Telltale Signs of a Rotator Cuff Tear

Your shoulder gives you a wide range of motion. You can reach above your head and in front of and behind you. This functionality enables you to do everything from accessing something on a high shelf to tying your hair behind your head. 

All of this is possible because your shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint. To stabilize that joint, you have a group of four muscles that come together to form your rotator cuff. That cuff covers the head of your upper arm bone, supporting it in its socket to enable a wide range of motion. 

At least, that’s the case when your rotator cuff is healthy. But everything from the wear-and-tear of daily living to an accident can compromise this important group of muscles and tendons. In fact, you can even tear your rotator cuff. 

Because he specializes in rotator cuff tears, Karl Siebuhr, MD, can diagnose and treat this shoulder problem. But how do you know when it’s time to visit our team at Reconstructive Orthopaedics of Central Florida in Ocala, Florida, for care? Let’s take a look.

Symptoms of a rotator cuff tear

The symptoms of this kind of injury vary depending on whether the tear happens suddenly or over time as a result of overuse.

With a sudden rotator cuff tear, you might experience:

• Immediate severe pain
• A snapping sensation
• Sudden weakness in the upper part of the affected arm

Tears that happen gradually mean a slower onset of symptoms. You might notice mild pain when you move your arm a certain way, like reaching overhead. That arm might feel a little weaker than normal. 

Eventually, as the tear progresses, that pain becomes more persistent and more intense. It might hurt even when you’re at rest, and lying on that side at night could become uncomfortable. You might also have a crackling or popping sensation as you move your shoulder. 

However the injury happens (suddenly or gradually), the telltale signs to watch for are shoulder pain and weakness. 

Treating your tear

Sometimes, the body can heal the rotator cuff on its own when given the right support. That means eliminating activities that would aggravate the injury to give it time to heal. We might also recommend physical therapy to support your recovery. 

Additionally, Dr. Siebuhr might introduce injectable treatment to help your rotator cuff further. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), for example, delivers healing growth factors from your own blood to stimulate regeneration in the area. Cortisone injections might also be helpful to fight inflammation. 

If your shoulder doesn’t respond to conservative treatment — or if Dr. Siebuhr sees that the tear is severe enough that it won’t heal on its own — he recommends surgery. Dr. Siebuhr specializes in a minimally invasive rotator cuff repair procedure called arthroscopy. This allows him to perform your surgery through a small incision with the help of a specialized tiny camera. 

Our team works with you to heal your rotator cuff, ease your pain, and restore your range of motion. To get the care your shoulder needs, call our office or request an appointment online.