Rotary Cuff Injury Symptoms

The rotator cuff (often called the rotary cuff) is a part of four muscles located in the shoulder. When an injury occurs, it may be an acute attack, meaning it comes on suddenly, or an injury that may become worse over time. Injuries may be as simple as an inflammation of the muscle that doesn't cause permanent damage, to a partial or complete tear requiring surgery. There are three major types of rotator cuff injuries, each with their own symptoms and means of treatment.

Chronic Tear Symptoms

These types of injury are most commonly found in men over the age of 40 and generally occurs in the dominant arm. The pain has a tendency to become worse at night and is followed by a slow weakening of the muscle. He will experience a difficulty in his ability to move the affected arm, especially if it is out to the side. Participating in activities which require lifting the arm higher than his shoulder, either to the front or side, will prove difficult.

Acute Tear Symptoms

A tearing sensation that occurs suddenly will be felt followed quickly by a severe shooting pain through his arm. He will experience limited range of motion due to the pain and muscle spasms that accompany the tear. Tenderness can be felt at the site of the injury when touched, and depending on the severity of the injury, he may be unable to lift his arm out to the side.

Tendinitis

This rotator cuff tear is found most commonly in women between the ages of 35 and 50. She may feel an ache deep in the shoulder which can be felt on the outside of her upper arm. Along with tenderness at the site, pain will begin gradually and become progressively worse when she attempts to lift her arm out to the side or attempts to turn it inward. This type of injury has the possibility of turning into a chronic tear.

Causes

Chronic tears are most commonly found in those who play sports or whose job requires them to perform excessive overhead lifting. These can include baseball players or painters. Acute tears are generally caused when the arm encounters a sudden, powerful raising of the arm and is faced with resistance. An example would be trying to prevent or stop a fall. Tendinitis is basically caused by age. Over time, the muscles begin to degenerate; this in combination with repetitive trauma to the muscles caused by everyday movement can result in tendinitis.

Chronic Tear Treatment

During treatment, the goal of the medical staff is to provide pain control through rest and over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. If this method does not prove to be helpful, the doctor may choose to proceed with injections of steroids into the joint, also known as cortisone shots. Range of motion exercises through physical therapy may also be ordered, and in the worse case scenario, surgery may be required.

Acute Tear Treatments

Initially, it may be recommended that ice be applied to the site along with taking anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen or Aleve. The shoulder may also need to be supported in a sling. The doctor may also order an MRI to determine how bad the injury is, and within three weeks of the injury occurring, surgery is generally needed to repair the tendons.

Tendinits Treatment

Ice should be applied multiple times through the day for about two days, followed with heat treatment to the site. Resting the affected shoulder in a sling for a short time while taking anti-inflammatory medications like Ibuprofen may help relieve the pain and reduce any swelling that may have occurred. In serious cases, the patient may receive injections of cortisone, a steroid based medication which helps relieve inflammation in the joint, thus relieving pain. The doctor may also order range of motion exercises to slowly increase the amount of motion in the shoulder.