Comprehensive Care for Rotator Cuff Tears Near Fairfax, VA
The shoulder’s rotator cuff—an intricate network of muscles and tendons—helps to lift and rotate the arm while stabilizing the ball-and-socket shoulder joint. A rotator cuff tear occurs when one or more of the tendons become partially or completely detached from the upper arm bone (humerus). This common injury can develop suddenly through trauma, such as a fall onto an outstretched arm, or gradually with repetitive stress, such as pitching a baseball.
A telltale sign of a rotator cuff tear is persistent shoulder pain, especially when reaching overhead. If you have injured your shoulder, you can consult with a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon and shoulder specialist at Nirschl Orthopaedic Center (NOC) near Fairfax, Virginia. Our team is well-versed in the latest treatment techniques—both conservative and surgical—for rotator cuff tears.
Find the Right Treatment Approach
Your physician at NOC will begin with a thorough review of your medical history and a physical examination focused on your painful shoulder. As part of the diagnostic process, your physician may order imaging scans to confirm the presence of a rotator cuff tear and evaluate the extent of the injury.
After confirming that you have a rotator cuff tear, your physician at NOC may suggest that you begin with conservative therapy, such as:
- Rest and activity modifications – You should temporarily refrain from lifting your arm overhead to avoid straining your injured shoulder.
- Protection – You can wear a sling to stabilize and protect your injury as it heals.
- Physical therapy – A physical therapist can suggest a regimen of gentle stretches and progressive range-of-motion exercises to enhance the flexibility of your shoulder and strengthen the muscles that support it.
- Medications – You can take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for pain relief as needed.
- Steroid injections – Your physician can inject a powerful anti-inflammatory medication directly at the injury site to help alleviate painful inflammation.
If your rotator cuff tear does not improve with nonsurgical treatment, your physician at NOC may suggest surgery to secure the torn tendon to its original attachment site. This type of procedure may be performed arthroscopically, which involves inserting specialized surgical instruments and a miniature camera through small incisions around the shoulder joint. As compared to traditional open rotator cuff repair surgery, this minimally invasive approach can lead to less pain, lower risk of infection, minimal scarring, and a faster recovery.
Benefit From Personalized Care
If you would like to discuss your shoulder injury with a dedicated specialist at Nirschl Orthopaedic Center, contact us at (703) 525-2200 today. Schedule an appointment to experience the convenience of our cutting-edge sports medicine center, located just a short distance from Fairfax, VA.