If your shoulder pain stays the same for more than a few days or gets more severe seek
medical attention.
POTENTIAL CAUSES/ RISKS
There are several things that can cause rotator cuff injuries
Falling – Using your arm(s) to brace yourself when going to the ground (baseball).
Repetitive Stress – Overhead movements (baseball) over and over can stress your
muscles and tendons which can cause inflammation which can eventually cause a tear.
Bone Spurs – An overgrowth of bone on part of the shoulder blade can develop and
grow down over the rotator cuff. This extra bone growth in that area can begin to rub
against the tendons or muscles and irritate and damage them.
Most people would think immobilizing the affected arm/ shoulder would help it heal. But that’s
not quite the case - even though resting your shoulder in part of recovery. By completely
immobilizing your arm, it might cause the connective tissue to encase the joint area and
thicken – therefore tightening which will cause a “frozen shoulder”.
PREPARING GOING TO THE DOCTORS
Most people will go to their family doctor. Then if the injury is more severe, might refer you
to an orthopedic surgeon. To make things go easier at the appointment, make a list and
answer the following questions (from the Mayo Clinic):
When did you first begin to experience shoulder pain?
What movements or activities worsen the shoulder pain?
Have you ever injured your shoulder before?
Do you have any other symptoms in addition to the shoulder pain?
Does the pain travel down your elbow or associated with any neck pain?
How severe is the pain?
Is there any weakness or numbness in your arm?
AT THE APPOINMENT
The doctor will press different parts of the shoulder and move your arm into different
positions. Along with that, they will also test the strength of the muscles in the affected
shoulder and arm which includes pushing and pulling. Depending upon the initial exam, they
might recommend a few simple tests. They include x-rays, an ultra sound or an MRI.
POTENTIAL TREATMENT OPTIONS
Depending upon the severity of the injury, there are several treatment options that may be
prescribed. For rotator cuff impingement and inflamed bursa, conservative treatments such as
rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy may be prescribed. They might
also suggest a steroid injection into the shoulder joint. If symptoms do not get better, surgery
may be required. For a more severe injury such as a rotator cuff tear, surgery is required.
Unfortunately, rotator cuff tears are unable to heal themselves. Once injured, they only get
worse over time. Bone spurs also require surgery.