Causes, Symptoms & Effective Treatments for Rotator Cuff Pain

The rotator cuff muscles and tendons attach to shoulder bones to move and stabilize the shoulder. Rotator cuff tendinitis causes tendon irritation and bursa inflammation. Rotator cuff tears occur when a tendon tears from the bone due to overuse or injury. Rotator cuff pain is common and age-related. Painters and carpenters who work overhead may develop these injuries earlier.

Rotator Cuff Tear

Tears in the rotator cuff can make the shoulder hurt and make the arm weak. The shoulder rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons. Helps lift and move arms away from the body. The rotator cuff holds the humerus in the shoulder blade socket. Your shoulder is a skeletal ball and- socket joint. Like a golf ball on a tee.  Tendons pull away from the arm bone, which can lead to a rotator cuff tear. An injury or too much use can cause a tear.

Causes of Rotator Cuff Tears

A sudden tear after a fall or injury causes severe pain. It may be difficult to raise your arm or shoulder. Snapping may occur when moving the arm. You may not notice when a chronic tear starts. Long Term shoulder immobility increases the risk of frozen shoulder. This is because pain, weakness, and stiffness or loss of motion worsen slowly. Night pain is common with rotator cuff tears. Pain may awaken you. The pain is less noticeable during the day and only hurts when reaching overhead or backward. The symptoms worsen over time and are not relieved by medication, rest, or exercise. A fall can break your collarbone or dislocate your shoulder, tearing your rotator cuff. Rotator cuff injury usually occurs as your tendon degrades with age and use. 

Causes of degenerative tears include:

• Bone spurs: Bone spurs can form on top of your shoulder bone. The bone spurs rub against your tendon when you lift your arm. Your bone and tendon rub together during shoulder impingement. 

• Reduced blood flow: Rotator cuff blood flow decreases with age. Repairing muscles and tendons requires blood. Tendons can tear without blood.

• Overuse: Sports and work-related shoulder movements can tear muscles and tendons.

Symptoms

Early pain is mild and occurs with overhead activities and sidearm lifts. Brushing your hair, reaching for shelves, or playing overhead sports are activities. Front shoulder pain may spread to the side. Every pain stops before the elbow. Pain down the arm to the elbow and hand may indicate a pinched neck nerve.

Lowering the shoulder from a raised position may cause pain. Shoulder pain from  sleeping on the affected shoulder may get worse over time. Raising your arm above your head may cause weakness and loss of motion. Lifting or moving can stiffen your shoulder. Putting your arm behind your back may become harder.

How are Rotator Cuff Tears Treated?

Rotator cuff tear treatment can be nonsurgical or surgical.

Nonsurgical Options

By strengthening their shoulder muscles, many people can reduce pain and improve function after rotator cuff tears. Many people have rotator cuff tears without knowing it, so surgery may not be necessary. Partial tears improve in 8/10 people without surgery. Nonsurgical treatments include rest and an arm sling to promote shoulder healing. You may need to change activities or stop sports or work.

• NSAIDs can be used as shoulder pain relief.

• PT to learn strengthening and stretching.

• Injections of steroids for pain and swelling.

Surgical Options

If treatments other than surgery don't help with a full or partial tear, your shoulder pain doctor in Dallas may suggest surgery. If your job or sports affect your shoulder, you may need surgery. Rotator cuff pain surgeries are usually done arthroscopically through small cuts. The surgeon may use an open approach when necessary. An outpatient surgery is performed. This surgery allows you to go home the same day, but recovery can take a year or more.

Doctors during surgery:

• An arthroscope (small camera) is inserted through the shoulder.

• Uses arthroscopy images to perform the procedure.

• Inserts tiny instruments into shoulder incisions to remove bone spurs and reattach your tendon to your upper arm bone.

Risk Factors

These factors may increase rotator cuff injury risk:

• Age: Age increases rotator cuff injury risk. Most rotator cuff tears occur in people over 60.

• Tough jobs: Carpenters and painters repeatedly raise their arms, which can damage the rotator cuff. Inflamed bursae caused the bursitis shoulder. 

• Family history: Rotator cuff injuries are more common in certain families, suggesting a genetic component.

How A Doctor Examines?

The shoulder physio near me will examine your shoulder after discussing your symptoms and medical history.

• They will check for tenderness or deformities.

• They will measure shoulder range of motion by moving your arm in several directions.

• Your arm strength will be tested.

• They will examine other shoulder issues.

• They may also examine your neck to rule out arthritis and pinched nerves.

Imaging Tests

Other tests that may aid your doctor in diagnosis include X-rays. X-rays are common first imaging tests. Plain X-rays of a shoulder with rotator cuff pain are usually normal and may show a small bone spur because they do not show the soft tissues. To rule out arthritis-related shoulder pain, X-rays are taken.

MRI or Ultrasound

MRIs show soft tissues like rotator cuff tendons better than X-rays. It shows the rotator cuff tear, its location in the tendon, and its size. Because it shows rotator cuff muscle quality, an MRI can help your doctor. 

Conclusion