Rotator Cuff Tear - Signs You Must Not Ignore

Updated on 4 December 2019

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One of the main reasons why people experience shoulder pain quite regularly is rotator cuff tear. Resulting from normal wear and tear, rotator cuff injury affects the rotator cuff (a group of tendons surrounding the shoulder) and causes continuous throbbing pain in the shoulder. The pain intensifies as and when the shoulder joint is compromised. This can happen in a variety of ways. For instance, if you are sleeping on the side of the shoulder which is injured, the pain may acutely intensify. Medical assistance is required in such scenarios. Medical experts at the best hospitals for shoulder surgeries worldwide suggest people suffering from rotator cuff tear to seek medical advice as early as possible. In other words, the rotator cuff tear treatment must not be delayed at any cost.

People who are regularly involved in jobs that require continuous overhead movements are at higher risk of getting their rotator cuff injured. Some of these jobs are painting, carpentry, and of course, sports activities. At first, physical therapy is recommended for patients with rotator cuff tears. It improves the symptoms considerably. In case, physiotherapy doesn’t help, other measures are carried out.

Types of Rotator Cuff Tear

The following are the basic types of rotator cuff tear:

Partial tear: Also known as an incomplete tear, it slightly injures the tendon.
Full tear: Also known as a complete tear, a full rotator cuff tear results in the disjointing of the tendon completely.

Rotator Cuff Tear - Signs You Must Not Ignore

Check for the following signs and rotator cuff tear symptoms to confirm that you are suffering from a rotator cuff tear:

If your left shoulder is injured and you sleep on the same side (by habit or mistake), excruciating shoulder pain will resurface which may be due to the rotator cuff tear.
If you feel pain in your shoulder while lifting heavy weights or making specific movements, you might be suffering from rotator cuff tears.
If you are feeling weak in your arms while moving your shoulders, a rotator cuff tear may have happened.
If you are struggling while performing your daily life activities like combing your hair or anything else that necessitates the movement of your shoulders and arms, a rotator cuff tear may be a possibility.

During the initial stages of rotator cuff injury, you experience mild pain that too when you are making specific arm/shoulder movements. This mild pain can be relieved using painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen. If the pain starts worsening, you must book an appointment with a specialist at one of the best hospital for shoulder surgery in Hyderabad or wherever you reside.