For many of us, if we think of an auto accident we associate the injuries to the head and neck in the form of whiplash or even the low back. Oftentimes there are multiple areas that get injured in an accident. The shoulder is no exception, if fact it's quite common. Seatbelts save lives but there is also a liability-they stop your body while the rest of the car moves. Since seatbelts for the driver goes on from left to right and the passenger side from right to left, the shoulder that gets injured most is the one that is restrained from the top. So for a driver, the left shoulder is frequently injured.
Shoulders are a very complicated joint. it is the only joint in the body that exhibits this great range of motion. Think about it, you can take your arm and touch your shoulder blades (many people), you can take your hand and touch the opposite shoulder in the front of your body. You can put your hand behind your head, etc. Since there is this great movement with the shoulder joint, that also means there is a greater chance of injury. Since an accident is a acute injury, you would gravitate towards a tear of muscle or ligament. You can also suspect a dislocation or fracture. Physical exam, x-rays and MRI are a good way to rule out emergency treatments. Once the diagnosis has been rendered, care can occur. Usually for these type of acute shoulder injuries getting the swelling and pain down with electrical stimulation, ultrasound and ice are typical treatments. When the pain starts to subside, shoulder exercises should start. Not moving the shoulder because of pain is not a good idea. Scar tissue will start to form as part of natural healing. Even if you cannot lift a weight with your shoulder, you should mobilize it and avoid not moving it.
Shoulder pain after an auto accident can takes weeks or even months to get better. Remember, the shoulder is a complicated joint and even as we use safety devices like seatbelts, we can get injured in a low and high speed accident. If you have been injured in an auto accident and are experiencing whiplash, headaches, neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, disc herniations, spinal stenosis and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and live in the Chicagoland area like Elmhurst, Villa Park, Lombard, Berkeley, Bellwood, Stone Park, Westchester, Oak Brook, Bensenville, Melrose Park and Northlake, call the Auto Accident and Pain Relief Center of Illinois 24/7 at 800-862-5914 .
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