Has anyone suffered a torn rotator cuff? A few weeks ago I tore mine whilst playing a game of football. I took a lot of Vitamin M (Motrin) and iced it. However the pain was enough to warrant a visit to the doctor.
Fast forward to today and my shoulder movement still feels impinged and the joint “pops” occasionally now. What are the best treatment options for this injury?
You need to see an orthopod/sports med doc. If it is really torn, you can really screw yourself up without a proper diagnosis (MRI and clinical exam) and treatment plan (PT, steroids/NSAIDs, surgery…many options). If you can’t see a doc, ice, motrin, don’t use your shoulder/limit range of motion, and baby it. Best treatment? Really torn? Surgery.
Not sure how you diagnosed the tear without proper examination and MRI, but if you think you tore it, see a doc asap would be my advice.
Both chuckman and Will Brink gave you solid advice.
To reiterate see a doc.
It usually goes in a sequence like this:
#4 and 5 are sometimes reversed depending on the clinical picture
Depending on many factors such as your age, the mechanism of injury, prior shoulder injuries, co-morbidities such as diabetes or even the use of certain meds can influence the medical decision algorithm.
Just to give you a little sense of the myriad of diagnostic possibilities:
Muscle strain
Torn Labrum
AC separation
Tendonitis, torn tendon
Bursitis
Impingment, usually subacromial
Instability of the “ball”
Adhesive Capsulitis aka frozen shoulder
etc…etc…
Listen to Will and chuckman…See a Doc.
I hope everything turns out well for you! Good luck and Be Well!
I tore mine in high school wrestling, I was on tabs and did physical training, good as new now
Did you fall on you shoulder or upper arm? If so, this is more likely to be a AC joint sprain rather than a rotator cuff tear. This is a very common injury in football/wrestling, and fortunately heals without surgery in the vast majority of cases. I’ve suffered significant AC joint injuries to both arms (including a grade 3 separation to my right AC joint) and recovered 95% of my strength without surgery each time. It took 6 months before I could bench press.
Most complete rotator cuff tears come from chronic overuse that results in fraying of the supraspinatus tendon rather than a single event tearing a healthy tendon. Thus, people generally have shoulder problems for a period of time before the tendon finally tears and they loose all ability to abduct beyond 90 degrees. When single events do cause rotator cuff tears, it is often something big that results in other shoulder injuries such as a dislocation. Unfortunately, a complete tear means surgery, and partial tears may require an operation in people who need strong overhead function for their daily activities.
Yes, I fell on my arm and actually heard a cracking noise come from my shoulder as I landed. It could very well have been the AC joint as you’ve suggested. I tried to test my range of motion by putting the injured arm behind my back and then slowly move my hand upwards. I can only move it up an inch or two before feeling the impingement and pain in my shoulder.
As was mentioned MRI is first step to diagnose extent of injuries. Then there is a triage / battery of tests w/ specificity of complex tendons / ligaments / muscles that are all concatenated & facilitate proper ROM & mobility of that joint etc.
“RICE” (Rest, Ice, Compression & Elevation).
Deep Tissue sometimes works (as it did for me when I was competing & fighting at a very high level several years ago) provided the assessment reveals & extent of injury is not that severe.
Anti-inflamatory’s (Ibuprofen et al etc.) are proahplaxis’s to reduce inflammation & generally work for a period of time until body develops a resistance tolerance threshold. Alternate them will help somewhat but generally pain management & prevent future damage / impingement’s of that joint etc.
Surgery is a LAST resort as often scar tissue & invasiveness render that joint no improvement or worst damage. I have seen it happen to World Class Athletes etc.
Hope that helps some