Is a torn rotator cuff a disability?
When these muscles are overused or subjected to undue force, the tendons may tear from the stress. Rotator cuff tears can severely limit a person's range of motion, which may qualify them for disability benefits based on their inability to work.
What is the average impairment rating for rotator cuff surgery?
The default rating for a full-thickness rotator cuff tear is five percent, according to Table 15-5, page 403. The default rating for an impingement syndrome is three percent, according to the same table at page 402.
What is the value of a shoulder injury?
How Much is a Shoulder Injury Worth?INJURYAVERAGE AWARDAVERAGE % DISABLEMENTShoulder only$25,37816.39%Shoulder + Neck$29,3236.04% (shoulder) 11.56% (neck)Shoulder + Neck + Lower Back$23,6883.13% (shoulder) 11.08% (neck) 2.30% (lower back)Shoulder + Lower Back$26,2653.53% (shoulder) 10.05% (lower back)4 more rows
How much does a rotator cuff injury cost?
However, patients referred to a specialist immediately following the diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear had total costs that averaged $25,870.64 and returned to work an average of 7 months postoperatively.
How much disability is shoulder surgery?
Rotator cuff surgery is rated based on the severity of the pain and the thickness of the rotator cuff tear. Most often, VA rates this condition as 10 or 20 percent disabling.
Can you regain full strength after rotator cuff surgery?
This observation is supported by a study showing that in patients who have had rotator cuff surgery, strength in the shoulder muscles is not fully recovered until nine months after the surgery. As a result, it is normal to expect some continued symptoms of pain or soreness after rotator cuff surgery for several months.
Can you still work with a torn rotator cuff?
Since a rotator cuff injury can take upwards of six months to heal, you may not be able to perform your job duties for some time. You may need to take some time off work in the initial days and weeks, and may need light duty until you fully recover. Your time off work could also depend on whether you require surgery.
What percentage of disability is a shoulder injury?
20/20% – at shoulder level.
Do rotator cuff injuries get worse over time?
Rotator cuff tendon tears often cause pain at night. The pain may even wake you. During the day, the pain is more tolerable, and usually only hurts with certain movements, such as overhead or reaching toward the back. Over time, the symptoms become much worse, and are not relieved by medicines, rest, or exercise.
How long is recovery after rotator cuff surgery?
How long does it take to recover from rotator cuff surgery? It takes six to eight weeks for the tendon to heal to the bone. Complete recovery time varies by size of the tear. For a small tears, full recovery time is about four months, for large tears, six months.
Why is rotator cuff surgery so painful?
A rotator cuff surgery is a major surgical intervention in the shoulder, and the reason that there is pain after surgery is the amount of normal surgical trauma. Cutting, drilling, cauterizing, and suturing tissues create pain and inflammation.
Is rotator cuff surgery worth having?
Even the full-thickness rotator cuff tears have been shown to improve just as well with physical therapy (6). In other words, surgery improved the rotator cuff tear no better than PT. Rotator cuff tear surgery, unfortunately, doesn't seem to result in less pain, regardless of the severity of the tear (7).
Can I get disability after shoulder surgery?
To qualify for SSD benefits, you'll need to prove you're unable to work in your previous field of employment. You must also show your shoulder replacement imposes such severe limitations that you can't maintain gainful employment in any other field either.
How long is MMI after shoulder surgery?
A study by Cabarcas et al5 concluded that MMI was reached at 12 months for those undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.