Rotator cuff tears are incredibly common problems. Especially as we age, rotator cuff tears eventually become an expected finding. As people enter their 60s and 70s, rotator cuff tears become essentially a normal finding on an MRI. Some people who have a rotator cuff tear will not be good candidates for surgical repair of this damage. In these situations, there may be surgical options, but a rotator cuff repair may not be a good option.
Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! Varacallo M, Mair SD. Rotator cuff tendonitis. Updated June 4, Fatty infiltration and rotator cuff atrophy. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. Rotator cuff tear arthropathy: Pathophysiology, imaging characteristics, and treatment options.
May T, Garmel GM. Rotator cuff injury. Updated October 11, Management of rotator cuff tears. The Journal of Hand Surgery. The natural history of full-thickness rotator cuff tears in randomized controlled trials: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med. Your Privacy Rights.
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An untreated rotator cuff tear can eventually cause weakness and disability of the shoulder. That is why it is so important to seek the expertise of an experienced orthopedic doctor for your shoulder pain. Our medical specialists are trained to efficiently diagnose and treat a wide range of upper-extremity conditions , including rotator cuff injuries. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our orthopedists, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at or by filling out our appointment request form online now.
We have many locations across Maryland for your convenience. We look forward to helping you move without pain and limitation! All rights reserved. Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder has 7 locations throughout Maryland offering advanced upper extremity orthopedic care for conditions and injuries of the shoulder , arm , wrist , elbow , hand and fingers.
Our orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons possess the sub-specialty as hand surgeons providing treatment for shoulder pain , arm pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, hand pain, sports injuries , work related injury, arthritis , hand nerve injury repair, carpal tunnel syndrome , bite injuries , wrist fractures broken wrist , tennis elbow - lateral epicondylitis, pediatric orthopedics.
Our hand surgeons also offer arthroscopy , joint replacement, on-site x-ray and are expert witnesses for court cases. You need to complete a physiotherapy program to have a full recovery after surgery. Other things besides rotator cuff problems—such as problems in the upper back—can cause shoulder pain.
Shoulder pain alone without weakness or limited movement isn't a reason to have surgery. After you try rest and gentle movement, physiotherapy may help relieve your pain and restore strength and flexibility in weak and stiff shoulders. Physiotherapy includes exercises to:. Physiotherapy is sometimes used to find out the cause of a shoulder problem and to see if surgery will help. Exercises can help strengthen the muscles around a torn tendon and make up for the weakness there.
If your shoulder gets better with physiotherapy, you may not need surgery. Whether you choose surgery or not, you will need rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Most exercise programs can be done easily on your own at home after you've learned how to do them.
In most cases, you can try these exercises for several weeks to see if they help, especially if you have had shoulder problems for some time. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers.
They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. I recently started swimming, and I think the overhead movements have aggravated my shoulder and caused some tendinitis. I have a lot of pain at night, especially if I roll onto my side. I've talked to a couple of people who have had shoulder surgery, and I really hope that I don't need to. My doctor recommended that I try to rehabilitate the shoulder over the next few weeks.
I'm resting it quite a bit, taking anti-inflammatory medicines, and using ice and heat to ease the pain. It seems to be working. Soon, I'll start some exercises my doctor showed me to strengthen my shoulders so that swimming doesn't hurt them. My shoulder has been bothering me for over a year now.
The pain sometimes wakes me up at night, especially if I roll onto that side. It's also hard for me to lift things with that arm, even dishes or groceries. I've had some tests that showed a tear in one of my rotator cuff tendons. My shoulder moves better after physiotherapy, but it is still weak.
My doctor is reasonably sure I will have more range of movement and less pain with arthroscopic surgery, as long as I am committed to doing all I can to prevent more problems and to following through with physiotherapy. I think I can manage a long-term rehab program. I've had shoulder pain for quite a while now, but it got worse a few weeks ago. After resting my shoulder for a few days, I saw my doctor.
He said that I had a chronic tear of my rotator cuff, judging from the symptoms I had and the ultrasound examination. He suggested that the best first step would be a good, aggressive physiotherapy program, which will also help us understand better just what the problem is.
At my age, surgery takes a bit more out of me than when I was younger, so it seems worth a try to see if I can avoid it. Every time I move my shoulder a certain way, it's really painful. My range of motion has gotten better with physiotherapy, but it still hurts a lot when I move it overhead. My doctor believes that the tendons are getting pinched in one area and that surgery may help relieve the pinching and pain.
I know I'm going to be doing physiotherapy for a long time still. But we agree that the surgery is reasonable to help that specific problem. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements.
I think surgery and physiotherapy will help me regain the use of my shoulder faster. I don't mind waiting longer while I try rest and physiotherapy to heal my shoulder. I'm still able to do most of my daily activities even with my rotator cuff problems.
Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. I can't do my daily activities because of my rotator cuff problems.
If you have torn your rotator cuff in a sudden injury that is causing weakness in your shoulder, should you think about surgery? Can you limit rotator cuff damage by trying to treat it without surgery? Is surgery a good choice if you still have symptoms after 6 months of rest and physiotherapy? Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?
Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. Blahd Jr. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Get the facts. Your options Have surgery, followed by physiotherapy. Try other treatment, including physiotherapy. Key points to remember You may be able to stop or reverse early rotator cuff damage without surgery. Try using rest, ice and heat, anti-inflammatory medicines, and physiotherapy.
If you have symptoms that don't get better after 3 to 6 months, you may need surgery. You may want to think about surgery if you have torn your rotator cuff in a sudden injury and the tear is causing shoulder weakness. But surgery can't fully reverse problems that occur over time with wear and tear of the rotator cuff. Whether you choose surgery or other treatment, you will need rehabilitation and physiotherapy. What is the rotator cuff?
What are rotator cuff disorders?
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