3 Signs of A Rotator Cuff Injury
Some injuries can be mild and heal on their own, while others such as a shoulder, or rotator cuff injury, require immediate treatment and assistance.
It can be tricky to notice the early signs of a rotator cuff injury, especially if you’ve never experienced any shoulder pain before. That’s why our experts are here to help.
Our orthopedic specialists at SAOS have been in the industry for years. They provide care treatments for each patient based on their individual needs, their injury severity, and the timeframe they need for optimal healing!
What is a rotator cuff injury?
The rotator cuff is one of the most sensitive joints in the body, making the chances of injury higher. Our shoulder is used daily for many things such as reaching, sports, and more.
Our shoulders make up multiple tendons and ligaments in the body to keep our rotator cuff joint stable, and if it’s overused or bent the wrong way, it can lead to extreme pain.
Rotator cuff injury is a tear in the tendon, leading to discomfort, pain, and swelling in the shoulder area. It’s important to visit a specialist to analyze the severity of the injury and assess if surgery needs to be done.
What are the signs of a rotator cuff injury?
As previously mentioned, it can sometimes be difficult to notice the signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff injury, so below, we have some listed for you:
Pain
Experiencing pain and discomfort is one of the three significant signs that you have a torn rotator cuff.
If you have trouble conducting any type of shoulder movement in full capacity such as reaching or lowering your arm in a full range of motion, you may have a torn tendon.
Other signs can be disruptive sleep from the pain you’re feeling or tenderness and swelling in the shoulder area!
2. Weakness and limited range of motion
Our bodies are normally capable of providing a full range of motion in everyday movements and exercise, so if you are having trouble fully moving your shoulder, this could mean that you have a rotator cuff injury.
Movements like lifting weights, throwing baseballs or hitting tennis balls during practice, or even reaching the top shelf at a grocery store should not be difficult and hurt you.
3. Cracking
Popping or cracking sounds could be an indication that you have a rotator cuff injury. The shoulders naturally don’t make loud cracking noises unless there is something wrong within the body.
When to be diagnosed and treated for a rotator cuff injury
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you may have a tear in the rotator cuff. Our specialists will be able to conduct a diagnostic test on your shoulder to uncover what is causing your shoulder pain.
This will be done through an X-ray, MRI, and other imaging modalities to discover if you have a rotator cuff injury present.
To treat the shoulder tear, based on how severe the injury is, will be how we decide to go about the healing process. This can include, but is not limited to:
Physical Therapy
Medication or Injections
Arm Sling or Brace
Lots of Rest
If it is a complete tear in the rotator cuff, the patient will need surgery moving forward, to treat the tear completely.
Are you feeling pain in your shoulder? Schedule a consultation with one of our orthopedic specialists at San Antonio Orthopaedic Specialists to get the care and treatment you need!
Dr. Marx is a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon that specializes in shoulder and sports medicine! Visit our website or give us a call - whatever is easiest for you.