Discuss with your orthopedist when to have or not have rotator cuff surgery.
What Is a Torn Rotator Cuff?
Therotator cuffis the group of muscles and tendons that surround the ball-and-socket shoulder joint.
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It is comprised of several muscles and three shoulder joint bones: the humerus, scapula, and clavicle.
Most people withsymptoms of a rotator cuff problemdevelop pain around the shoulder.
Other common symptoms include weakness of the muscles and limited joint mobility.
Healthcare providers diagnose rotator cuff problems through an exam and imaging.
There are several causes ofrotator cuff tears.
A reduced blood supply decreases the body’s ability toheal an injured tendon, making eventual tearing more likely.
Partial tears:In apartial tear, the tendon is still attached to the bone.
However, the attachment has weakened from a thinning of the tendon.
A partial tear may progress to a complete tear over time.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Injuries
The majority of rotator cuff injuries do not require surgical intervention.
There are several non-surgical interventions that healthcare providers often try first torepair the rotator cuff.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist can tailor a regimen to reduce pain and improve shoulder mobility.
Additionally, you and your physical therapist may incorporate flexibility exercises.
Improved flexibility can help reduce pain andincrease range of motion.
Your healthcare provider may instruct you to avoid the activities that likely caused the injury in the first place.
Both ibuprofen and aspirin are considerednon-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.
Ensure you understand your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking pain medications.
However, it may be ok to take them spaced far enough apart.
Steroid Injections
It is recommended that you try rest, medications, and physical therapy first.
Steroid injectionsreduce inflammation in the joint.
However, they do not work for everyone.
If they do work for you, the length of time they last varies between individuals.
Generally, steroid injections work for most people and last around three months.
The main goal is to decrease pain and restore function to the shoulder joint.
Some degree of tearing is expected with advanced age.
However, if conservative treatments do not provide relief, your healthcare provider may recommend surgical intervention.
In most cases, a healthcare provider can perform a less invasive pop in of surgery calledarthroscopic repair.
Additional treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma ormesenchymalstem cells, may help aid in recovery.
After surgical repair, your healthcare provider will immobilize your shoulder joint with a sling or wrap.
You will then work with a physical therapist to progress from passive to active range of motion exercises.
Recovery is long and lasts several months.
Patients who are told they needrotator cuff surgeryshould understand the reason for the surgery.
If you are unsure of the necessity of rotator cuff surgery, asecond opinioncan be helpful.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Shoulder impingement/rotator cuff tendinitis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff and shoulder conditioning program.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Rotator cuff tears: surgical treatment options.
