Signs That You May Have A Torn Rotator Cuff

We all use our shoulders all the time. They help us to rotate our arms, bend them backwards and forward and even rotate them in a circle. The main muscle group which is responsible for providing this wide range of motion is the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff comprises of four muscles namely the Subscapularis, Teres Minor, Infraspinatus and the Supraspinatus. These muscles help in keeping this joint which comprises of a ball and a socket in place. Many a times these muscles may get injured or strained due to overuse, fall, excess weight training and other such activities. This causes the tearing of the rotator cuff which is one of the most painful conditions. If left unchecked, the problem can result in an irreversible injury. Therefore recognizing torn rotator cuff symptoms is the best way to prevent further damage.

Pain is usually a good indicator that you’ve injured your rotator cuff, and when that pain is toward the top and back of the shoulder or radiating down the entire arm, it usually indicates a more serious injury. This pain usually increases with movement such as lifting or swinging the arm-and it can even be problematic when you try to sleep because pressure on the area also results in pain. When pain killers and other common remedies can’t bring you relief, you may begin to suspect a torn rotator cuff.

Weakness will also accompany such an injury. You will start to lose strength in your arms-even for doing routine tasks like brushing your hair or getting dressed. That shoulder pain, combined with weakness in the arms, is a classic symptom of a torn rotator cuff.

If you hear noises when trying to move or rotate your arm, that’s another clear sign that something is seriously amiss. Popping, cracking, or grating sounds when using your arm or lifting and lowering your arm are not normal. Usually this is an indication of a torn rotator cuff.

The problem with many rotator cuff injuries is that they start out rather small as a negligible pain that goes unnoticed. Then it worsens with additional strain and overuse. Then, if you fall or sustain a different type of injury, you often feel the full force of the pain, weakening, and noises all at once. A torn rotator cuff can come on slowly or suddenly.

With age, most joints and muscles weaken. That’s why older adults tend to experience more rotator cuff injuries than younger people. After years of strain and excessive use, the muscles injure, strain, and tear easier than before. Sometimes the pain comes on so gradually and is addressed with over the counter pain medication that it is not until the pain becomes severe that the individual realizes the extent of the injury.

It’s important to treat a rotator cuff injury in its infancy-before it gets worse. Your doctor can help determine whether you have a torn rotator cuff and how to best treat it. Exercises and medications are just some of the options he will explore with you.

Tom Nicholson spends his time helping carpal tunnel sufferers. You can follow this link to learn more regarding having asore wrist.

Originally posted 2009-12-01 05:26:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter