What Is a Torn Rotator Cuff, and What Can You Do About It?
We see this injury quite often among our patients—here are the basic facts.
If you experience shoulder pain, it is a good idea to see your doctor right away. What you might think is just a strain may actually be a torn rotator cuff. Without proper treatment, this condition can get worse and you may require rotator cuff repair surgery. Most rotator cuff injuries are caused by the natural degenerative process that comes as the result of aging.
Muscles and Bones: The Makeup of Your Shoulder Joint Pain
Several bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments form your shoulder joint. Damage to any of these parts of your shoulder joint can severely limit your mobility.
An injury, deterioration, or trauma that affects the bones, muscles, and other parts of your shoulder joint can lead to persistent pain and stiffness. If you have sore shoulder muscles or other acute shoulder pains, becoming familiar with the parts of this joint can provide you with some insight into your condition. When you know what the underlying cause is, you can look into options for shoulder pain treatment.
Why Can’t I Move My Shoulder or Lift My Arm?
One of the most common causes of pain in your shoulder or arm that makes it difficult to move or lift are rotator cuff injuries.
The group of tendons and muscles in your rotator cuff help provide stability and allow your shoulder to rotate. Injuries to these tendons and muscles can result in pain that is severe enough to prevent you from raising your arm or moving your shoulder, limiting your normal daily activities. There are several types of rotator cuff injuries that can cause varying degrees of pain.
5 Fast Facts About Shoulder Pain Causes and Treatments
According to the World Health Organization, 9% of all adults in the U.S. reported struggling with chronic shoulder pain.*
The shoulder is a complex joint held in place by muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Pain in your shoulder can lessen mobility and strength, which can hinder your day-to-day activities. There are several causes of shoulder pain, and each has its own treatment options. Use this list of fast shoulder pain facts to help you discover what is causing your shoulder pain and how to treat it.
After Shoulder Surgery: Tips for a Comfortable and Safe Recovery
Knowing what to expect and making preparations beforehand can help your shoulder surgery recovery proceed smoothly.
After total shoulder replacement surgery, you are required to wear a sling for up to four weeks. You will likely be able to come out of the sling during physical therapy after two weeks. Most patients return to normal mobility after a month. However, many overlook the lifestyle changes they should make before entering the operation room. You need to make certain safety modifications to your home and routine to prepare for your recovery and rehabilitation.
Rotator Cuff Tendinitis: Symptoms and Surgical Repair Options
If you suffer from chronic shoulder pain, you may have rotator cuff tendinitis. If left untreated, tendinitis can cause permanent strength and motion loss in your affected arm.
When nonsurgical options like medication and steroid injections are not relieving your chronic shoulder pain, surgery may be an option. If you have severe shoulder tendinitis, rotator cuff repair surgery can reduce your pain by over 80%.
Solving Shoulder Osteoarthritis Pain with Total Shoulder Replacement Surgery
Total shoulder replacement surgery involves removing the damaged ball and socket joint and replacing it with a metal ball and plastic socket. This helps reduce pain and restore range of motion.
One of the most common reasons to have total shoulder replacement surgery is to ease the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis. This condition, which usually occurs in people over 50, can severely limit your activities and even prevent you from getting restful sleep each night. If non-surgical treatment methods, such as medication and physical therapy, have not been effective at reducing your osteoarthritis pain, your doctor might recommend total shoulder replacement surgery and refer you to an orthopedic surgeon for further evaluation. This might include taking X-rays and other imaging scans in order to see how much damage has been done to your shoulder joint.