Know Your Options When You Tear Your Rotator Cuff

Shoulder joint pain can be debilitating, especially if pain stems from a torn rotator cuff. Learn how tears occur and which treatments are available to restore your shoulder joint health.

The shoulder is a complex joint made up of bones, tendons, and ligaments that work together to provide a wide range of motion. Trauma or overuse can cause tears to form in your rotator cuff or other soft tissues of your joint, which can lead to shoulder pain and immobility.

If you’re experiencing sharp shoulder pain or can’t move your joint with ease, you can find the help you need at Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine, PLLC, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Francis Pecoraro, MD, offers nonsurgical treatments to support the healing of your shoulder joint, so you can get back to your routine.

Our team may also recommend minimally invasive surgery to repair larger tears that can’t heal on their own.

The root cause of rotator cuff tears

Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that stabilize your shoulder joint. The tissues also connect your shoulder blade to your upper arm bone.

Your rotator cuff is an essential component of joint mobility and makes it possible for you to throw a ball, lift your arm over your head, and rotate your arm behind your back.

Stretching the tissues too far or overusing your shoulder joint can lead to small tears in the tissues. Your rotator cuff can also rupture from sports injuries, car accidents, and other unexpected events.

Rotator cuff tears can be partial, affecting only part of the tissue fibers while your tendon remains attached to the bone. In a complete tear, your tendons are pulled away from the bone or torn all the way through.

Warning signs of a rotator cuff tear

Small rotator cuff tears may cause occasional pain and difficulties moving your shoulder joint in certain ways. As the tears get larger, shoulder pain may become more frequent and intense.

Other symptoms of a torn rotator cuff include:

Weakness
Difficulties lifting objects
Radiating pain into your arm and elbow
Clicking or popping sensations with movement

Our skilled medical team offers in-office imaging tests to evaluate the severity of your rotator cuff tear. We customize a care plan to support the full healing of a partial or complete rotator cuff tear based on factors such as symptom intensity, age, and overall health.

Exploring your treatment options for rotator cuff tears

Treating a partial rotator cuff tear in the early stages typically involves ice therapy, activity modification, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatories.

If these remedies provide sufficient pain relief, our specialists may suggest physical therapy to restore your shoulder’s range of motion. We also offer steroid injections to make it easier to participate in therapy.

If you’re dealing with chronic shoulder pain or a complete rotator cuff tear, you may be a candidate for surgery to repair your damaged tendon and reattach it to the bone. We offer follow-up appointments to monitor your healing process and prevent shoulder pain from worsening.

Our providers can also recommend exercises, lifestyle changes, and dietary improvements to protect your joint health and optimize your wellness.

Contact Coastal Spine & Sports Medicine today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for rotator cuff symptoms. Call our office or schedule an appointment online.