Rotator Cuff Pain

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help to stabilize the shoulder. When these muscles and tendons get damaged, rotator cuff pain occurs. Most of these tears happen to men and usually occur in men over 40. Many times a tear is indicated by a popping sound or a tearing sensation in the shoulder.

Rotator cuff pain usually starts when there is a lot of repetitive motion, overhead motion or forceful pulling motion. Athletes are especially susceptible to this injury. The athletes that are usually affected are pitchers, quarterbacks and volleyball players – anyone who is performing a function that causes them to reach over their head or use a throwing motion. However, these tears can also occur from a fall…

The symptoms of rotator cuff pain are -

• decreased range of motion
• inability to lay on the arm or shoulder that is affected
• sleeplessness due to pain at night
• weakness in the arm or shoulder
• difficulty getting dressed due to the pain in the shoulder
• pain when reaching overhead or behind the back
• pain with throwing
• a dull ache in the arm

The pain is usually in the front of the shoulder and many times will radiate down the side of the arm.

The front of the shoulder is painful and the pain radiates down the side of the arm.

The different degrees of rotator cuff pain are -

• mild pain – rest usually takes care of the painful
• moderate pain – rest helps, but medication is required to relieve the pain
• severe pain – The pain is continuous, without relief

Rotator cuff pain can usually be relieved with rest. Sometimes a sling is used. Anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin or ibuprofen, steroid injections and physical therapy are also methods that are used. When none of these methods work, sometimes surgery is indicated, which is usually followed by resting the arm while it heals. That is usually followed up with therapy.

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