Rotator Cuff Tears
Rotator Cuff Surgery in St. Louis, MO
You might think you are perfectly able to continue to use your shoulder after a rotator cuff tear that may seem like a minor injury at first, but can actually result in ever-increasing bouts of pain and disability. This tends to indicate that the tear is getting larger and needs treatment immediately.
Don’t wait to get the help you need. If you have chronic shoulder and arm pain or have suffered a sports injury and suspect a rotator cuff tear, see your orthopedic specialist to find out what you can do to alleviate your symptoms and prevent your condition from getting worse.
How a Torn Rotator Cuff Occurs
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that powers your shoulder joint and, by extension, your arm. Positioned over the top of your upper arm (humerus), the muscles of the rotator cuff come from the shoulder blade, and the tendons attach to different spots at the top of the humerus. When any of these tendons tear, it is referred to as a rotator cuff tear.
Tendons may tear suddenly, as the result of a dramatic blow to the shoulder during a fall, during sports play or while doing other activities. Tendons may also tear gradually, as the result of wear and tear from aging and repetitive stress (especially with repeated overhead motions). In most cases, repetitive stress is the culprit, with the tendons of the rotator cuff beginning to fray and deteriorate long before a tear actually occurs.
Rotator cuff tendon injuries can range from mild inflammation that causes minor discomfort to complete tendon tears that cause severe pain and restrict your arm movement. Left untreated, rotator cuff injuries may result in degeneration of the shoulder joint as well as permanent shoulder weakness and restricted mobility.
Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment
Depending on the extent of your injury, treatment may include pain management therapies, rest, physical therapy, and medication.
If surgery is required, it may include repairing the tendon, surgical transfer of a donor tendon, or even a reverse shoulder joint replacement procedure that restores pain-free movement by essentially bypassing an unrepairable rotator cuff so the shoulder is powered instead by the deltoid muscle.
Suffering From a Rotator Cuff Injury? Contact Dr. Browdy, Orthopedic Surgeon in St. Louis, MO
Don’t suffer through chronic shoulder pain. If you have suffered a rotator cuff tear, find out what you can do to stop the pain and ensure the condition doesn’t worsen. Call board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jason Browdy in St. Louis, Missouri at (314) 991-2150 or request an appointment now.
