What Is My Torn Labrum Shoulder Injury Worth?
What is a torn labrum shoulder injury?
The glenoid is the socket-shaped opening of your shoulder, and the labrum is the soft cartilage in that socket that holds the head of the humerus (bone at the top of the arm) in place, assisted by the rotator cuff muscles. This ball-and-socket design facilitates movement in your shoulder; you need the labrum to stabilize the entire shoulder joint.
Unfortunately, the labrum can tear, either through repetitive motion, wear and tear, or injuries, such as those resulting from slip and fall or motor vehicle accidents.
The two most common torn labrum tears are:
- SLAP (superior labrum from anterior to posterior): This tear is located at the front (anterior) of the shoulder and will cause pain near the biceps tendon. These tears can easily happen in car accidents, but can also occur any time someone breaks a fall with their arm or dislocates their shoulder. Symptoms include:
- An ache in the shoulder joint
- Difficulty sleeping because of shoulder discomfort
- A feeling that the shoulder “catches” or grinds with particular movements
- Pain with certain activities
- Bankart tear or lesion: This type of tear is more common in younger people who dislocate their shoulders. It is “damage to the lower half of the glenoid socket,” according to Healthline.
How are labral tears diagnosed?
- A specialist will examine you, take a health history, and check your range of motion.
- You may have X-rays to see if you have any broken bones.
- You may have a CT scan, MRI, or other diagnostic tests.
- In some cases, arthroscopic surgery may be necessary to see exactly what the injury is. A repair of the labrum may be possible at this time.
How are labral shoulder tears treated?
Whenever possible, doctors will attempt to treat tears conservatively before resorting to surgery. Common treatments include:
- Rest
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen
- Cortisone injections
- Physical therapy for several weeks
- Arthroscopic surgery (if other treatments haven’t worked)
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, recovery after surgery to repair a torn shoulder labrum can take several weeks. Generally, the labrum needs at least 4-6 weeks to reattach itself to the bone and then another 4-6 weeks to gain strength. During that time, it is extremely important not to reinjure the shoulder.
What is my torn labrum shoulder injury worth?
It’s impossible to answer this question or any question about how much a specific accident claim is worth because so many variables are involved. Every case is different. In general, compensation for an injury claim will depend on:
- How severe the injury is.
- Although all injuries are terrible when they happen to you, there is a difference between a sprained wrist and an amputated arm or a mild concussion and a traumatic brain injury.
- The amount and nature of medical treatment required.
- You may need a week without physical labor and physical therapy – or you may require several surgeries and a lengthy hospitalization.
- The expenses you have already incurred and are likely to incur in the future.
- Expenses include all types of medical bills as well as lost work wages.
- The amount of time that the injury will affect you.
- Some injuries can cause a permanent change in life circumstances, while others can heal in days or weeks.
- The amount of fault attributed to you, if any.
- Since Indiana is a comparative fault state, you can still collect compensation even if you contributed to the accident, as long as it was less than 51%. However, any compensation can be reduced by a proportional amount.
- The limits or caps on insurance policies.
- Some policies have upper limit caps.
Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery is here for you
If you have experienced a torn labrum shoulder injury as a result of another driver’s negligence, it’s important to consult with an experienced shoulder injury attorney. Not only will you have medical bills and lost wages to contend with, but you will also have to deal with pain, a period of rehabilitation, and an upheaval in your life. The experienced team at Poynter & Bucheri will make sure that you don’t feel pressured to accept a quick lowball offer from an insurance company. Sadly, the insurance adjuster does not represent your best interests, but we do.
Our personal injury attorneys at Poynter & Bucheri Accident Recovery offer free consultations so that you can get answers to your questions and learn about your options for recovering compensation for your torn labrum shoulder injury claim.