Rotator cuff injuries are some of the most common injuries in sports medicine. This joint is inherently dynamic and vulnerable to instability, especially given the stresses we place on it in a variety of activities.

Tearing, trauma, overuse and stress can all lead to the agony of rotator cuff pain. As the tendons rip or strain, the pain can spread across the shoulder and down your arm, preventing you from doing simple things like eating and typing.

Treatments for rotator cuff injuries can range from rest and therapy to steroid injections and surgery, including both arthroscopic and open shoulder surgery. One recent innovation, interscalene block, may be indicated as well:

A technique called interscalene block is often used to manage pain both during and after surgery. Prior to surgery, numbing medication is delivered through a catheter to the group of nerves that control movement and sensation in the upper extremities, allowing for lighter anesthesia during the operation. Continued for a couple days after surgery, it also helps patients through the worst cycle of post-surgical pain, decreasing or eliminating the need for narcotic painkillers.

The only way to determine which kind of rotator cuff injury you have is to visit a San Diego orthopedist and get a full workup. Your shoulder pain doctor will ask about work and play history, as well as any injuries and family history of that could predispose you to this sort of pain.

Get started by contacting AOSM here today.

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