Rotator Cuff Tendonitis and Tears
- There are many names for the same problem: rotator cuff tendonitis, bursitis, impingement syndrome, painful arc syndrome are essentially the same thing.
- The rotator cuff tendon can tear suddenly, like from a fall, or gradually wear out like the sole of a shoe.
- General Info:
- Shoulder Impingement–info from AAOS
- Rotator Cuff Tears–info from AAOS
- General Info:
- Dr. Siegrist’s standard approach for patient’s with shoulder pain:
- Initial consultation:
- Your history, examination, XRay
- Educating you about the problem, how you can correct it
- Exercises–on your own, or at Physical Therapy
- Medications–OTC or prescription
- Cortisone shot–if the pain is keeping you up at night or away from work
- Follow up visit, 3-4 weeks later:
- Are you better? If so, continue the exercises! Follow-up as needed.
- If not:
- Go to PT if home exercises didn’t help
- or, Order MRI to plan for surgery
- Initial consultation:
- Surgery: If pain/weakness limits your function despite treatment so far
- Arthroscopic surgery to remove the bone-spur/bursitis:
- If no rotator cuff tear on the MRI
- If you’re not on blood-thinners and don’t have bad heart disease
- If your shoulder is not-too-large
- Shoulder Arthroscopy Slideshow from NIH
- What to Expect: Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Postop Instructions: Shoulder Arthroscopy
- 2-6 weeks after Shoulder Arthroscopy
- 6+ weeks after Shoulder Arthroscopy
- “Open” surgery to remove the bone spur (and repair a torn rotator cuff)
- If the MRI shows your cuff is torn (Dr. Siegrist does not repair cuff tears arthroscopically)
- If you’re on blood-thinners, or have significant other medical problems (“Open” surgery takes about half as much time as a “scope”).
- If your shoulder is too large for the ‘scope instruments.
- What to Expect: Rotator Cuff Surgery
- Postop Instructions: Rotator Cuff Surgery
- 2-6 weeks after Rotator Cuff Surgery
- 6+ Weeks after Rotator Cuff Surgery
- Exercises after Shoulder Surgery
- Arthroscopic surgery to remove the bone-spur/bursitis: