It’s quite common for doctors and medical professionals to see patients come in with rotator cuff injuries. They affect everyone, from athletes to office workers, and can have a number of causes. The rotator cuff is critical for shoulder stability and arm movement, so damage to this area can have a serious impact on daily life.
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What Is a Rotator Cuff Injury?
The rotator cuff is made up of a group of four muscles and tendons that encase the shoulder joint. They all work together to stabilize the shoulder and allow for a wide range of motion. Injury to the rotator cuff happens when one or more of these tendons are torn, strained, or otherwise damaged.
Rotator cuff injuries typically fall into two main types, depending on the exact nature of the trauma:
- Tendonitis: Inflammation of the tendons from overuse or repetitive motion
- Tears: Partial or full tears, which can lead to significant weakness and pain
Whether the trauma happened over a long period of time or was caused suddenly in an auto accident, an injury to the rotator cuff can make basic activities like carrying items or simply lifting your arm above your head painful and difficult.
What Are the Common Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries?
The rotator cuff can be injured in a number of ways. However, there are certain situations where trauma is more likely to happen to the area around the shoulder.
Repetitive Motion and Overuse
A large number of rotator cuff injuries happen after years of repetitive arm movements. People whose jobs or hobbies involve repetitive arm activity — like painting, woodworking, and sports like swimming or tennis — are at a higher risk of hurting their shoulders. Such activities strain the joint and can cause inflammation or tearing over time.
Age and Degeneration
As people age, their tendons naturally lose elasticity and are more likely to experience wear and tear. People over 40 are more prone to rotator cuff injuries because of the gradual weakening of their tendons. Degenerative tears can happen without any kind of sudden trauma; a combination of aging and chronic use of the joint can be enough to cause tears.
Acute Trauma
Car accidents, falls, or any kind of sudden impact can cause injury to the rotator cuff. For instance, falling onto an outstretched arm or taking a direct blow to the shoulder area can tear the rotator cuff. Such injuries usually need medical attention and possibly surgery in the most severe cases.
Poor Posture and Biomechanics
Improper posture, such as holding your head forward or slouching, can contribute to a rotator cuff injury by straining the shoulder muscles over time. Lifting heavy items incorrectly and having poor form during exercise or work-related activities can also put undue stress on the area.
What Are the Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Injury, and How Is It Diagnosed?
Recognizing a rotator cuff injury early on can lead to more effective treatment and a better chance of a full recovery.
Symptoms vary depending on the severity, but they typically include:
- Shoulder Pain: Usually on the top or side of the shoulder and might radiate down the arm; can be mild at first and worsen over time with repetitive movements
- Shoulder Weakness: Lack of strength that makes it tough to do things like lift objects, brush your hair, or reach over your head
- Reduced Range of Motion: Inability to move your arm fully in any direction; more common in those with a full tear in a tendon
- Nighttime Pain: Worse pain at night, particularly when lying on the affected shoulder
- Popping or Clicking: Hearing noises or feeling pops and clicks when moving the shoulder
A doctor has several ways to assess the injury and diagnose trauma to the rotator cuff. Depending on the circumstances, they might use:
- Physical Exam: Visual cues and moving the shoulder area around to determine joint strength, range of motion, and pinpoint painful areas
- Imaging Tests: X-rays to find bone abnormalities; MRIs and ultrasounds are more useful for finding tendon tears and inflammation in the rotator cuff
- Arthroscopy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure that lets the doctor see and repair the shoulder structures
Getting an early and accurate diagnosis will help prevent further damage and give your doctor a guide for the best treatment approach for your situation.
What Are the Potential Treatment Options For a Rotator Cuff Injury?
The severity of the injury usually dictates the best course of treatment. Most people recover without surgery, but severe cases might require it.
Non-surgical treatments are often tried first to see if anything helps with the pain and lack of movement. These might include:
- Rest and Minimized Activity: Avoiding any type of movement that aggravates the shoulder to allow time for rest
- Physical Therapy: Exercises to strengthen shoulder muscles, improve flexibility, and help restore range of motion
- Pain Management: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to relieve discomfort and inflammation; corticosteroids can be injected right into the joint
- Ice and Heat: Ice packs to help with inflammation, and heat to relax muscles and relieve pain
If non-surgical treatments don’t work, surgery options might be needed, especially in cases with full tears or persistent pain. An arthroscopy will be the most likely solution, but open surgery could be needed if the tear is extensive. In cases where the rotator cuff can’t be repaired, surgeons might recommend transferring nearby tendons or even replacing the joint entirely.
Regardless of what type of treatment is used, rehab will be needed to increase the chances of a full recovery. It’ll usually involve a combination of physical therapy exercises to restore shoulder function and strength. Recovery time depends on the severity of the injury and the treatment used.
For cases that didn’t need surgery, recovery can take a few weeks or several months. Post-surgical recovery time is often longer, sometimes extending beyond six months. Physical therapy will be especially important in these cases.
Reclaim Your Life After a Rotator Cuff Injury – Seek Medical and Legal Assistance
A rotator cuff injury might not seem like a big deal, but it can be surprisingly painful and debilitating. Not being able to use your shoulder can affect your ability to work, exercise, and even just do normal everyday tasks. Anyone suffering from shoulder pain or weakness needs to consider the possibility that they’ve suffered a rotator cuff injury and should seek treatment.
If you’re in the Baltimore area and feel that your injury was caused by an accident, at work, or any other situation involving someone else’s negligence, contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers at (410) 837-2144 to schedule a free consultation. Our Baltimore personal injury lawyers are here to help you understand your legal rights and explore your options for compensation.
