Shoulder Rotator Cuff Tendonitis/Tears

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
• 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
• 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