Your Rotator Cuff and Two Differing Injuries

Made up of four tendons and muscles, your rotator cuff is basically a cup. It is this cup that makes up your shoulder joint. With four muscles making up this joint it is incredibly stable and strong. It allows great control during rotation of your arm.

There are two types of rotator injuries. Acute: coming from a sudden trauma to your shoulder. Or the opposite which happens over time is called a chronic injury. Let’s look at the symptoms related to both.

Acute Rotator Tears

Acute tears in your rotator cuff are generally from a sudden, powerful movement of your shoulder. Falls or direct impacts to your shoulder are the most common injuries; tripping and falling over, falling off ladders or lifting something too heavy. An acute tear may also come from something as simple as throwing a ball with your kids. It can happen at any time.

Your main symptoms will be fast and painful. Acute tear symptoms include

• severe pain in your shoulder and arm
• limited movement of your shoulder(especially to the side)
• a specific area of pain and tenderness

Generally with acute tears you know immediately that you have damaged something when the injury happens.



Chronic Tears

Your joints will slowly show signs of wear and tear as you get older. Having the biggest range of motion than any other joint in your body it is no surprise the rotator cuff injuries are a common injury. Daily wear and tear is the main cause but injury can also come from overuse and repetitive movements.

When left untreated symptoms will worsen over time. Chronic symptoms include

• gradual worsening of pain
• weakness in your arm and shoulder
• difficulty lifting above your head
• uncomfortable to sleep on

Chronic injuries are mostly found on your dominant side and in people over 40 years of age.

What to do about your pain

Severe pain and discomfort will continue if your symptoms are left untreated. If you are suffering from ongoing pain, weakness or discomfort in your shoulder then you must visit your nearest orthopedic surgeon and end the pain your are currently in. Rotator cuff injuries can easily be fixed, often without the need for surgery.

Rotator Cuff Injury - Why Does My Shoulder Hurt

Having the greatest range of motion in the human body your rotator cuff takes a battering throughout your life. This is why more than two million Americans see their doctor every year with shoulder complaints. Do all rotator cuff injuries require surgery or do you have other options?

What Is A Rotator Cuff?
Your rotator cuff is made up of 4 tendons and muscles that surround your shoulder to become one super strong joint? Its purpose is to securely hold your arm in place in your shoulder. Your rotator cuff provides strength stability and a coordinated fluid motion which helps the joint during rotation.

What Injuries Cause Rotator Cuff Damage?
It is a fairly common injury and usually involves some form of damage to the muscles or tendons that make up you rotator cuff. The highest cause of damage is often the result of daily activities. The simplest activity could cause inflammation or a tear; lifting, pulling and repetitive actions. It can also be the result of a fall or impact on your shoulder. Athletes also suffer from rotator injuries due to repetitive shoulder movements. Baseball pitchers would be the best example.

How Will You Know You Have Injured Your Rotator Cuff?
Pain is the first indication that you have injured your rotator cuff. You may have pain that is slowly getting worse and has become chronic or it may be from a sudden impact and be an acute injury. However pain is not always your first symptom.

Other Signs of Injury Can Be

-Inability to sleep on your sore side
-Difficulty lifting objects
-Limited range of motion, especially when raising your arm above your head
-Weakness in your shoulder

What Are Your Treatment Options?
Rotator cuff injuries do not often require surgery. Rest, ice and simple exercise therapy is the first course of treatment. Exercises are based on strengthening your shoulder joint while improving flexibility and stability. By doing this you will avoid any future injuries or tears. Obviously your therapy will be determined by how serious your injury is.

You may also benefit from over the counter pain relief and anti inflammatory meds can also help. If over the counter meds are not strong enough then you will want to talk to your physician about having a pain killing injection.

Sometimes however, your injury may require surgery to fix your pain. It will also depend on how bad your injury is and if all other options have been looked into.

The pain caused from a rotator injury can go on for weeks if not months. Why should you live with this discomfort any longer? Visit your nearest orthopedic surgeon today and get back to doing the things you enjoy, pain free.