Many injured workers feel pressured to return to work before they’re ready – you do have options under Missouri workers’ compensation law.
A torn rotator cuff can turn even simple movements—lifting, reaching, or carrying—into a painful challenge. So when your employer offers “light duty” work after a shoulder injury, it may sound like a reasonable next step.
But what happens when that “light duty” actually makes your pain worse?
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What “Light Duty” Is Supposed to Mean
Light-duty work is intended to match your medical restrictions. For a torn rotator cuff, that often includes limits like:
- No overhead lifting
- No heavy lifting or repetitive shoulder use
- Limited pushing or pulling
- Reduced hours or modified tasks
When done properly, light duty can help you stay engaged at work while protecting your recovery. But problems arise when the job doesn’t actually follow your doctor’s restrictions.
When Light Duty Makes Your Shoulder Pain Worse
If your pain increases after returning to work, it’s a red flag. You may be dealing with:
- Tasks that exceed your medical restrictions
- Repetitive motions that strain the shoulder
- Pressure from supervisors to “push through” pain
- A job description that doesn’t match what you’re actually doing
A torn rotator cuff is especially vulnerable to reinjury. Continuing to work through worsening pain could delay healing—or even make the injury more severe.
What You Should Do Right Away
If your light-duty job is making your shoulder worse, take these steps as soon as possible:
1. Report the Pain
Let your supervisor know—in writing if possible—that your assigned duties are causing increased pain.
2. Tell Your Doctor
Be specific about what tasks you’re doing and how they affect your shoulder. Your doctor may:
- Update your work restrictions
- Take you off work entirely
- Recommend additional treatment
3. Document Everything
Keep a record of:
- Your assigned tasks
- When the pain worsens
- Any conversations with your employer
This documentation can become important if there’s a dispute later.
Can You Refuse Light Duty in Missouri?
This is where things get tricky. In Missouri, refusing suitable light-duty work could affect your wage benefits. However, you are not required to perform work that exceeds your medical restrictions or worsens your condition.
The key issue is whether the job is truly “suitable” based on your doctor’s orders. If your employer is offering work that doesn’t align with your restrictions—or ignoring them altogether—you may have grounds to challenge it.
Don’t Ignore Worsening Pain
One of the biggest mistakes injured workers make is trying to “tough it out.” Insurance companies may later argue that your condition isn’t serious if you kept working despite pain.
If your shoulder is getting worse, it’s not something to push through—it’s something to address.
Talk to a St. Louis Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
If your light-duty job is making your rotator cuff injury worse, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. These situations often involve disputes over restrictions, benefits, and medical care.
At the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann, injured workers work directly with an experienced attorney—not a call center. With over 30 years of experience representing Missouri workers’ compensation cases, our firm understands how employers and insurance companies handle these claims.