Special to The Island News
You might think that if you tear or otherwise injure the rotator cuff in your shoulder, you will experience sudden, severe shoulder pain, but that’s not always the case. People who may be injured in a fall or a work-related accident often experience immediate pain, which is a sign to get prompt treatment.
But many other people have slow-developing rotator cuff injuries and do not realize they have a tear until the problem becomes much worse.
Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury
Many rotator cuff injuries and tears develop over time, often from the normal wear and tear of living.
“Sudden tears often cause intense pain,” said Dr. Cory A. Messerschmidt, a board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists. “Tears that occur over time, whether partial or full tears, usually lead to some level of shoulder pain that may limit your range of motion. In full tears, you’ll often feel pain on top of your shoulder and sometimes along the arm.”
Torn rotator cuff symptoms may include:
- Stiffness when moving your shoulder or arm;
- Mild pain when lifting your arm;
- Pain when sleeping on your shoulder that goes away after you get up;
- Popping or crackling noises when you move your shoulder; and/or …
- Weakness in your arm.
Most torn rotator cuffs will not heal on their own, and without treatment, rotator cuff tears can get worse.
“The best option for people experiencing even mild shoulder pain is to discuss it with an orthopedic specialist before the pain worsens,” Dr. Messerschmidt said. “A provider can determine if starting physical therapy or a cortisone injection could help your pain.”
Most people with rotator cuff tears see improvement with a combination of physical therapy, medication and lifestyle modifications. But if those treatments don’t help, advanced imaging will be used to see if you need surgery.
