Every year close to 2 million Americans see a doctor for a rotator cuff tear. The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. This connective tissue holds the arm in place and allows for a wide range of movements. Typically, the most common type of injury to the rotator cuff is either a partial or a complete tear.
Rotator cuff injuries can happen over time. They are common in sports, such as baseball or tennis, or professions such as painting, which require repetitive shoulder movements. Rotator cuff tears can also result suddenly from a fall, or lifting something heavy.
Common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:
- Dull ache or pain in the shoulder
- Trouble raising the arm
- Numbness or tingling sensations in the shoulder, arm, or even fingers
- Pain when reaching overhead or behind the back
- Loss of strength/weakness
- Shoulder pain that comes and goes
- Limited mobility
- Disturbed sleep, or not being able to sleep on the side where the injury is located
- Cracking or popping sound when moving arm
It must be noted that some rotator cuff injuries may not cause pain.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important that you see a doctor to confirm a diagnosis. Call our office to schedule an appointment today!
Dr. Ramesh Chandra has been practicing orthopaedic surgery in the Washington DC Metropolitan area since 1984. The Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine is easily accessed from anywhere in the Washington DC metropolitan area, with offices located in Falls Church, Reston/Herndon, and Tysons Corner.
