Atlanta Shoulder Injury Attorney for Workers
Have you sustained a serious shoulder injury while at work? Are you no longer able to perform the basic tasks of your job? If so, a Georgia workers' compensation lawyer can help you get the benefits you deserve while you recover from your shoulder injury whether it's shoulder strain or torn rotator cuff. At the Law Office of Pam Waldorf, we protect the rights of injured workers throughout the state.
Hard Work Deserves Compensation
Contact Pam Waldorf Today for a Free Initial Consultation
Every worker has questions after they have been injured on the job. If you have to take time off or get medical treatment because of your shoulder injury, you are eligible for workers' compensation. At the Law Office of Pam Waldorf, you will have your workers' compensation questions answered by your attorney. From the moment you sustain your injury until the moment you are ready to return to work, we will listen to your concerns and guide you through the workers' comp process.
Proper Shoulder Injury Medical Treatment
Who Should Have Rotator Cuff Surgery?
If a rotator cuff tendon has torn completely, it usually will not heal completely without surgery. Whether a doctor actually recommends surgery, however, will depend on several factors, including:
- The extent of the injury
- The person's age and general health
- Whether the injury is to the person's dominant shoulder and how much it affects overall function
In most cases, it's best to perform the operation within three months of tearing the rotator cuff. Usually surgery is recommended in the following circumstances:
- The rotator cuff was torn as the result of an acute injury, accident, dislocation, or fracture, and was healthy beforehand.
- Ongoing pain or weakness in the injured shoulder interferes with a person's ability to perform necessary tasks.
Shoulder injuries can be caused by different things, including a fall, lifting a heavy object once, or repetitive stress and heavy lifting. Although less common, a work place accident or repetitive stress can also cause peripheral nerve damage to the shoulder.
The medical treatment recommended for the shoulder injury will vary depending on the specific injury and its cause. The diagnosis can be especially complicated and sometimes controversial for shoulder injuries. It is an area of treatment that many doctors seem to disagree on.
Deciding whether or not you should have surgery, also, can be tricky when workers' compensation health benefits are involved. It is also important to consider the different types of surgeries available. With different ways to deny workers' comp benefits; it is important to have an advocate for your rights, someone who will look out for your best interests.
It is important to not accept a superficial diagnosis and lack of treatment from an initial evaluation by the company doctor. A "muscle strain" in the shoulder can set you up for further injury later. A strained and weakened shoulder is more likely to end up as a torn rotator cuff if put under stress. That is why it is important to keep careful track of your medical records, and talk to your doctor to make sure it is clear that the injuries are treated properly. We protect injured workers throughout Georgia, who have suffered a shoulder injury, including:
- Torn Rotator Cuff
- Muscle and Ligament Strain
- Separated Shoulder
- Impingement Syndrome
You do have options outside of your company doctor. As a work related shoulder injury can be especially complicated, do not be afraid to get a second opinion. If you need surgery, you also should always consider whether you are happy with the current treating doctor to do that surgery, or whether changing doctors to a shoulder specialist is an option. We can help you get an objective opinion regarding the shoulder injury you sustained as a result of your work.
Contact Us
It can be hard to manage all the detail of filing for workers' compensation benefits after your shoulder injury. When you work with a lawyer familiar with Georgia workers' compensation law, you can make sure you get the full range of benefits you deserve. Contact us for a free initial consultation.
