If the cartilage in your knee is damaged due to injury or deterioration, you might wonder what your treatment options are. An osteochondral allograft transplant is an option that could help you avoid a more invasive knee replacement surgery.
The shoulder is a complex joint, which allows it incredible range of motion and function. But that complexity also makes your shoulder vulnerable to injury. Rotator cuff tears are common, with almost 2 million Americans suffering one each year.
If you start to have notable pain when combing your hair, getting dressed, or throwing a ball, you may suspect a rotator cuff tear. You should seek evaluation with Otis R. Drew, MD, as promptly as possible for early treatment, which can help you heal with conservative measures and potentially avoid surgery.
Your rotator cuff is what keeps your arm in the shoulder socket. The cuff is actually a group of four muscles that merge into tendons to form a cap around the head of your arm bone. A functioning rotator cuff makes it possible for you to raise and rotate your arm.
Symptoms may come on gradually and first appear as a dull, nagging ache. When you lie on the affected shoulder, it may be particularly noticeable. Rotator cuff tears may also make it painful to lift your arm up overhead, such as when doing shoulder presses or placing groceries away on a top shelf. Often, you notice weakness in your arm.
Anyone at any age can tear a rotator cuff, but as you pass age 40, you’re at greater risk. Older soft tissue has less integrity and is more vulnerable to injury.
Repetitive shoulder movements, such as pitching in softball or swinging a racket in tennis, put you at risk. So do repetitive work tasks such as painting or carpentry.
Certain people may have a genetic tendency toward rotator cuff injury, so if someone in your family has a torn rotator and you have some of the symptoms, you might suspect you have one, too.
In less common instances, trauma can cause a tear. If you experience and accident or fall and have shoulder pain as a result, visit Dr. Drew’s Lafayette, Louisiana, office for evaluation.
If you have a suspicion that you have a rotator tear, don’t hesitate to call our office or schedule an appointment online. Early treatment prevents your symptoms from getting worse and can get you back to doing your daily tasks more quickly.
When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Drew reviews your symptoms and medical history and checks your shoulder for tenderness and deformity. You’ll be asked to move your arm in several different directions to gauge your range of motion and have your arm strength tested. Dr. Drew may order imaging tests.
If you do have a rotator cuff tear, treatment depends on the type of tear and your goals. Conservative treatments such as rest and immobilization, anti-inflammatory medications, steroid injections, and physical therapy can effectively relieve pain in 80% of cases.
For those with full tears or who cannot find relief and return to function with conservative treatments, surgery may be required. Dr. Drew explains all of your treatment options so you can make an informed decision.
You Might Also Enjoy...
If the cartilage in your knee is damaged due to injury or deterioration, you might wonder what your treatment options are. An osteochondral allograft transplant is an option that could help you avoid a more invasive knee replacement surgery.
ACL tears are one of the most common sports injuries worldwide. If you’ve torn your ACL, you know it’s one of the most painful, too. What you may not know is what to do after you injure your ACL. Should you get surgery, or will physical therapy suffice?
If you’re suffering from chronic instability in your shoulder, and conservative treatments have failed, surgery may be your best option. But which type of stabilization surgery is best for your situation? It depends.
When the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis hits your knees, your quality of life suffers. There are a wide range of treatment options, however, that offer you a chance at restored mobility and pain-free living.
If you suffer from shoulder dislocations, you may have what’s known as chronic shoulder instability. Repeated shoulder dislocations can put your shoulder at risk for permanent damage, and seeking proper treatment early is critical.
If you're struggling with severe pain and loss of movement in your shoulder, arthritis might not be the only thing to blame. We look at how a rotator cuff tear can turn into rotator cuff arthroplasty, and we look at how the condition can be treated.