The Four Steps of Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment in Montvale

Learn About the Step-By-Step Process for Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment

Whether you’ve experienced a traumatic tear or a gradual degeneration, an injury of the rotator cuff can set you back. In addition to the stresses that come with reduced shoulder mobility and painful associated symptoms, the prospect of undergoing orthopaedic rotator cuff injury treatment can be an intimidating one.

The shoulder experts at Rothman Orthopaedic Institute are here to not only provide you with the most effective rotator cuff tear treatments in Montvale, but also to make sure that you are well-informed about the process ahead.

This is important for two key reasons. First, the more you understand, the less concern you’ll have about the recovery process, and you can be more confident and proactive. Second, well-informed patients are more likely to have successful treatment procedures and fast recoveries. That’s because they can anticipate the steps ahead and prepare accordingly—whether that means lifestyle alterations, changes in medication, or extra precautions in shoulder usage.

We’re here to help you to become a better informed rotator cuff injury patient today. Let’s get started.

The Rotator Cuff Treatment Process: Step by Step

Listed below are the four steps of the rotator cuff tear treatment process. We’ll start at the very beginning: diagnosis.

1. Examination and Diagnosis of a Torn Rotator Cuff
   Do you have a torn rotator cuff? This question isn’t rhetorical. As a matter of fact, answering this question will be the first step of your treatment. An official diagnosis is needed to determine if your injury is, in fact, a rotator cuff tear—and an examination by a qualified orthopaedic specialist will allow a proper diagnosis to be made. Your examination will typically involve a physical exam, as well as a discussion of medical history. If needed, further diagnostic and imaging tests may be utilized, including X-ray or MRI scans. If the examination leads to a rotator cuff tear diagnosis, the next step will be to initiate treatment.

2. Non-Surgical Rotator Cuff Treatments and Therapies
   Do you need surgery? For many rotator cuff tear patients, the answer is no. If you have experienced a particularly severe tear or are involved in high-impact activities, you may be advised to skip this stage and pursue surgical treatment. For most patients, however, non-operative treatments can effectively address symptoms and enable healing. Commonly prescribed treatment options include activity moderation, RICE (rest, icing, compression, and elevation of the affected shoulder), anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and strength-building activities, and steroidal injections (including cortisone).

3. Rotator Cuff Tear Surgery
   If you are advised to undergo surgery, what should you expect? As mentioned above, surgery is most commonly recommended to patients with severe-grade rotator cuff tears and patients with high-impact lifestyles. Serious loss of shoulder function, persistent, long-term symptoms, and insufficiency of non-surgical methods may additionally make surgery a more advisable choice. Rotator cuff tear surgery is aimed at the reconstruction and reattachment of the torn rotator cuff. This operation may be performed through an open incision or arthroscopically, using a miniature camera in a small incision. Open procedures may be performed on an inpatient basis; arthroscopic surgeries are typically performed on an outpatient basis.

4. Rotator Cuff Tear Recovery
   What comes after treatment? For most patients of rotator cuff tear treatment, recovery is a long-term process. Your doctor will likely advise you to make lifestyle alterations to prevent future injuries; these may include moderation or cessation of high-impact activities that expose the shoulder to serious stress. A short or long-term physical therapy and training plan will often be prescribed. And, if surgery has been performed, pain management medication will typically be prescribed. After several weeks to several months, the immediate follow-up recovery process will come to a finish. Your doctor will help to advise you in transitioning from shoulder recovery to lifelong shoulder health maintenance.

Schedule an Appointment for Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment in Montvale

Now that you know what to expect from the treatment process, it’s time to schedule an appointment for rotator cuff tear treatment in Montvale. At Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, your care will be provided by the leading Shoulder and Sports Medicine physicians in orthopaedic medicine.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact us here or call 1-800-321-9999.