When to have surgery for a rotator cuff tear?
Some patients with rotator cuff tears have little or no pain. Surgery is not recommended for these patients. If you have significant pain or have had a sudden or ‘acute’ rotator cuff tear, your surgeon may recommend surgery to repair the rotator cuff tear to reduce the pain in your shoulder. What Happens During Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery?
Why does my shoulder hurt after rotator cuff surgery?
The most common causes of pain after rotator cuff surgery are (1) that the shoulder is still recovering from the surgery itself and (2) the shoulder has gotten stiff due to lack of movement.
How long does it take for rotator cuff surgery to work?
You should expect to be in a sling for about 6 weeks. This protects your shoulder and gives your rotator cuff time to heal. Driving a car will be off limits for at least a month. Most people don’t get instant pain relief from surgery. It may take a few months before your shoulder starts feeling better.
How can you tell if a rotator cuff repair has failed?
It is not easy to tell if the rotator cuff tendon repair has failed or not. The symptoms of pain or loss of strength are common after rotator cuff surgery while the tendons are healing, and minor setback are to be expected. We do not recommend a magnetic resonance scan or other studies when these setbacks occur for several reasons.
Are there any side effects of rotator cuff surgery?
One study found that 1 to 2% of patients going through rotator cuff surgery experience nerve damage. 2 Infection in the shoulder. Only 0.16 to 1.9% of patients cited deep infection after arthroscopic or mini-open surgery. 4
What kind of surgery is needed for a torn rotator cuff?
If your rotator cuff is injured, you may need to repair it surgically. This may include shaving off bone spurs that are pinching the shoulder, or repairing torn tendons or muscles in the shoulder. Surgical techniques that may be used to repair a tear of the rotator cuff include arthroscopy, open surgery, or a combination of both.
What happens if a rotator cuff tear is not repaired?
One myth about rotator cuff tears is that the shoulder is doomed if the tendon is not repaired. The reality is that some people can have good range of motion and function with torn rotator cuff tendons. The degree of symptoms after a failed rotator cuff repair depends upon many factors.
Can you have a second rotator cuff surgery?
While rotator cuff surgeries can have positive, lasting results, not all surgical repairs heal. 6 When rotator cuff repair is unsuccessful, a patient experiences postoperative pain and/or shoulder stiffness. These patients may choose to have a second surgery. A second repair may be done if sufficient quality and quantity of tissue remain.