What is a Rotator Cuff Tear and How Can It Be Treated?
- What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?
- How Are Rotator Cuff Tears Treated?
- What is the Recovery Process for Rotator Cuff Tears?
Making the bed. Mopping the floors. Putting the dishes away. Sure, they’re mundane tasks. But what happens when you have so much pain in your shoulder you can’t even complete the most common of household chores?
“I couldn’t work around the house, I couldn’t go to the gym, and it was really affecting my overall quality of life,” remembers Troy Timberman, a recent rotator cuff repair patient of Bradd G. Burkhart, M.D., a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, knee and shoulder surgery at Orlando Orthopaedic Center.
But that was before his surgery with Dr. Burkhart. Today, a mere ten weeks later, he says his shoulder is almost back to 100 percent, and it gets better by the day.
“I’ve never been so happy to take a shower,” he jokes. “I can lift both my arms above my head and work out and swim without any pain whatsoever. I have a full range of motion again, and it’s great.”
What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?
A rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surrounds the shoulder joint. These tendons and muscles connect the upper arm to the shoulder blade and provide stability while helping the shoulder rotate and function.
“A tear to one of these tendons can cause intense pain, a decrease in range of motion and instability in the shoulder,” says Dr. Burkhart. “When the patient has failed all nonsurgical, conservative treatment methods we recommend surgery to provide relief and return to function.”
Dr. Burkhart explains that surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff involves reattaching the torn tendon to the head of the upper arm bone (humerus). Partial tears may only need a debridement or trimming. He says tendons can tear as a result of overuse or injury; and most rotator cuff tears occur as the result of wear and tear, putting people at age 40 at a greater risk.
“Unfortunately, surgery is often the only treatment option for a complete tear, as was the case with Troy,” comments Dr. Burkhart.
How Are Rotator Cuff Tears Treated?
There are both nonsurgical and surgical options for treating rotator cuff tears.
Bradd G. Burkhart, M.D.
Nonsurgical treatments for a rotator cuff tear include:
- Rest
- Avoiding activities that cause shoulder pain
- Anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil and Motrin
- Strengthening exercises and physical therapy
- Steroid injection
If nonsurgical methods fail, surgery may be required.
“For most patients, strength will not improve without surgery,” says Dr. Burkhart. “Luckily, advances in surgical techniques allow us to repair most rotator cuff tears arthroscopically using the latest minimally invasive techniques.”
Using this method, patients are in surgery for less than an hour and are able to return home the same day as the procedure.
“During surgery, we insert a small camera into the shoulder joint,” explains Dr. Burkhart. “Using the arthroscope and other precision tools, we reattach the torn tendon to the bone using small incisions which makes for a faster recovery time with less pain.”
What is the Recovery Process for Rotator Cuff Tears?
Following surgery, patients should experience gradual, progressive relief, however it may take three to six months for a patient to fully recover from the procedure.
“I felt better right after surgery,” says Timberman. “I’m still going through physical therapy and regaining my strength, but every day it gets a little easier and I know in the end the payoff is the great benefit.”
Most patients report improved shoulder strength and less pain after they are fully healed from rotator cuff repair surgery.
“Once healed, most patients regain shoulder strength and a range of motion that is the same as what they experienced before their injury,” says Dr. Burkhart.
For Troy, having his rotator cuff repaired has made an incredible difference in his everyday life.
“I’m so thankful I had this done,” he says. “If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, get in and see a specialist like Dr. Burkhart. The sooner you’re done with surgery, the sooner you can start to feel better and you don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
