If your shoulder hurts all of the time, even when you aren’t active, you could have a rotator cuff tear, which can impact your life. Our orthopaedic shoulder specialist can help you recover. Dr. Roger Pollock in Paramus, NJ, is an orthopaedic shoulder specialist who offers both arthroscopic and traditional surgery techniques to treat a torn rotator cuff and other shoulder injuries.

What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

Your shoulder is a complex ball-and-socket joint. The ball of your upper arm bone, or humerus, is kept in place in the shoulder socket by the rotator cuff.

So, what is the rotator cuff? It’s a group of tendons which cover the head of the humerus, holding it in place. The rotator cuff assists in moving, rotating, and lifting your arm.

When the rotator cuff is torn, it means one or more of the tendons is partially or completely detached from the head of the humerus.

A torn rotator cuff can be due to:

• A sports injury
• An accident
• A fall with your arm outstretched
• Lifting and jerking a heavy object
• Repetitive shoulder stress

You may have a rotator cuff tear if you experience:

• Shoulder pain when you are lying down on the affected shoulder
• Shoulder pain when you lift or lower your arm
• A crackling noise or sensation when you move your shoulder
• Weakness in your upper arm

If you notice any of these signs and symptoms, you need to seek out the expertise and skill of your orthopaedic shoulder specialist, who will take a complete history  of your symptoms and perform a thorough examination of your shoulder, assessing mobility and strength. Imaging studies, such as Xrays and possibly an MRI may be obtained.

For a torn rotator cuff, your orthopaedic shoulder specialist may recommend:

• Surgical treatment to repair and restore tendons and ligaments
• Physical therapy to restore strength and range-of-motion

How Our Orthopaedic Shoulder Specialist Can Help

A torn rotator cuff can keep you from enjoying activities and staying active. You need the skills of an orthopaedic shoulder specialist. You need to call Dr. Pollock in Paramus, NJ. You can reach him in the office by calling (201) 612-9774, so call today.