Labrum Tears and Illinois Workers' Compensation

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Every day, we hear from Illinois residents seeking workers’ compensation advice. A common injury is for painful labrum tears. These injuries can affect either the shoulder or the hip.

What is a Labrum Tear?

Shoulder Labrum Tear: : In the shoulder, the labrum is a thick piece of cartilage attached to the rim of the shoulder socket. It stabilizes the upper arm bone within the joint.

Hip Labrum Tear: : In the hip, the labrum follows the outside rim of the hip socket, helping to stabilize the thighbone within the joint.

Causes of Labrum Tears at Work

Shoulder labrum tears can occur due to various work-related incidents, such as:

• Falling on your arm
• A direct hit to the shoulder
• A sudden pull when lifting a heavy item
• Stabilizing yourself during a fall
• Overuse of the shoulder

Hip labrum tears can result from:

• Falling on your hip
• Repetitive motions, such as twisting
• Overuse
• Getting hit by an object like a forklift.

Symptoms of Labrum Tears

If you have a labrum tear in your shoulder, you may notice:

• Pain
• Catching or popping sensations
• Loss of strength or range of motion
• Instability in the shoulder

In severe cases, such as a fall causing arm dislocation, the ball of the shoulder may push the labrum off the socket, known as a Bankart or Perthes lesion.

For a hip labrum tear, symptoms include:

• Pain
• Grinding or clicking noises
• Limited range of motion

Diagnosing and Treating Labrum Tears

If you suspect a labrum tear due to a work injury, the first step is to see a doctor. We highly recommend that you get referred to an orthopedic doctor and a regular family doctor isn’t the right fit for injuries this serious. They will perform a physical examination and may order X-rays, a CT scan, or an MRI to identify the tear.

Treatment depends on the tear’s type, severity, and location. Options range from pain meds to therapy to surgery. Recovery from surgery can take 12 weeks or longer, especially if your job requires significant use of the affected joint. The more heavy duty your job is, the longer the recovery time likely will be. The goal is to get you back to working your old job without making the injury worse.

Workers’ Compensation for Labrum Tears

Under Illinois work comp law, 100% of your medical care should be paid for. You should also be compensated for your time off work. After your medical treatment, you are also entitled to a settlement. The amount depends on the injury’s severity, your salary, your age, and how well you recover. Severe injuries could result in substantial settlements, particularly if the injury leads to the end of your career in a physically demanding job.

We understand that medical jargon can be overwhelming. We can  refer you to a great workers compensation attorney in your area that will protect you and make sure that you get the best case result possible. We only recommend attorneys that we would suggest to family members or friends. Please call us any time at 312-346-5320. We cover all of Illinois.