How Do I Know If I Tore My Rotator Cuff?

15 Dec How Do I Know If I Tore My Rotator Cuff?

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that surround and protect your shoulder joint and keeps the humerus secured in your shoulder socket. A rotator cuff tear can be tremendously painful and inconvenient, which is why it is crucial to address this injury early on. Our orthopedist in Roslyn NY at Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation can determine if you tore your rotator cuff and treat it with top-notch care. Continue reading to learn about the signs of a torn rotator cuff. 

How Do I Know If I Tore My Rotator Cuff?

The shoulders offer a wide range of motion, but this motion can increase the risk of issues like a torn rotator cuff. A rotator cuff tear occurs when the tendons pull away from the arm bone as a result of overuse or another injury. With partial rotator cuff tears, the tendon is still somewhat attached to the arm bone, but with a complete tear, the tendon separates completely, and there is a hole or rip in the tendon. A fall can cause a dislocated shoulder or a broken collarbone and tear the rotator cuff, but rotator cuff tears more commonly occur over time as the tendon wears down. Some of the signs of this painful injury may include:

• Pain and difficulty raising your arm. 
• Clicking or popping sensations when moving the arm. 
• Shoulder pain that worsens when resting your arm or at night. 
• Difficulty lifting items and shoulder weakness. 

Our orthopedist in Roslyn NY will perform a physical exam to check for arm strength, range of motion, shoulder tenderness and confirm a tear with imaging tests. A rotator cuff tear will get worse without treatment, and a complete tear can make it nearly impossible to move your arm. It’s crucial to seek treatment right away to avoid chronic shoulder pain. If nonsurgical methods don’t help a partial tear or you have a complete tear, surgery may be recommended to restore the full range of motion to your shoulder. 

Contact Us

If you suspect that you have torn your rotator cuff, you should not hesitate to visit our orthopedist in Roslyn NY. At Advanced Orthopedics & Joint Preservation, our team is well-versed in this area. We will craft a personalized treatment regimen to get you back to a pain-free lifestyle. Contact our office today to request an appointment!