Did you know that rotator cuff problems prompt more than 2 million doctor visits each year in the United States? These shoulder injuries are so common that you can even have a tear without realizing it.
Rotator cuff injuries can also occur suddenly or slowly over time and cause symptoms that are impossible to ignore.
Dr. Jared Tadje uses conservative methods to treat rotator cuff injuries whenever possible at Tadje Orthopaedics in Meridian, Idaho. While 8 in 10 people with partial tears improve without surgical interventions, it can still take up to one year to recover.
For athletes or patients with complete tears or injuries that don’t respond to conservative treatments, Dr. Tadje usually recommends surgery. There are a variety of techniques to perform these repairs, but Dr. Tadje can often use arthroscopic methods — that means smaller incisions.
But even with minimally invasive surgical repair, you won’t be back in the game immediately. Here’s what you should know about recovering from a rotator cuff tear.
No injury is a good injury, but when it comes to recovery times, some are definitely better than others. Unfortunately, that doesn’t include the rotator cuff.
This complex structure made up of muscles and tendons has a lot of responsibility. First, it helps you lift your arm and move it away from your body. It also holds your arm in place.
As a result, damage to this part of your body can cause serious issues, such as:
Worse yet, these injuries typically progress, even if they seem minor at the onset.
In order for us to treat these problems, the shoulder needs time to heal. That means you must modify activities and stop specific movements for a period of time, including sports.
When recovering from a rotator cuff injury, take things slow and steady, and don’t push anything until Dr. Tadje says it’s safe.
As a general guideline, it takes approximately six weeks for rotator cuff tendons to start healing to the bone. Then it’s another three months for this attachment to become relatively strong.
In most cases, it can take 6-9 months for the tendon to fully heal and feel normal again. But a full recovery can also take 12-18 months, depending on the individual and the injury.
To support and promote the healing process, your recovery often involves four phases.
Healing from a rotator cuff tear often requires immobilizing the arm with a sling to prevent movement. The timeframe for wearing a sling varies, but after surgery, it often lasts 4-6 weeks.
During this time, the rotator cuff muscles and tendons should do no work on their own. Instead, Dr. Tadje moves the shoulder for you.
Once Dr. Tadje determines your tissue has healed enough, you can start moving your arm. These movements include physical therapy activities to improve control, strengthen muscles, and reduce stiffness. They usually don’t include resistance.
This stage of the recovery process can last up to 12 weeks after surgery.
When you reach this phase of your recovery, it’s time to get to work on your weakened muscles.
This is a key point of the recovery process because you need strong, healthy muscles to resume daily activities — and sports.
Dr. Tadje plays an active role in determining when you’re ready for this stage because returning to normal activity and sports too early can set back your recovery.
Factors that affect the time it takes to reach full activity include:
When Dr. Tadje gives you the go-ahead to resume full activity, he can also provide personalized guidance and sports medicine recommendations to help you avoid re-injury moving forward.
Do you have a rotator cuff injury? Contact Tadje Orthopaedics by calling 208-515-2654 to schedule a consultation today.
