Montgomery Personal Injury Attorney

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

An injury that is sometimes thought to be a torn rotator cuff is shoulder impingement syndrome and these injuries also often occur as the result of Alabama car, motorcycle and trucking accidents.  For even months following a high impact car accident, clients can experience persistent left shoulder symptoms, at which point a visit for an orthopedic consultation is in order, if you have not seen an orthopedic doctor already. If you've been injured in any kind of auto accident, contact an Alabama personal injury attorney as soon as possible to find out if you may have a claim for compensation.

An important structure within the shoulder joint is the bursa, a lubricated sac of synovial fluid that protects the muscles and tendons as they move against each other and against the acromion. The bursa allows the moving parts to slide against one another without too much friction.

Despite the effect of the bursa, any process that narrows the space available for these structures can cause mechanical impingement.  The elegant design of the shoulder joint gives it great range of motion, but limited stability. As long as the various parts of this mobile joint are in good working order, the shoulder moves painlessly and easily. However, the shoulder is prone to injury and, as we age, the rotator cuff tendons can be subject to a great deal of wear and tear, resulting in the gradual degeneration of the tissue.  When injury or conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis or bursitis affect the shoulder joint, pain and loss of mobility result. 

Most people with an impingement syndrome complain of a generalized aching sensation in the shoulder or pain when raising the arm out from the side or in front of the body. They may have difficulty lying on the side of the affected shoulder and may experience sharp pain when trying to reach into a back pocket. With the passage of time, the discomfort may increase and the patient may note pain when the arm is lifted away from the body to an overhead position and a "catching sensation" when the arm is lowered. The pain may be referred to the area of the deltoid insertion. 

The lawyers at McAleer Law are here to answer your questions if you have suffered from a shoulder injury.  Contact an Alabama Personal Injury Attorney at McAleer Law - 251-341-0116.