Rotator Cuff Injury

What is a rotator cuff injury?

A rotator cuff injury is a tear in the group of tendons within your shoulder known as the rotator cuff. These tendons are attached to four muscles, and they connect the head of your humerus (upper arm bone) to the shoulder blade. The tendons in the rotator cuff work together to help you rotate or raise the corresponding arm. 

Two of the most common rotator cuff injuries are:

Partial tears

Partial rotator cuff tears happen when one of the tendons in your rotator cuff accumulates damage, but not enough to cut the tendon into two pieces. 

Complete tears

Complete rotator cuff tears sever one or more of the tendons in your rotator cuff entirely, detaching them from the bone. 

How do I know if I have a rotator cuff injury?

The primary symptom of a rotator cuff injury is a deep ache within your shoulder. Other symptoms and features of the pain include:

• Worsening pain at night
• Pain with specific movements, like lifting or reaching
• A cracking or popping sensation when you move your shoulder
• Shoulder weakness

To find out if your shoulder pain comes from a rotator cuff injury, the team at Twin Palm Orthopedics examines your shoulder and might move it to see where and when the pain gets worse. They also test the strength of your arm on the side of the shoulder injury.

Imaging tests such as X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans can confirm your diagnosis of a rotator cuff injury. Using an MRI scan, the team can also find out the severity and how recently the injury happened. 

What are my treatment options for a rotator cuff injury?

Twin Palm Orthopedics specializes in treating rotator cuff injuries with many options for procedures, lifestyle changes, and medications. To treat a rotator cuff injury without surgery, the team might recommend a combination of:

• Rest
• An immobilization sling
• Physical therapy and strengthening exercises
• Steroid injections
• Regenerative medicine 

Surgery can also treat rotator cuff injuries, but it isn’t always a necessary step. The team at Twin Palm Orthopedics recommends surgery when other approaches don’t relieve your symptoms. Surgery may also be the better approach if your occupation or sport requires repetitive overhead arm movements. 

During surgery for a rotator cuff injury, the team carefully repairs or reattaches the injured tendon back to the bone. Arthroscopic surgery, a minimally invasive technique, offers a lower recovery time and smaller incisions than open surgery. 

After surgery, follow your surgeon’s instructions and attend physical therapy as prescribed to ensure a full recovery. A full recovery following rotator cuff surgery typically takes 3-4 months. 

To explore treatments for a rotator cuff injury that's causing shoulder pain or weakness, book an appointment by phone or request one online at Twin Palm Orthopedics today.