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Pain in your shoulder or at the top of your arm is often a sign of a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons in the shoulder. These muscles and tendons hold the bones of the shoulder in place while allowing a wide range of movement. Of all the joints in the body, the shoulder joint is one of the most moveable. It allows you to reach up, behind you, and across your body.
When you have a problem with your rotator cuff, you will usually feel a pain or ache near the top of the arm, down the front, or on the outside of the arm. The rotator cuff can develop tendinitis from wear and tear or strain or have a sudden injury — a full or partial rotator cuff tear.
Tendinitis or Burisitis of the Rotator Cuff
Tendinitis of the shoulder is when the rotator cuff tendons get irritated and inflamed. The tendon connect the muscles to the bones. They can get worn down from overuse and start to get small tears. Overuse or strain can be from doing a certain activity (like throwing a ball or swimming) over and over again, or from the usual wear and tear that comes with living. Tendinitis causes soreness in the shoulder. It may hurt to do things like lift your arms up.
Bursitis happens when the bursae in the shoulder become swollen and inflamed. Bursae [burr-say] are small sacs fluid that make it easier for the tendons to glide over the bones when you move. Strain and overuse can cause inflammation in these sacs. This can make it painful to use your shoulder even for simple tasks.
Torn Rotator Cuff
A torn rotator cuff is when one of the major tendons in the shoulder tears and pulls away from the bone. A small amount of tendon may pull away from the bone, or it may tear completely. The tear can result from a fall or a hit to the shoulder. It can also happen with quick, forceful movements that your shoulder isn’t strong enough to do. You are more likely to tear the rotator cuff if the tendons are already inflamed because of long-term overuse.
Symptoms of tendinitis or bursitis in the rotator cuff include:
Symptoms a torn rotator cuff include:
When to See a Doctor
Rotator cuff injuries are most commonly caused by:
To diagnose a problem with your shoulder, the doctor may::
Treatments for rotator cuff injuries include:
Your doctor may also recommend:
You can prevent many rotator cuff injuries by keeping the shoulder strong and flexible, and using it properly.
MedlinePlus “Rotator Cuff Injuries”: https://medlineplus.gov/rotatorcuffinjuries.html
MedlinePlus “Rotator Cuff Self-Care”: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000358.htm
Pain in your shoulder or at the top of your arm is often a sign of a rotator cuff injury. The rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons that hold the bones of the shoulder in place. A sign of rotator cuff injury is a pain or ache near the top of the arm, down the front on the outside of the arm. The rotator cuff can become painful and sore from tendinitis or bursitis as a result of wear and tear or strain. Or the rotator cuff can tear from a sudden injury, like a fall or hit to the shoulder. The tendon may tear partially or it may pull fully away from the bone.