Rotator cuff tendinitis

If you are experiencing shoulder pain, weakness, or limited range of motion, you may have rotator cuff tendinitis. This condition occurs when the tendons in the rotator cuff become inflamed or irritated, usually as a result of overuse or injury.

To diagnose rotator cuff tendinitis, I will perform a physical exam and may also order imaging tests such as an MRI or ultrasound to determine the severity of the inflammation and any associated damage to the shoulder.

Treatment for rotator cuff tendinitis may include a combination of rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy. I may also recommend corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain.

In more severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary. Arthroscopic surgery can be used to repair any tears or damage to the rotator cuff, and a complete recovery can take several months.

It is important to seek treatment for rotator cuff tendinitis as soon as possible to prevent further damage and promote healing. If you are experiencing symptoms, schedule an appointment with me to discuss your options for treatment and recovery.

How do I treat my rotator cuff tear? #Seattle #AAOS

This post is a continuation of our talk on rotator cuff tears. Today, we will be discussing the symptoms and diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. Previous posts included:

• What is a rotator cuff tear?

• What causes rotator cuff tears?

• How do I know if I have a rotator cuff tear?

Nonsurgical treatment is usually based on avoiding activities that cause shoulder pain, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications, and extensive shoulder stretching at home or with physical therapy.  Often times, the pain in your shoulder is secondary to shoulder stiffness.  Once the stiffness has been resolved, the shoulder pain improves significantly.  In the past, many physicians have recommended steroid injections into the shoulder.  Many shoulder specialists, like myself, do not recommend this course of treatment often due to its negative effect on the rotator cuff tendon.  Steroid injections can make the rotator cuff tendon weaker and more prone to more extensive tearing.

If you had a significant injury that resulted in a rotator cuff tear or you have not improved with extensive physical therapy and home exercises, minimally-invasive rotator cuff surgery may be an option for you.  To learn more about rotator cuff surgery, continue reading here.

How do I know if i have a rotator cuff tear?

This post is a continuation of our talk on rotator cuff tears. Today, we will be discussing the symptoms and diagnosis of rotator cuff tears. Previous posts included:

• What is a rotator cuff tear?

• What causes rotator cuff tears?

The most common symptoms of rotator cuff tears are:

• pain at night, especially if lying on the affected shoulder

• pain when lifting or lowering your arm or with specific movements

• weakness when lifting or rotate your arm

• cracking or popping sensation when moving her shoulder in certain positions, especially overhead

Tears that happen suddenly, such as from a fall or when lifting something heavy usually cause intense pain.  You may also notice that you are unable to lift your arm after this injury.
Tears that develop slowly due to overuse, usually begin by some vague pain in her shoulder that progresses to worsening pain and then significant pain and weakness.

Some rotator cuff tears, especially those that occur slowly over time, are sometimes not painful.  These tears, however, may still result in some weakness and other symptoms.

Rotator cuff tears can be diagnosed with history and physical examination on most occasions.  Sometimes, advanced imaging such as MRI or ultrasound can be used to confirm a diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear.

Stay tuned for the next post on rotator cuff treatment.

What causes rotator cuff problems?

This is a continuation of my blog series on rotator cuff issues. Today, we will discuss what causes rotator cuff problems.

Rotator cuff problems can fall along a wide spectrum of issues.  The most common is inflammation of the rotator cuff called rotator cuff tendinitis.  Along with this issue is inflammation of the bursa sac called bursitis.  Sometimes, the rotator cuff tears off of the humerus bone.  This can range from a small, partial tear of the rotator cuff tendon to a complete tear of the rotator cuff tendon.  Many times, complete rotator cuff tears begin with minor tendinitis that progress to partial tearing and then complete tear.

There are two main causes of rotator cuff tears: acute injury and degeneration.

Injury to your rotator cuff is usually caused by lifting something very heavy with a jerking motion.  This can tear the rotator cuff tendon off of the humerus bone.

Location of rotator cuff pain

Degenerative tears are by far the most common type of rotator cuff tears.  These tears are often caused by wearing down of the tendon slowly over time.  This type of tear usually starts with tendinitis and progress to partial thickness tears and complete tears.  These can be due to repetitive stress or just wear over time.

Stay tuned for more information about rotator cuff tears. More information can be found here.