Full Thickness Rotator Cuff Tear Surgery in Illinois

What Is a Fully Torn Rotator Cuff?

A fully torn rotator cuff is a shoulder injury caused when one or more of the tendons that make up the rotator cuff are entirely separated from the bone. The rotator cuff comprises a group of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint, provide stability, and facilitate your shoulder’s wide range of motion. When a patient suffers a complete tear, it can cause pain, weakness, loss of function, and limited range of motion.

What is the Most Common Reason for a Fully Torn Rotator Cuff?

• Age: The risk of rotator cuff tears increases with age as the tendons experience degradation over time. 

• Overuse Injuries: Chronic wear and tear of the rotator cuff can be caused by overuse injuries, especially in athletes like swimmers or laborers who engage in repetitive overhead arm movements.

• Traumatic Shoulder Injury: An that involves creating a pulling tension on the shoulder, such as catching yourself after a fall, can cause an acute, fully torn rotator cuff. 

• Bad Posture: You can develop rotator cuff problems by maintaining poor posture for extended periods, putting unsupported stress on the shoulder joint.

Our skilled and friendly team is here to help you if you suspect you’re experiencing symptoms of a fully torn rotator cuff.

Is a Fully Torn Rotator Cuff Serious?

A fully torn rotator cuff can be painful and limit your daily activities. If left untreated, a fully torn rotator cuff can become painful, decrease mobility, and interfere with quality of life.

Symptoms of a fully torn rotator cuff include:

• Shoulder pain, especially from the outside of the shoulder radiating to the elbow
• Weakness in the arm, especially with overhead activities
• Decreased range of motion or inability to raise your arm
• Pain that wakes you up at night, especially if you’re lying on the affected side
• Clicking, popping, or grinding when moving the shoulder to complete easy, daily tasks.

You should seek the opinion of an experienced orthopaedic team if you’re experiencing shoulder pain that’s getting worse and interfering with your daily routine, disturbing your sleep, and negatively impacting your quality of life. You should also seek medical treatment if you’ve experienced a recent injury or trauma to the shoulder. 

What is the Best Way to Treat a Fully Torn Rotator Cuff?

A fully torn rotator cuff can get worse without treatment. Some patients see relief with rest, physical therapy, and over-the-counter pain medication. For cases of complete rotator cuff tears, surgical repair may be necessary. The recovery time from rotator cuff surgery depends on how severe the tear was and the extent of the repair the injury required.

For more information, give us a call or schedule an appointment online with one of our orthopedic shoulder specialists. We serve patients in Bartlett, IL, Elgin, IL, Schaumburg, IL, and Chicago, IL.