4 Questions to Ask About Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff

If you are looking for a doctor to provide treatment for a rotator cuff issue, or any other orthopedic issue, one of the best-suited doctors to help would be an orthopedic doctor/surgeon. The advantages of visiting an orthopedic surgeon over other doctors for a rotator cuff injury include:

● Trained to diagnose and treat rotator cuff injuries and issues of all severities and types. Whether the rotator cuff injury or issue is the result of a single incident or has progressed worse over time, an orthopedic doctor can help to find an appropriate treatment that will work for you. The options may be non-surgical treatment, or arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery may be necessary.

● If surgery is considered necessary, then an orthopedic surgeon is the right doctor to be seeing. The best part, you are able to schedule your surgery immediately with the orthopedic surgeon who is already familiar with your case, instead of getting a referral from another doctor to a surgeon who is not as familiar with your case.

● Finally, visiting an orthopedic surgeon for a rotator cuff injury or issues will speed up your treatment, so you will be on the road to recovery much faster.

Your rotator cuff is made up of tendons and muscles that hold the shoulder together. It is one of the most important areas of the shoulder. Your rotator cuff allows you to reach upward, and lift your arms up. Rotator cuffs are quite a common cause of pain in many, the most common symptoms you may experience from a rotator cuff injury include:

● Consistent pain, particularly with certain activities
● Pain that prevents you from sleeping on the injured shoulder
● Cracking or grating noise when moving your arm
● Limited mobility in the affected arm
● Muscle weakness

The symptoms of a rotator cuff injury resemble many other conditions and medical issues, which is why it is so important that you visit an orthopedic surgeon like ours at Southern Sports Medicine Institute to ensure you are diagnosed correctly and provided with the correct treatment.

Depending on the severity of the rotator cuff issue or injury will depend if you can get orthopedic treatments and continue healing at home, or if an orthopedic doctor will need to perform surgery. If the pain is severe and lingers for more than a few months, it is a sign you will most likely need surgery.

However, before an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair can be completed on your shoulder, we will need to ensure that is the main issue by a diagnosis of the area. This is why visiting an orthopedic clinic is a better option than other physicians, as orthopedic doctors specialize in the muscles and tendons within the body.

If treatment can be completed with at-home treatments, our orthopedic surgeon will recommend you ice the area for a certain timeframe, and possibly use over-the-counter pain relievers like naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin to help with swelling and to ease any pain you may be dealing with. They may also recommend you visit a physical therapist to help restore your shoulder strength.

If surgery is necessary due to previous steps not providing relief, the orthopedic surgeon can schedule you in, and go over what needs to be completed before and after surgery to ensure success. To be considered for arthroscopic rotator cuff repair for your shoulder, you will need to meet some of the following:

● Shoulder has not improved within 6 to 12 months
● You have begun to lose strength within the shoulder
● Find it painful to move the shoulder
● Diagnostic imaging tests have confirmed you have a tear in your rotator cuff tendon
● You actively rely on your shoulder strength for workouts, sports, or your job

If you do not go through with surgery, rehabilitation, and rest, your rotator cuff disorder can get worse. Over time, you may begin to experience more pain, and loss of range of motion, and notice your shoulder strength diminish entirely, making it more difficult for you to complete your daily activities. Contact our clinic today or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations for you in Gallatin, TN, and Nashville, TN. We serve patients from Gallatin TN, Nashville TN, LaGuardo TN, Castalian Springs TN, Cottontown TN, and Graball TN.