Rotator cuff injuries are common. According to WebMD, these often occur when you are doing routine actions. For instance, you may reach for something off a high shelf and tear your rotator cuff. Your rotator cuff includes muscles and tendons that keep the ball of your upper-arm inside your shoulder socket.
If you suffer a rotator cuff injury, what are your treatment options? According to MayoClinic, there are invasive and noninvasive options for treatment. It all depends on the severity of your injury and your improvement through other forms of treatment. The following are common rotator cuff treatments.
Physical therapy
When you suffer a rotator cuff injury, the first treatment available to you will be physical therapy. Physical therapy involves exercises tailored to restore flexibility to your shoulder, along with strength. Even if you must go forward with surgery, physical therapy will often be a treatment that you follow up with.
Steroid injections
When other treatment options do not address your pain, then you may need a steroid injection. Steroid injections offer pain relief! For patients who cannot sleep or take part in physical therapy due to pain may need an injection. These are temporary fixes to pain.
Surgery options
Surgery tends to be one of the last resorts when it comes to a rotator cuff injury, but it is still relatively common. The types of surgery that you may have available to you include:
- Shoulder replacement surgery
- Tendon transfer surgery
- Open tendon repair surgery
- Arthroscopic tendon repair surgery
Surgery can help alleviate pain and return movement to your rotator cuff.
