3 Treatment Methods For Coping With A Rotator Cuff Injury

Your rotator cuff is composed of a group of muscles along your shoulder blade that have tendons attaching them to your upper arm. If it weren't for these tendons and muscles working together, you wouldn't be able to rotate or lift your arm. They also keep your upper arm in the socket. Unfortunately, the tendons in your rotator cuff can end up tearing. Regardless of whether it be a complete tear or a partial tear, these injuries can be quite painful and debilitating. If you were recently diagnosed as having a rotator cuff injury, there are a few things you can try to get back on your feet again.

Medication

In the event you didn't tear your tendons all the way, you might just need some mild medication to help you deal with the pain while the area heals. Something like an anti-inflammatory often works well. The key is minimizing the pain in the shoulder while reducing the inflammation to help your tendon heal quickly.

Physical therapy

Another thing to look into might be physical therapy. You will go see the professional a few times per week. At your visits, they will take you through a number of different stretches and exercises that are aimed at strengthening the muscles in your shoulder. Not only will you perform the movements in their facility, but you should also continue doing them at home.

By strengthening the muscles, you can help minimize the chance of the same injury occurring again down the line. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully to prevent aggravating the area. You can take an anti-inflammatory when done to help minimize the swelling and relieve some of the pain.

Surgery

In the event you did tear the tendon completely, you might have no other option than to look into surgery. The surgeon will need to get your tendons back together so they can properly heal. Otherwise, you are going to be left with a lot of pain and discomfort. Surgery is typically the go-to option when physical therapy didn't do enough to improve the problem. The surgeon can discuss the different types of surgery available to you and help you make an informed decision about which one is going to work for you.

If you recently injured your shoulder from playing sports or just overusing it, you need to get it checked out at a place like Interior Alaska Orthopedic & Sports Medicine to determine the extent of your injuries and what needs to be done about it.

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