Rotator cuff tears or strains have been a major health concern among sportspersons, painters, and people whose jobs require frequent shoulder engagement. Acute injuries, overuse, and natural wear and tear can also cause rotator cuff tears.
While not all rotator cuff injuries can result in pain or discomfort, there are some more severe cases where the commonly reported symptoms are pain and tenderness on the shoulder joint, limited shoulder range of motion, persistent pain when moving your shoulder, abnormal pain around the shoulder during nighttime, and weakness of the shoulder.
If you experience any of these symptoms for more than one week or lose normal functioning in the arm, make sure to consult with your healthcare provider. In this post, we will look at the possible treatments for rotator cuff tears in West Chester.
Treatment Options
Rotator cuff injuries can be grouped into degenerative or acute, where acute injuries are caused by regularly lifting heavy objects or conditions forcing your shoulder into an abnormal position. Acute rotator cuff injuries are very common among younger patients. On the other hand, degenerative injuries are caused by excessive use of your shoulder joint when playing certain sports such as wrestling, baseball, and tennis.
This type of injury is commonly diagnosed among older patients. Body imaging procedures such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are performed to check for bone spurs that can result in inflammation and pain. They are also used to determine how severe your rotator cuff injury is. The type of treatment recommended for your rotator cuff injury usually depends on the severity of the injury, overall health, current medications you are taking, and the immediate cause. Some of the possible medical treatments for rotator cuff injuries include;
Applying cold or hot packs
Applying cold or hot packs to your injured shoulder can be very effective in managing your pain, discomfort, and swelling.
Physical exercises
Your physician may recommend certain physical exercises to help restore your shoulder’s strength and normal functioning.
Injections
Your doctor may inject the injured area with a steroid like cortisone to help relieve the numbness, pain, and inflammation.
Rest
You may be provided with an arm sling to help your armrest and prevent excessive shoulder motions.
Medications
Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications such as naproxen and ibuprofen to help manage the rotator cuff injury symptoms.
Surgery
For severe rotator cuff injuries, your practitioner may recommend various surgical options. While there are many benefits involved, there is also some downside to surgical procedures, such as permanent shoulder stiffness, excessive blood loss, permanent cuff weakness, loss of arm motion, and allergic reactions with anesthesia.
When diagnosing rotator cuff injuries, your healthcare provider will inquire about your medical history and regular physical activities and perform a medical exam to evaluate your shoulder strength and motion range and rule out possible triggers such as arthritis or a pinched nerve. Shoulder pains are very common and can result in more severe health complications if left untreated. Fortunately, there are many treatment options available for rotator cuff injuries that will regain your normal shoulder functionality and increase your range of motion.
