Nonsurgical Treatment for Rotator Cuff Tears.

A person’s shoulder has a rotator cuff that is composed of four tendons

attached to the ball of the humerus which facilitates the raising and rotation

of the shoulder. These tendons also keep the ball firmly attached to the

shoulder socket amidst different ranges of motion. Due to frequent shoulder movements, the tendons can experience a slight tear or irritation depending

on the force applied to the rotator cuff. A full tear happens when the injury

causes the tendons to separate from the ball of the humerus. When this

occurs, rotator cuff treatment, either nonsurgical or surgical, is necessary.

Torn tendons are not life-threatening, but are painfully debilitating to the

point that even just putting on a coat or combing the hair becomes tasking.

The pain can range from mild to sharp that is usually focused on the surrounding areas of the injured shoulder. Sometimes, it may radiate down

to the upper arm. It gets worse at night, especially when the individual

accidentally sleeps on the affected shoulder. The swelling caused by the

natural inflammatory response of the body is the main culprit for the intense

pain. Unfortunately, the swelling is often unnoticeable in rotator cuff injuries because it occurs inside the body. Aside from this, the injured individual can

hear cracking or popping sounds when he moves his shoulder. This is the

best time to undergo treatment.

Because of the invasive nature of surgeries, they are performed only if nonsurgical rotator cuff treatment is not effective. The advantage of

nonsurgical treatments is that they avoid the major risks of a surgical

procedure such as infection, anesthesia complications, permanent stiffness,

and in rare cases, lengthy down time for recovery. But just like any other

treatments, it comes with disadvantages such as little improvement in shoulder strength and range of motion along with an increase in tendon tear.

The patient himself has a vital role to play when it comes to nonsurgical

treatments. He needs to understand that the goal of the treatment is to stop the pain and restore shoulder function. This can be done through rest and

recuperation that entails limiting activities that necessitate shoulder

movement. Doctors often require the use of a shoulder sling and intake of

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naproxen and Ibuprofen to reduce the swelling and pain.

When it is safe to move the shoulder, physical therapists will assist patients

in passive and active exercises accompanied by stretching exercises to

strengthen and improve flexibility. This will prevent future shoulder injuries. If all of these do not relieve the pain, doctors will administer a steroid

injection, specifically local anesthetic and Cortisone, which is effective in

combating inflammation.

Nonsurgical rotator cuff treatment does not in any way repair the tendon

tear. What it does is strengthen the surrounding muscles and alleviate the

pain in order for the individual to resume his normal activities. This is

acceptable because there are many cases where the torn tendon has never been repaired but the person is able to go through his normal routine

without difficulty.