What Can I Do About Shoulder Rotator Cuff Pain?
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Shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff tears, are common and significantly impact daily function. Reduced joint mobility and excruciating pain can keep you from doing daily activities that you love and those that are necessary. At Ospina Medical in New York City, NY, Dr. Matthew Kohler offers their patients a wide variety of pharmacological and therapeutic interventions to alleviate pain and regain shoulder joint mobility.
What makes up the shoulder rotator cuff?
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons surrounding the PRP shoulder joint, otherwise known as the glenohumeral joint. The tendons connect the following muscles to the glenohumeral joint to produce joint mobility:
- Subscapularis
- Supraspinatus
- Infraspinatus
- Teres minor
These muscles work together to offer the shoulder joint multiple planes of movement, including reaching outward, overhead, behind, and forward. These muscles also work with the rest of the muscle groups throughout the arm for lifting.
What is a rotator cuff tear?
When a tendon that is connected to the glenohumeral joint rips or is separated from the bone, this results in a rotator cuff tear. Incurring a rotator cuff tear can be extremely painful and result in the sudden loss of shoulder mobility. At Ospina Medical, Dr. Kohler can properly diagnose a rotator cuff tear after conducting a series of comprehensive exams.
What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?
Patients who have a rotator cuff tear could experience any or all the following symptoms:
- Shoulder weakness
- Pain in the shoulder while lifting the arm
- Pain when sleeping on the affected shoulder
- Reduced joint mobility in the shoulder
- Cracking or abnormal sounds when moving the shoulder
Symptoms that are left untreated can prolong or worsen the pain and limit joint mobility. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our team at Ospina Medical right away to rule out or confirm a rotator cuff tear.
What causes a rotator cuff tear?
Oftentimes, rotator cuff tears are brought on by trauma which includes falling on an outstretched arm. Repetitive use of the shoulder joint can also cause rotator cuff tears. Although rotator cuff tears can happen to anyone across the lifespan, older individuals and persons with degenerative disorders, such as osteoarthritis, are more susceptible to rotator cuff tears and shoulder injuries.
What treatments are available for a rotator cuff tear?
Minor rotator cuff injuries can be successfully treated with rest, followed by physical therapy and other strengthening exercises. Severe or non-healing rotator cuff tears need to be treated with a combination of strengthening interventions and pain management techniques.
What can I do about shoulder rotator cuff pain?
At Ospina Medical, Dr. Kohler need to fully assess a patient’s shoulder injury to determine the best course of action for pain management. Mild injuries are treated with heat and cold applications as well as over-the-counter pain or anti-inflammatory medication. For moderate to severe shoulder pain, we offer cortisone or steroid injections. Using ultrasound and/or x-ray, injections are placed around the affected tendons or within the shoulder joint to alleviate pain.
What is Regenexx?
At Ospina Medical, Dr. Kohler offer regenerative medicine treatments called Regenexx. Using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), bone marrow concentrate, and lysate, Regenexx can help with damaged shoulder tendons and help treat progressing symptoms of osteoarthritis. The results include avoiding unnecessary surgery, reduced shoulder pain, and restored shoulder joint mobility.
Learn more about treatment for a rotator cuff tear and other shoulder injuries in New York CIty
If you are living with symptoms of a rotator cuff tear or another shoulder injury and wish to reduce pain and restore joint mobility, contact our team at Ospina Medical located in New York City, NY and schedule an appointment today. Dr. Matthew Kohler can assess your symptoms, diagnose your shoulder condition, and develop the right treatment course so you can return to normal daily activities with minimal pain.