Overview:
- When most people think about rotator cuff tears, they often associate this injury with baseball and other throwing sports.
- Contrary to popular belief, it is possible for people to develop a rotator cuff tear from daily activities or minor injuries.
- In this blog, the pain management specialists at Tulsa Pain Consultants educate patients about the signs and symptoms of a rotator cuff tear.
You may feel a dull, intense pain in your shoulder and suddenly panic not knowing what’s causing the sensation. Although shoulder pain can indicate a number of conditions or ailments, you know the pain in your shoulder produces the following symptoms:
- A dull, deep ache in the shoulder
- Increased discomfort or pain when lying on the affected shoulder
- Difficulty lifting your arms above shoulder level
- Arm weakness or numbness that radiates
If these symptoms are present with no other symptoms, you may have strained or torn a ligament in your back or shoulder. If you’re wondering how that’s possible, consider this: there are two ways a rotator cuff tear typically develops. The first is usually a traumatic injury that results in a shoulder ligament being torn significantly. The second is typically repetitive throwing and lifting motions that cause the ligament to wear down and tear after some time.
Either way, patients should see their primary care physician if their pain is short-lived, but still bothersome. If the pain lasts weeks and the shoulder loses range of motion, it may be a substantial tear that requires the expertise of an orthopedic surgeon.
So, where does Tulsa Pain Consultants come in? Depending on your symptoms and initial diagnosis, you may see a pain management physician at Tulsa Pain Consultants to manage chronic pain from either progressive degeneration or scar tissue after an operation. A physician may recommend a relatively conservative treatment plan balanced with pain medication to relieve some of your discomfort.
If that doesn’t work, steroid injections may be administered to reduce inflammation and swelling of the affected ligaments and tendons, and to decrease pain. This is often the most effective form of treatment and most patients experience great results. Other therapies may also be considered to balance out the steroid injections.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a rotator cuff tear and would like to consider your pain management options, call Tulsa Pain Consultants today. Our friendly staff will listen to your concerns and develop the best form of treatment.
Tulsa Pain Consultants is a multi-location pain management practice in Oklahoma that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. We are dedicated to helping those who are suffering find the relief they deserve. Our team uses a balanced approach by incorporating minimally invasive, outpatient procedures, complementary and alternative medicine, and medication to help patients take control of their pain. Call 855-918-PAIN or click on our “Request An Appointment” tab to meet with one of our talented pain management specialists today!
The advice and information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace or counter a physician’s advice or judgment. Please always consult your physician before taking any advice learned here or in any other educational medical material.