Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder
  • Online Bill Pay
  • Complete Patient Forms
  • Request an Appointment
  • Blog
Call today for an appointment:
(410) 296-6232
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Patient Testimonials
    • Press Room
    • In the Community
    • Careers
  • Meet our Providers
    • Christopher L. Forthman, MD
    • James P. Higgins, MD
    • Peter C. Innis, M.D.
    • Kristin E. Karim, M.D.
    • Michael S. Murphy, MD
    • Keith A. Segalman, M.D.
    • Valeriy Shubinets, MD
    • Neal B. Zimmerman, MD
    • Ryan M. Zimmerman, MD
    • Our Staff
  • Our Specialties
    • Hand
    • Wrist
    • Elbow
    • Shoulder
    • Sports Medicine
    • Workers Compensation
    • Pediatric Orthopedic Care
    • Advanced Technologies
    • On-site Services
  • Resources & Links
  • Lutherville SurgiCenter
    • Surgery Center Health Survey
  • Locations
    • Lutherville
    • Bel Air
    • Clarksville
    • Pasadena
    • Westminster
  • Contact Us

Rotator Cuff Tear: Myths Debunked by a Shoulder Doctor

June 21, 2024

A rotator cuff tear is one of the most common–and talked about–upper extremity conditions. In fact, people believe many myths regarding these injuries. At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our doctors want to dispel these misconceptions, so patients get the right shoulder treatments at the right time. Let’s explore some of these myths about rotator cuff tears and what the truth really is.

Myth #1 You Must Have Shoulder Surgery to Correct a Rotator Cuff Tear

This is not necessarily true. Rotator cuff injuries vary in severity. Also, the reasons they happen differ from person to person.

Some people with tears are very debilitated from shoulder weakness, pain, and stiffness. Others notice only minor symptoms, and in fact, they may not even think of approaching orthopedic care to resolve them.

That said, if you do pursue shoulder treatment for a possible rotator cuff repair, you will undergo a complete medical evaluation with one of our expert shoulder doctors. The evaluation will include:

  • A review of your medical history
  • A physical examination
  • Discussion of your symptoms, including when and how they may have started
  • Imaging, such as X-rays, a CT scan or an MRI

With the results of this complete assessment, your shoulder doctor can diagnose your condition accurately and recommend the treatment plan that is right for you. For some people, that does mean surgery. For others, it may mean simple rest, physical therapy, and pain management.

Myth #2 If You Have a Torn Rotator Cuff, You Cannot Move Your Arm

Many people who have rotator cuff tears can move their arms, though their movement may be limited. In fact, some patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears can still move their arms without pain.

This is possible because the rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint. The rotator cuff stabilizes the joint and allows for a wide range of shoulder movements.

So, even if one or more of these muscles or tendons are torn, there may be enough function in the remaining ones to allow for some movement. However, continuing to use your arm with a torn rotator cuff can worsen the damage.

Your ability to move your arm also depends on the severity and location of the tear, as well as on your age and overall health. Your shoulder doctor will take all of these factors into consideration when determining the best treatment plan for you.

Myth #3 Recovery From a Rotator Cuff Tear Takes Months

This is not necessarily the case. In fact, many rotator cuff repairs heal quickly. Patients are able to return to their normal activities within a few weeks. However, this timeline can vary depending on the severity of the tear and the type of treatment chosen.

For smaller tears, physical therapy may be enough to strengthen the surrounding muscles and restore function to the shoulder. However, for larger or more severe tears, surgery may be necessary, which can involve a longer recovery period.

That said, today’s arthroscopic repairs feature small incisions, miniaturized tools and cameras, and advanced surgical techniques. Patients heal and rehab much faster than those who undergo traditional open surgeries on the shoulder.

Following the prescribed treatment plan and completing any recommended physical therapy exercises are keys to a timely and successful recovery. These interventions strengthen the shoulder, improve range of motion, and prevent future injuries.

Myth #4 Rotator Cuff Tears Happen Only to Athletes

While avid swimmers, basketball players, and other athletes–both professional and amateur–do tear rotator cuffs, they are not the only individuals sustaining these injuries. In fact, people who reach overhead while working as carpenters and painters often injure their shoulders as they repeatedly reach overhead to complete job tasks.

Age factors into susceptibility, too. Being 40 or older increases your odds of tearing a rotator cuff. After 60, the chances of getting this injury escalate. Older adults have more arthritic changes in their joints and have a decreased blood supply as well.

Your Shoulder Surgeon in Lutherville, MD

At Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder, our professional team includes five board-certified orthopedic specialists who focus only on conditions and injuries affecting the upper extremities. They see and treat many people for rotator cuff repairs.

Treatment plans are fully customized and suited to the patient’s age, overall health, and desired goals for pain management and recovery of function. We can help you determine what care you need for a torn rotator cuff.

So, call us for helpful consultation with one of our shoulder doctors at (410) 396-6232, or request a visit here. We have five Maryland locations to serve you: Lutherville, Clarksville, Pasadena, Westminster, and Bel Air. We look forward to speaking with you about your orthopedic and sports medicine needs.

Related posts:

Sports Medicine DoctorTreatments an Orthopedic Doctor Can Recommend for Torn Rotator Cuff rotator cuff tear Vector ImageWhat Happens If a Torn Rotator Cuff Goes Untreated? How a Rotator Cuff Repair Can Restore Function and Mobility Why Rotator Cuff Repair May Not Be Possible

Filed Under: Rotator Cuff Repair Tagged With: orthopedic surgeon near me, rotator cuff repair near me, rotator cuff tear, shoulder surgery Lutherville MD, Sports Medicine Doctor near me

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • arthritis
  • Bursitis
  • Calcific Tendonitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Dupuytren’s Contracture
  • Elbow Injury
  • Elbow Pain
  • Finger Injury
  • Finger Pain
  • ganglion cyst
  • General
  • Greater Chesapeake Hand Specialists
  • Hand Arthritis
  • Hand Conditions
  • Hand Injury
  • Hand Pain
  • Hand Surgeon
  • Hand Surgery
  • hand tingling
  • Joint Health
  • Joint Pain
  • joint’s health
  • Little League syndrome
  • Orthopedic
  • orthopedic doctors
  • orthopedic surgeon
  • Rotator Cuff Repair
  • Shoulder
  • Shoulder Pain
  • Shoulder Replacement Surgery
  • Shoulder Surgery
  • Sports Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Tendonitis
  • Tennis Elbow
  • tingling of the hand
  • Trigger Finger
  • upper extremity orthopedic
  • Wrist Pain

Tags

arthritis best sports medicine doctor near me Carpal Tunnel Surgery Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Elbow Pain Greater Chesapeake Hand Specialists Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder hand arthritis Hand doctor near me hand injury Hand Pain hand specialist Hand Surgeon Hand Surgery Joint Pain orthopedic doctor orthopedic doctor in Maryland orthopedic doctor near me orthopedics orthopedic surgeon near me Orthopedic surgeons rotator cuff repair near me rotator cuff tear shoulder conditions shoulder experts Shoulder Injuries Shoulder Pain Shoulder Replacement Surgery Shoulder replacement surgery near me shoulder surgeon Baltimore MD shoulder surgeon Clarksville MD shoulder surgeon in Maryland Shoulder surgeon near me Shoulder surgery shoulder surgery Baltimore MD shoulder surgery in Maryland shoulder surgery Lutherville MD shoulder surgery near me shoulder surgery Near You Sports Medicine Sports Medicine Doctor sports medicine doctor in Bel Air Sports Medicine Doctor near me Tendonitis Wrist Pain

Footer

Patient Education

Patient Education

Award-winning patient education materials on hundreds of orthopedic conditions at your fingertips.
Learn More
drayer
ASSH
AAOS
AAAHS
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Meet our Providers
  • Our Staff
  • Patient Testimonials
  • Press Room
  • In the Community
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Our Specialties
  • Hand
  • Wrist
  • Elbow
  • Shoulder
  • Sports Medicine
  • Workers Compensation
  • Pediatric Orthopedic Care
  • Advanced Technologies
  • On-site Services
  • Patient Information
  • Resources & Links
  • Lutherville SurgiCenter
  • Surgery Center Health Survey
  • Locations
  • Contact Us
  • Our Blog
  • Request an Appointment
  • Patient Forms
  • Bill Pay Portal
  • For Employees
  • For Physicians

LUTHERVILLE (Main office)
1400 Front Avenue, Suite 100
Lutherville, MD 21093

BEL AIR Office
12 MedStar Blvd., Suite 300
Bel Air, MD 21015

CLARKSVILLE Office
6100 Day Long Lane, Suite 203
Clarksville, MD 21029

PASADENA Office
8028 Ritchie Highway, Suite 207
Pasadena, MD 21122

WESTMINSTER Office
844 Washington Road, Suite 102
Westminster, MD 21157

Copyright © Greater Chesapeake Hand Specialists. All rights reserved

iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder has 7 locations throughout Maryland offering advanced upper extremity orthopedic care for conditions and injuries of the shoulder, arm, wrist, elbow, hand and fingers. Our orthopedic surgeons and plastic surgeons possess the sub-specialty as hand surgeons providing treatment for shoulder pain, arm pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, hand pain, sports injuries, work related injury, arthritis, hand nerve injury repair, carpal tunnel syndrome, bite injuries, wrist fractures (broken wrist), tennis elbow- lateral epicondylitis, pediatric orthopedics. Our hand surgeons also offer arthroscopy, joint replacement, on-site x-ray and are expert witnesses for court cases.

Lutherville - Main office | Bel Air | Clarksville | Pasadena | Westminster