The rotator cuff is a combination of muscles and tendons in the shoulder that connect the bone in the upper arm to the shoulder blade. The rotator cuff enables the circular movement of the shoulder joint. An accident, overuse or sports injury can cause a rotator cuff tear. A severe rotator cuff tear may require surgery, but some injuries can be treated with remedies suggested by a physician.
Step 1
Rest the shoulder for four to seven days to reduce inflammation. If the activity that caused the injury is known, avoid that activity. Repetitive movements, lifting of the arms or over-stretching should be avoided as well.
Step 2
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, or NSAID. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are commonly available NSAIDs. Follow the dosage instructions included with the pain reliever.
Step 3
Visit a physician for a corticosteroid injection, which is used to treat muscle and joint inflammation, pain and injury, states MayoClinic.com. These injections can be painful and may require multiple administrations to experience full effectiveness.
Step 4
Use a combination of cold and hot treatments to treat pain and inflammation. Apply a cold compress, made with ice placed in a clean, dry towel, or bag of frozen vegetables to the shoulder. MayoClinic.com recommends applying the cold treatment for 15 to 20 minutes every two or three hours. After three days of consistent cold treatment, switch to heat treatment. Apply a heating pad or hot pack to the affected area for no more than 20 minutes as needed to relieve stiffness.
Step 5
Request a referral for physical therapy from the treating physician. The University of Maryland Medical Center indicates that physical therapy helps to increase flexibility and strengthen the muscles in the shoulder. A physical therapist will design a treatment plan tailored to the specific injury.
Step 6
Obtain a surgical consultation to determine whether surgery is necessary to treat the rotator cuff tear. Rotator cuff repair may be performed by making an open incision or performing arthroplasty, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is performed with a camera. Severe rotator cuff tears may require a partial shoulder replacement, called hemiarthroplasty, or a total shoulder replacement, where a prosthetic shoulder is used to replace damaged muscles and tendons.
Things You'll Need
- Pain reliever
- Cold compress
- Hot pack
