Rotator Cuff Pain

Your rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that surround your shoulder joint that keeps your upper arm bone secure to your shoulder. Rotator cuff injuries are common but can get worse with age, causing pain anywhere from a dull ache to severe discomfort. Below we’ll discuss the symptoms, causes and treatment for rotator cuff pain.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a rotator cuff injury include: 

• Interrupted Sleep
• Dull ache in the shoulder
• Arm Weakness
• Difficulty brushing or combing hair or reaching behind your back

While most people can manage their rotator cuff pain on their own, an injury more severe, such as a tear, should be evaluated for treatment by your doctor.

Causes

Chronic rotator cuff pain, or rotator cuff disease, can be due to either one substantial injury, or the degeneration of the tendons and muscles over time from repetitive overhead motion. Certain careers, such as painting and carpentry, put people more at risk for this disease than others. However, age and family history have also been shown to play a role. 

Prevention & Treatment

If you let a rotator cuff injury go untreated, you risk loss of mobility and permanent weakness. In the worst of cases, some patients see progressive degeneration of their shoulder joint. 

If you’re high risk for this type of pain, a daily shoulder exercise can help you prevent injury. Your [physician or physical therapist can give you a list of exercises and game plan aimed to help you stay pain-free. 

When it comes to treating a rotator cuff injury, sometimes a remedy of a cold compress, rest and physician therapy is all that’s necessary. However, other more severe cases may require steroid injections, surgical tendon repair or shoulder replacement. 

Rotator Cuff Help at Minivasive Pain

At Minivasive Pain, our mission is to treat the causes of your rotator cuff pain with the highest standards of care and quality. Our experienced team of orthopedic physicians will help determine the underlying cause of your discomfort, and devise a treatment plan that’s right for you, so you can get back to the joys of life in no time. Plus, we have several locations throughout the Greater Houston Area for your convenience. To schedule an appointment, please call (346) 800-6001 now.