Torn rotator cuff treatment involves appropriate management of pain as the condition can impose discomfort and painful symptoms in patients with rotator cuff injury.
Pain management of a shoulder muscle injury consists of conservative and surgical approaches.
With a limited range of motion on the shoulder because of the painful condition, it can significantly affect the quality of daily living of a shoulder muscle injury patient.
Injury to the Rotator Cuff Muscles The shoulder is protected by a set of muscles called the rotator cuff.
These muscles are the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor that mainly stabilize the shoulder along its joint.
This group of muscles is significant in protecting the shoulder during lifting and arm rotation.
They provide dynamic stability of the shoulder and any injury to the rotator group of shoulder muscles result to shoulder pain, instability and restricted range of motion.
The injury may occur during muscle overuse when doing repetitive overhead motion of the shoulder joint.
Traumatic injury of the shoulder may result in muscle tear on any or all of the rotator group of muscles that result in excruciating pain, immobilization of the shoulder and the limited range of shoulder movement.
Conservative Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment Conservative treatment approach to the torn shoulder muscle usually involves the intake of pain medications such as paracetamol and ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medications.
The application of ice is a good torn rotator cuff treatment that could settle down the inflammation in the affected area.
In acute condition, rest is important as any movement in the shoulder could cause sudden flare up of the painful symptoms.
Cortisone injection is an effective way of relieving acute inflammation of the torn muscle group and helps to reduce pain.
The injection can be a complementary treatment when performing shoulder exercises to relieve pain and reduce shoulder inflammation.
Physical therapy is another conservative form of a torn rotator cuff treatment consisting of strengthening exercises to the shoulder muscles, ultrasound treatment and electric stimulation.
Surgical Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment Approach When a torn shoulder muscle does not respond well to non-surgical treatment, surgical approach is the next option to consider.
When there is a significant loss of shoulder movement and function with shoulder muscle weakness, a person with a shoulder muscle tear may suffer from the disability to carry out his activities of daily living.
The aim of a surgical torn rotator cuff treatment is to restore shoulder functionality and strength, eliminate pain, and to repair muscle tears.
Arthroscopy is a common surgical treatment carried out by making a small incision, usually less than a centimeter, along the affected muscle area to repair the torn tendons.
When the incision made is larger the approach is already an open surgery and the procedure involves the removal of the unhealthy tendon and then re-attaching the healthy ones to the bone in order to alleviate the discomfort and pain present.
Three months post surgery physical therapy may then be carried out in order to restore muscle functions and strengths.
Pain is one of the discomforts resulting from a shoulder muscle injury.
There are different torn rotator cuff treatment approaches in the management of pain to restore muscle function and strength.