Understanding rotator cuff injuries: Symptoms, causes and treatment options
At Salem Health Orthopedics, sports medicine surgeons often work with patients recovering from rotator cuff injuries.
These are injuries to the muscles or tendons that hold your shoulder in place and allow you to move your arm and shoulder.
“Probably 40 percent of my practice is rotator cuff injuries,” said shoulder and elbow surgeon Earl Brewley, MD. “Another 40 would be arthritis, and the other 20 would be other complications of the shoulder, such as instability or fracture.”
What causes rotator cuff injuries (and what do they feel like)?
Symptoms can include weakness lifting your arm over your head, pain at night or discomfort when lifting your arm away from your body. You might feel a catching or popping sensation, or a pain that radiates down your arm.
Dr. Brewley said repetitive overhead activity is often the culprit.
“Sometimes, it can be traumatic — someone falls with an outstretched arm, or they lift something heavy that causes an uncomfortable feeling in the arm. You can also have degenerative tears that occur over time,” he said.
Treatment options
Usually, the orthopedic surgeon recommends anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen as a first step. For traumatic injuries, however, Dr. Brewley recommends meeting with an orthopedist first.
The orthopedic surgeon notes an important distinction is a full tear versus a partial tear.
“Full thickness rotator cuff injuries do not heal on their own, and tend to increase in size overtime,” he said. “These tend to do poorly with conservative treatment.”
With partial tears, Dr. Brewley said physical therapy and modifying activity can improve symptoms without surgery.
Surgery and recovery
As for rotator cuff repair surgery, the orthopedic surgeon said that’s an option he discusses with patients after weighing the risk vs. benefits together — and he only recommends it if a patient is struggling with more conservative treatment.
One reason? Recovery time can be lengthy.
“After surgery, there is a period of immobilization, which can be anywhere from four to six weeks,” Dr. Brewley said. “Then, we like to get patients to improve their range of motion.”
Dr. Brewley said it takes about four to six months total to get back to normal activity, and a full recovery from surgery can take up to a year.
Orthopedic care
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