, but it is essential to determine whether your type of shoulder injury can benefit from chiropractic treatment before proceeding.
If you have suffered a shoulder injury due to an automobile accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Waiting to acquire medical treatment not only jeopardizes your ability to recover financially from your car accident injuries but is also detrimental to your health.
Symptoms of Shoulder Injury from Car Accident
After a car accident, if you feel any of the following symptoms of shoulder pain, you should seek medical assistance immediately. These symptoms include:
- The pain of the arm upon lifting or lowering it, especially when reaching aloft or behind the back
- Weakness
- Loss of one’s range of motion
- There is a limited range of motion.
- A sensation of catching, locking, popping, and grinding is experienced.
- Instability
- Tingling or numbness are common sensations.
- Swelling /stiffness
- You are unable to carry out your typical everyday tasks.
Chiropractic Care for Shoulder Injury After an Auto Accident
Chiropractic Care
When you receive a chiropractic adjustment, your spinal column is helped to regain its normal movement and alignment. It is critical to maintain proper spinal alignment to maintain normal mobility and function of your shoulder blades, which can aid in the resolution of a shoulder joint subluxation.
Spinal Decompression
According to the American Chiropractic Association, the use of the trusted specialist’s hands or a specialized instrument softly decompresses your spine, which improves alignment and reduces strain on the nerve system. In some cases, this can work as a “reset” for the central nervous system, lowering the strength of pain signals delivered from the shoulder area to the brain.
Massage Therapy
Massage and soft tissue mobilization have been shown to increase blood flow and lymphatic drainage (not to mention that it is a fantastic stress-reliever!). Swelling, discomfort, and inflammation are reduced at the damaged shoulder girdle as a result of this treatment.
Physical Therapy
This treatment consists of therapeutic exercises and shoulder joint mobilizations, which help to stimulate tissue healing while also restoring the strength and flexibility of your shoulder muscles and joints.
Pain Management
Cold laser therapy, electrical stimulation, and cryotherapy are non-invasive strategies we use to alleviate shoulder pain symptoms.
These treatments are safe, effective, drug-free, and entirely non-invasive, and they have the potential to improve healing outcomes and the healing experience overall.
What Life Is Like After a Shoulder Injury
After a shoulder fracture, separation, or dislocation, one’s quality of life might be significantly diminished for several weeks or even months. Whether surgically or nonsurgically treated, the majority of shoulder injuries necessitate a time of immobilization followed by a period of rehabilitation.
If the injury was not serious, there is a relatively rapid recovery in the condition and resumption of function after the first 4 to 6 weeks of treatment.
Shoulder exercises, which are generally performed under the supervision of a physical therapist, are usually required. Exercises aid in the reduction of stiffness, the improvement of range of motion, and the restoration of muscular strength in the patient.
Check out Stridewell to learn everything about shoulder injury after a car accident.
When it comes to treating back pain after a car accident, the best option is to visit an auto injury clinic that has extensive experience treating injuries sustained in automobile accidents. Schedule an appointment with Stridewell right away!
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