Rotator Cuff Repair: What to Know & Expect
Damaging your rotator cuff can be incredibly painful and limiting. Not only is it a serious issue, leaving it untreated can lead to other complications and serious problems. Sun City Orthopaedics offers rotator cuff repair and other treatments that can help you feel better in no time. Here’s what you need to know about the repair process and what you can do to prepare for it.
What is a Rotator Cuff?
Your rotator cuff is a set of four muscles and tendons located in your shoulder. It provides stability and movement while helping your shoulder joint to function properly as well. While the rotator cuff plays a vital role in our bodies, it’s unfortunately prone to injuries.
Common Ways a Rotator Cuff is Injured
As we age, the tendons in our rotator cuffs become weaker and weaker, which makes them even more prone to tears and injuries. Some of the most common rotator cuff injuries include:
- Age-related injuries
- Lifting heavy items improperly
- Poor blood circulation
- Falling onto an outstretched arm
- Dislocating your shoulder
- Degenerative tears from using your arm frequently (typically happens to the dominant arm)
- Car accidents
- Sports injuries
Because our rotator cuffs can be damaged easily, there are many ways we can tear the tendons in the area. Always exercise care and caution when lifting heavy items, jumping, and stretching.
What to Expect During Rotator Cuff Repair
Minor rotator cuff tears may sometimes be treated without the need for surgery. Steroid injections, certain stretches, and exercises, as well as medication and other forms of rehabilitation can all be used to help ease pain and return function to the area. If you fail this treatment or your tear is causing significant disability, you will most likely need surgery in order to repair your rotator cuff. Arthroscopic surgery is one common way to do so surgically.
What is Arthroscopic Surgery of the Shoulder?
Arthroscopic surgery uses a camera, called an arthroscope, to view the tendons that need to be repaired. The camera is inserted via a small incision in the skin. Your tendons are then repaired and reattached to the bone via sutures. While this all sounds a bit scary and complicated, with a great doctor such as those at Sun City Orthopaedics, you won’t have to worry.
Call Sun City Orthopaedic Today!
If you think you might have a rotator cuff injury that needs to be repaired, schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible. We’ll help you feel brand new again in no time!