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About Rotator Cuff Injuries And Repairs

24 September 2021 by Hugh Larson

You may not realize just how much you use your shoulders and how much regular wear they are put under. Whether you are doing something as simple as brushing your teeth or you are spending the day moving all your household belongings into a moving truck, you will be using your shoulders. Your rotator cuff plays a big part in the movements of your shoulders. The rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons, and it helps to keep the bone in the socket. It also protects the joint and allows your arms to move all the way up. This article will give you information on rotator cuff injuries and rotator cuff repairs.

What are some common rotator cuff problems?

Inflammation and swelling

As you age, your rotator cuff can end up becoming inflamed regularly. When this happens, you can experience a good deal of pain and have a difficult time moving due to the feeling. Repeated stress on the rotator cuff can cause tendonitis, which is also inflammation and swelling of the tendons. Tendonitis makes you more prone to rotator cuff tears. Bursitis also causes swelling and inflammation, and it is caused by excessive stress or from an injury. Shoulder stiffness and pain come with inflammation. 

Tears

A rotator cuff tear happens when the tendon rips away from the bone. You may have a partial tear, which means the tendon is not fully detached from the bone. Or, you may have a complete tear, and this is when the tendon has torn completely away from the bone. There are many ways in which you can tear your rotator cuff. It can happen from a fall or another type of accident in which a lot of stress or a fast and hard movement is suddenly put on the shoulder. Some symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include severe pain, shoulder weakness, popping sounds, grinding feelings when moving the shoulder, and more pain at nighttime. 

What are some types of rotator cuff repairs?

When rest, ice, and anti-inflammatories aren't enough, there are other types of treatments and repairs available for the different types of rotator cuff conditions and injuries. In some cases, physical therapy can be helpful. 

If the treatments above aren't enough, then there are also surgeries available that may be the best course of action. There are different types of surgeries and the one you have will depend on what is wrong with your shoulder, the severity of your injury, and other factors the surgeon will consider. In some cases, the rotator cuff surgeries can be done on an outpatient basis and in other cases, they require a hospital stay. 

Some rotator cuff surgeries can be done with a tiny camera and an arthroscope that gets inserted through very small incisions. Some surgeries require more invasive surgery if the damage is extensive. Reach out to a professional for information about rotator cuff repair. 

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