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A rotator cuff tear is a common cause of shoulder pain, affecting nearly two million people every year in the United States. At Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine in Addison, Texas, John East, DO, and the team specialize in minimally invasive techniques and cutting-edge regenerative medicine treatments for rotator cuff tears. When your rotator cuff tear makes it hard to comb your hair or reach up, it’s time to get expert care. Call Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine today or book an appointment online.
What is the rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surrounds the top of your upper arm bone at the shoulder joint, attaching to the shoulder blade. Your rotator cuff securely holds the ball joint of the upper arm bone in the shallow socket joint of the shoulder.
Rotator cuff tears are tears in one of the tendons that attach the muscle to the bone. The tears may occur from an acute injury, like lifting something too heavy. However, most rotator cuff tears occur from age-related wear-and-tear to the tendons.
Can I have shoulder pain from a rotator cuff tear?
Shoulder pain is one of the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear. But many shoulder conditions cause pain in the joint, including tendinitis, bursitis, and arthritis.
With a rotator cuff tear, you may have more shoulder pain when resting your arm or lying on the shoulder. Lifting your arm may also cause pain. Not everyone with a rotator cuff tear has pain.
Acute rotator cuff tears cause sudden and intense pain, while degenerative tears cause mild to moderate pain that worsens over time.
When should I seek pain management for a rotator cuff tear?
The team at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine recommends scheduling a consultation if your rotator cuff tear is causing pain that limits mobility and affects your quality of life. Continuing to use your arm when you have a tear may worsen your condition and prolong recovery.
Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine is a leader in pain management and offers innovative therapies that reduce pain and support healing.
Your provider asks detailed questions about your symptoms and how it affects your daily routine. They perform a physical exam and order imaging tests to confirm a diagnosis.
What are the non-surgical treatments for a rotator cuff tear?
Most people with a rotator cuff tear experience improvements in pain and mobility with non-surgical interventions. The team at Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine customizes your plan based on the severity of your tear, overall health, and usual level of activity.
Non-surgical treatments for rotator cuff tears include:
- Activity modification
- Arm sling
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Physical therapy
- Steroid injection
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections
- Bone marrow aspirate (BMA) injections
Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine performs rotator cuff injections that contain a local anesthetic and a steroid or PRP. Rotator cuff injections may provide long-term pain relief.
Call Addison Pain + Regenerative Medicine today or click the online booking button to schedule your rotator cuff tear consultation.