Repairing Guides

how to repair a damaged rotator cuff

by Marc Sipes Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff most often involves re-attaching the tendon to the head of the humerus (upper arm bone). A partial tear, however, may need only a trimming or smoothing procedure called a debridement. A complete tear is repaired by stitching the tendon back to its original site on the humerus.

Medication

When To Return To Work?

  • Some people who have had rotator cuff surgery and work at desk jobs can return to their old jobs within a week or two.
  • Others may need to wait 3 to 6 months depending on the type of job and the demands of the job (lifting, heavier lifting)
  • Others have to find a new line of work as a result of having rotator cuff surgery. ...

Procedures

Top 7 Natural Remedies For A Rotator Cuff Tear

  • Problem number one, you’ve got to get that inflammation under control by using ice and heat. ...
  • Number two, this is a rarely implemented thing that I think has massive benefits is go get yourself a shoulder sling. ...
  • Tip number three easy rotation. ...
  • Number four, a shrugging exercise makes a world of a difference. ...
  • Tip number five, pulley exercises. ...

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Therapy

Sadly, a rotator cuff tear cannot heal on its own. This is true for any tear, from minor to a complete one. See, rotator cuff tears happen on the enthesis of our upper arm bone. This is the transition zone between your tendon and bone. Unfortunately, this area has a poor blood supply, making it harder for repairing cells to reach the tendon. ( 2)

Self-care

  • Shoulder and/or spinal adjustments to relieve nerve pain and pressure.
  • Chiropractic massage for pain and stress relief and to promote healing.
  • Ultrasound to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.
  • Cold laser therapy for pain relief and inflammation reduction.
  • Specific exercises to strengthen the shoulder and get you back to normal.

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Nutrition

What to expect after your rotator cuff repair?

How to heal a rotator cuff naturally?

Can a torn rotator cuff heal on its own?

What happens if a torn rotator cuff goes untreated?

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Can a torn rotator cuff heal on its own?

Rotator cuff tears do not heal on their own without surgery, but many patients can improve functionally and decrease pain with nonsurgical treatment by strengthening their shoulder muscles.

What is the best treatment for rotator cuff injury?

Conservative treatments — such as rest, ice and physical therapy — sometimes are all that's needed to recover from a rotator cuff injury. If your injury is severe, you might need surgery.

How long does it take for a torn rotator cuff to heal without surgery?

Usually, mild rotator cuff tears or sprains will heal within four weeks. In other severe cases, the recovery might take 4 to 6 months or even longer based on several factors such as the severity of the tear, age, and other health complications.

How long does it take for a rotator cuff in your shoulder to heal?

It takes six to eight weeks for the tendon to heal to the bone. Complete recovery time varies by size of the tear. For a small tears, full recovery time is about four months, for large tears, six months. For severe, massive tears, a complete recovery can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months.

How can you tell the difference between a strained rotator cuff and a torn rotator cuff?

For starters, both have similar symptoms like pain, swelling, and stiffness. With a tear, the arm can barely move overhead. Tendinopathy tends to happen over months, even years, of overuse. Tears, however, are sharp pains that generally occur after a sports collision or accident.

What happens if you don't fix a torn rotator cuff?

Without any treatment—either rest and rehabilitation or surgery—rotator cuff disorders may get worse. Over time, you may have more pain. You may lose range of motion and strength in your shoulder, making it harder to do your daily activities.

Is there an alternative to rotator cuff surgery?

Rotator cuff tears are treated without surgery in these ways: Undergoing physical or occupational therapy. A skilled therapist assists you with a variety of exercises and stretches to strengthen your shoulder muscles. Taking oral medicines.

Will a cortisone shot help a torn rotator cuff?

Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory that can be injected into the shoulder area to help treat a variety of shoulder conditions, including tendinitis, bursitis, rotator cuff impingement or tear, frozen shoulder, and degenerative or inflammatory arthritis.

Can you wait too long for rotator cuff surgery?

Delaying surgery for 12 months or more after a rotator cuff tear diagnosis is associated with almost twice the odds of needing a subsequent revision surgery compared to having surgery between six weeks and one year after diagnosis, according to a retrospective study of records from thousands of patients across the ...

How do you treat a torn rotator cuff without surgery?

Immobilization: A sling may be prescribed to help protect your shoulder and keep it still, giving the injury the time it needs to heal. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce swelling and thus help resolve the pain that some patients experience.

How do I know if I have damaged my rotator cuff?

What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?Recurrent pain, especially with certain activities.Pain that prevents you from sleeping on your injured side.Grating or cracking sounds when moving your arm.Limited ability to move your arm.Muscle weakness.

Is heat good for rotator cuff pain?

If you have a rotator cuff injury then you can simply treat it using a heating pad given that it is not a torn muscle. How does it work? When heat is applied to an injured cuff rotator, it increases the blood flow to the tissue. This, as a result, eases down the inflammation and speeds up the healing process.

How can I treat rotator cuff pain at home?

Treatments include:Over-the-counter medicine. Anti-inflammatory pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can help ease your shoulder ache.Rest. You'll need to stop any physical activity that causes or adds to your shoulder pain.Ice. A cold pack can help reduce swelling and pain. ... Heat. ... Stretching.

What is better for rotator cuff pain ice or heat?

Shoulder injuries take time to heal, even if the rotator cuff isn't torn. You may wonder: Is ice or heat better for the rotator cuff? We recommend using anti-inflammatories and ice.

Do rotator cuff injuries get worse over time?

Rotator cuff tendon tears often cause pain at night. The pain may even wake you. During the day, the pain is more tolerable, and usually only hurts with certain movements, such as overhead or reaching toward the back. Over time, the symptoms become much worse, and are not relieved by medicines, rest, or exercise.

Diagnosis

Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Medically reviewed by
Dr. Shreenidhi Kulkarni
Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Resting injured shoulder, using heat or cold bags, and exercise therapy is advised in most cases. Medications and surgery may be recommended to treat severely damaged muscles or tendons.
Medication

Analgesics: To relieve pain.

Ibuprofen . Acetaminophen


Corticosteroids: Injected into the shoulder joint to reduce severe pain. Usually given if in severe pain.

Cortisone

Procedures

Arthroscopy: A tiny instrument with camera (arthroscope) and other tools are used to reattach torn tendons. Usually done if medications and therapy does not reduce the symptoms.

Open tendon repair: Shoulder joint is opened to reattach the tendon to bone.

Tendon transfer: Severely damaged tendons are replaced by tendons from other parts of the body.

Shoulder replacement: Severely damaged shoulder joint is replaced by artificial joints.

Bone spur removal: Overgrown bone is removed. Commonly done if bone spur is detected.

Therapy

Physical therapy:It includes exercises to improve flexibility and strengthening of the muscles.

Self-care

Always talk to your provider before starting anything.

  • Rest the injured shoulder.
  • Apply ice or heat to reduce pain.
  • Follow the recommended exercise regime.

Nutrition

Foods to eat:

  • Anti-inflammatory foods: e.g. cold water fish such as salmon, small tuna, herring, anchovies, freshly ground flax seeds, walnuts, fortified eggs, and leafy green vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • Foods containing trans fatty acids and animal proteins: e.g. dairy, eggs, pork, beef, and poultry

Specialist to consult

Orthopedist
Specializes in the prevention and correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.
Orthopedic surgeon
Specializes in the surgery of bone and joint disorders.

Preparing For Your Appointment

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