Without treatment, rotator cuff problems may lead to permanent loss of motion or weakness of the shoulder joint.
If the pain isn't going away, gets worse, or you no longer have the full range of motion you used to, visit your orthopedic specialist as soon as possible. If left untreated, rotator cuff injuries can lead to permanent loss of shoulder mobility.
Shoulder pain is defined as chronic when it has been present for longer than six months. Common conditions that can result in chronic shoulder pain include rotator cuff disorders, adhesive capsulitis, shoulder instability, and shoulder arthritis.
Typically tears occur in those over age 40, but occasionally tears are seen in younger individuals. Typical signs of a rotator cuff tear include pain with overhead use of the arm, weakness or pain preventing or disrupting sleep.
The most common causes for chronic shoulder pain are: Rotator cuff injuries. Acromioclavicular arthritis. Glenohumeral arthritis.
Rotator cuff tendon tears often cause pain at night. The pain may even wake you. During the day, the pain is more tolerable, and usually only hurts with certain movements, such as overhead or reaching toward the back. Over time, the symptoms become much worse and are not relieved by medicines, rest, or exercise.
Ultrasound does have the ability to identify rotator cuff tendon tears but with certain limitations. One factor is that it requires special training for the staff, as this is a less commonly performed imaging test. Second, the tendons may not be adequately seen in obese patients or those with a limited range of motion.
Red flags include: Trauma, pain and weakness, or sudden loss of ability to actively raise the arm (with or without trauma): suspect acute rotator cuff tear. Any shoulder mass or swelling: suspect malignancy. Red skin, painful joint, fever, or the person is systemically unwell: suspect septic arthritis.
MRI scans are most commonly used to diagnose partial rotator cuff tears. However, just because an MRI scan shows a tear doesn't mean it is the cause of your shoulder pain. The most common condition that mimics a rotator cuff tear is shoulder stiffness or a frozen shoulder.
Symptoms may include pain, swelling, numbness, tingling, weakness, changes in temperature or colour, and changes in your range of motion. Shoulder injuries most often occur during sports activities, work-related tasks, projects around the home, or falls. Home treatment often can help relieve minor aches and pains.
A shoulder injury is assessed with a combination of physical tests and imaging studies. Your health care provider will ask questions about your pain and move your arm in different ways to test your range of motion to pinpoint the problem.
Some of the most painful shoulder injuries include: Fracture: The bones involved in forming the shoulder joint may fracture (break) causing significant pain, swelling, deformity, and limitation of movement. The clavicle (collar bone) and humerus are most commonly involved in fractures.
If the rotator cuff tear is very large (a massive rotator cuff tear) and has been present for a long time, there is a chance that surgical repair is not possible. 1 In these situations, the tendon is often contracted and cannot be reattached in its normal position.
After the rotator cuff is attached to the bone it will require a lot of time to heal. Sometimes the reason why the rotator cuff doesn't heal and tears again is that you may have become too active too quickly. This is a less common reason for failure of rotator cuff surgery.
An MRI scan enables your doctor to see the soft tissue in the shoulder and determine if you have a rotator cuff tear and whether it is partial or full thickness.
Many other conditions can mimic a rotator cuff problem, including pinched nerves in the neck, frozen shoulder syndrome, cartilage tear or arthritis. It is therefore important to be examined by an experienced physician to establish the diagnosis.
A rotator cuff injury can cause a dull ache in the shoulder that worsens at night. Rotator cuff injuries are common and increase with age. These injuries may occur earlier in people who have jobs that require repeatedly performing overhead motions, such as painters and carpenters.
Even though most tears cannot heal on their own, you can often achieve good function without surgery. If, however, you are active or use your arm for overhead work or sports, surgery is most often recommended because many tears will not heal without surgery.
If there is a tear in the rotator cuff, the tear will become larger and larger until the tendon disintegrates completely, the muscle degenerates (muscle fibres are changed into fat) and the shoulder joint is no longer able to function. At this stage, it is too late to repair the rotator cuff by tenosuture.
Shoulder pain that doesn't improve after two weeks might be caused by something that needs treatment. Don't self-diagnose. See your GP if you're worried.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may help. Rest. Avoid using your shoulder in ways that cause or worsen pain. Ice.
If you experience persistent shoulder pain that doesn't seem to go away with rest or massage therapy, consider visiting a doctor for further evaluation and treatment options.