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The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles in the shoulder, which assist in smooth controlled movement of the arms. This muscle group allows you to lift your arm up and freely rotate your shoulders, but is one of the most common sources of a shoulder injury or wear and tear over time. The experts at the Integrated Spine Institute can perform a rotator cuff repair to fix a torn shoulder tendon or remove a bone spur.
If you are suffering from pain in your shoulder, take the first step to finding relief with our interactive diagnostic assessment below.
Although rotator cuff tears can happen from a fall or another traumatic injury, most tears are degenerative, occurring over time. Tears that happen suddenly, such as those resulting from a fall, typically cause intense pain that may be accompanied by a snapping sensation in your shoulder, and immediate weakness in your upper arm.
Degenerative rotator cuff tears tend to be most painful when you’re trying to lift or lower your arm. Although this movement-specific pain is a common tell-tale sign of a tear, there are other common symptoms, including:
Injury to the rotator cuff occurs most often in people who repeatedly perform overhead motions in their job or sports. Other risk factors for needing a rotator cuff repair include:
You don’t need to live in pain, and the experts and the Integrated Spine Institute can help you find relief. If you think rotator cuff repair is the right solution for you, confirm your treatment by using our free assessment below.
The exact approach to surgery that’s recommended will depend on several factors. The first is the severity of the tear. A rotator cuff may be partially torn or completely torn and detached from the upper arm or shoulder blade. Additional factors include the quality of the tissues involved and the patient’s anatomy. Arthroscopic surgery may be performed to get a better view of the affected tendons and muscles.
If surgery is necessary to repair the rotator cuff, it may involve:
Unless the damage to the rotator cuff is severe or involves a widespread injury to a shoulder and arm, the general recommendation is to wait for at least 6-12 months before considering surgery. Full recovery from rotator cuff repair surgery typically takes 3-4 months, although each patient will heal differently. Rotator cuff repair is fairly common and often results in less pain and faster healing when performed as an arthroscopic procedure, and an increase in shoulder flexibility and range of motion.
If you have persistent pain in your shoulder, find out if you’re a candidate for a rotator cuff repair at the Integrated Spine Institute using our interactive candidacy assessment below.
Integrated Spine Institute
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10866 Riverside Dr.
North Hollywood, CA 91602