Can you tear your rotator cuff doing nothing?

What You Need to Know. Rotator cuff tendons inside the shoulder may wear down with age, which may lead to partial rotator cuff tears. Some partial rotator cuff tears may go unnoticed because they don’t always cause pain. A condition called frozen shoulder can sometimes mimic the symptoms of partial rotator cuff tears.

Can you still move your arm with a torn rotator cuff?

A complete tear can make it almost impossible to move your arm. Without treatment, you may have chronic shoulder pain and find it very difficult to use the injured arm.

How can a doctor tell if you have a torn rotator cuff?

A doctor might request one of several imaging tests to diagnosis your torn rotator’s cuff such as an x-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI). X-rays won’t show a torn rotator cuff but can rule out other causes of pain, such as bone spurs.

Is it hard to diagnose a rotator cuff injury?

Rotator cuff injuries can also be tricky to diagnose. Other conditions, like arthritis or neck injury can mimic the pain of the rotator cuff. Does a rotator cuff injury always require surgery?

Should you have rotator cuff surgery for shoulder pain?

“For people who have chronic cuff tears or shoulder pain, or are having rotator cuff problems, those patients need to try physical therapy, injections and anti-inflammatory use,” he says. “If those don’t work, that’s a good time to discuss surgery.”

What happens when part of the rotator cuff is damaged?

Video: Rotator cuff damage. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that hold the shoulder joint in place and allow you to move your arm and shoulder. Problems occur when part of the rotator cuff becomes irritated or damaged. This can result in pain, weakness and reduced range of motion.

Can a torn rotator cuff heal without surgery?

Most rotator cuff tears don’t require surgery to heal. This is because most people with rotor cuff tears don’t have any problem with their shoulders. Even if the torn rotator cuff causes shoulder pain, you can get relief without surgical treatment.