Millions of people each and every year experience problems with their rotator cuffs, from partial tears to full-thickness tears that can make it difficult for you to complete everyday tasks. Of course, this means that countless individuals seek treatment with top shoulder surgeons to alleviate the pain and discomfort that rotator cuff tears can cause, especially if you have sustained a large injury.
However, are you familiar with your treatment options should you experience this issue? You might be surprised to learn that there is more than one treatment method available with Los Angeles orthopedic surgeons.
Nonsurgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Tears
For those who want to avoid a lengthy recovery time or other complications associated with surgery, nonsurgical treatments to fix rotator cuff tears are available, though not recommended for those with severe, large tears. However, some treatment options that you might want to explore include:
- Limiting Activities – Rest and limiting your daily activities are some of the best nonsurgical ways in which you can fix your rotator cuff. While not everyone experiences extensive relief, it still has the potential to help reduce pain.
- Physical Therapy – Working with a physical therapist gives you access to the correct exercises to restore movement in your shoulder, helping to build strength that can help prevent future injuries
from occurring.
- Steroid Injections – Cortisone can be extremely effective at relieving pain, especially when physical therapy and rest aren’t helping.
- Stem Cell Therapy – These injections may be able to assist in repair of smaller tears.
Surgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Tears
While surgical options are sometimes a last resort for those who would like to first explore nonsurgical methods, others who depend upon the use of their upper body for work or have suffered a large tear often go straight for a surgical treatment method. Various surgical procedures to consider include:
- Open Repair – If you have suffered a large rotator cuff tear, open repair is the surgical procedure that you will need. During this procedure, your surgeon will detach the shoulder muscle to view your torn tendon. While this might seem invasive, it is often required when the scope of your injury is quite large.
- All-Arthroscopic Repair – This option is much less invasive than the first, involving a smaller incision and miniature surgical instruments. If your injury is acute in size, this is typically a better option for you.
- Mini-Open Repair – By avoiding the need to detach your should muscle, this method is also far less invasive, however large injuries don’t allow you to consider this method. Minor issues to repair your tendon can be used with this option however.
Fixing Large Rotator Cuff Tears Often Involves Invasive Procedures
If you’ve suffered a large rotator cuff tear, open repair is generally your only option. Although it is invasive and requires a traditional incision that can make recovery longer than you might like, it can provide you with the relief that nonsurgical methods can’t to allow you to once again lead your normal daily life.
