Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment

Dr. Pamela Mehta MD
Shoulder Surgeon in San Jose

Author: Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD

Dr. Pamela Mehta is an experienced shoulder surgeon renowned for her expertise in sports injuries and joint arthritis. She is the founder of Resilience Orthopedics.

With an impressive career and training under leading innovators, she has served as Chief of Orthopedics and National Orthopedic Director for a major orthopedic hospitalist group and advises several publicly traded companies.

What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

A rotator cuff tear is a common condition affecting the shoulder. The rotator cuff is a collection of four muscles:

Supraspinatus – helps to lift and internally rotate the arm.
Infraspinatus – helps to externally rotate the arm.
Teres Minor – a small muscle which helps in rotation.
Subscapularis – helps to lift the arm to the side.

These muscles connect your humerus (long arm bone) and shoulder blade. These helps you to move your shoulder and keep the shoulder joint in place.

You could have a rotator cuff tear if you have:

Shoulder pain when you try to lift your arm overhead
Shoulder weakness
Pain when trying to sleep on your affected shoulder

Causes of Rotator Cuff Tear

Common causes for problems include:

Sports injuries due to repetitive use, such as in swimmers, baseball players, and quarterbacks.
Trauma due to falls or high-impact sports.
Wear and tear as you age.

Depending on the cause, the pain and loss of function can occur suddenly, or creep up on you over time. For athletes in particular a rotator cuff injury can be devastating, potentially halting their career.

Thankfully with the right diagnosis, in the hands of a skilled shoulder surgeon, you can relieve the pain and get your shoulder moving like it used to.

Book a Consultation with Dr. Pamela Mehta, MD

The Best Orthopedic Surgeon in San Jose

Dr. Mehta is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who can help you recover from your joint condition.

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Diagnosis

To diagnose a rotator cuff tear you may need careful examination by an orthopedic surgeon. You may also need further diagnostic tests such as x-ray and MRI.

Other conditions such as rotator cuff tendonitis and shoulder impingement can cause similar symptoms. Therefore, it’s important that you obtain the right diagnosis from a shoulder expert!

You might have a rotator cuff tear if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Pain in your shoulder, particularly on overhead movement.
Difficulty sleeping due to night pain while lying on your shoulder.
Weakness resulting in difficulty raising your arm.
A popping or clicking noise in your shoulder.

Rotator cuff injuries can happen suddenly, or creep up on you over time, so you might have learned to live with the pain and discomfort. If you leave things, you can cause other conditions such as shoulder bursitis.

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms you should book a consultation before it gets any worse.

Treatment

The focus of treating a rotator cuff tear is to ease your pain, sleep easier, and help you regain movement in your shoulder.

All treatment strategies can include a tailored mix of physical therapy and medications. Treatments can include:

Physical therapy
Anti-inflammatory medication
Exercises for you to do at home
Cortisone injections into your shoulder joint
Shoulder surgery

For minor tears and degenerative causes, medications and exercise might be enough to meet your treatment goals. Dr. Pamela Mehta in San Jose, CA can help you determine what treatment method is best suited for your shoulder.

For larger or more painful tears, surgery could be life-changing and give you back the function you have lost. Minimally invasive surgical techniques can often be used to reduce the recovery time and leave you with a much smaller scar.

The right treatment choice will change from person to person, depending on the cause, type of injury, and what symptoms bother you most. That’s why it’s vital to find an orthopedic surgeon who listens to you and can create a tailored treatment plan to suit your priorities.

Ready to Recover?

Take the first step in getting back to your normal self, and book an appointment with Dr. Mehta today.

We’re ready when you are!

Testimonials

I am a physical therapist who has worked with many of Dr Mehta's patients. Her patients love her, and feel she takes time to listen to their concerns. She is professional , honest and authentic with her colleagues and patients. She will not suggest surgery unless it is ultimately required for her patient to improve. I refer my patients to Dr Mehta and highly recommend her.

This review is long overdue from a very happy and ever so grateful patient! I was having major shoulder pain to the point where I couldn't raise my left shoulder. I decided to go to Dr. Mehta after a friend recommended me to her. Dr. Mehta was very attentive during our initial apt. She was quickly able to diagnose the root cause of my shoulder issue and explained the how and why I ended up with this pain.

What Shoulder Services Do We Offer?

Shoulder Pain Assessment

Shoulder Pain is frustrating and can impact both your sleep and your mental health. Dr. Mehta is a shoulder doctor and can diagnose your pain, offering various surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Shoulder Surgery

If your shoulder condition is severe, or nothing you have tried has helped, Dr. Mehta can advise you on the options for surgery. She is a shoulder specialist and can offer expert opinion and care.