Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine located in Madison & Stoughton, WI
Your shoulder should be one of the most mobile joints in your body. But when the tendons that support that mobility tear, you lose significant function and experience a notable degree of discomfort. Dr. Rawal and the OrthoTeam Clinic Shoulder Center in Madison and Stoughton, Wisconsin offer the latest and most comprehensive treatment options for rotator cuff tears.
Rotator Cuff Tear Q&A
What is a rotator cuff tear?
A series of tendons called the rotator cuff stabilize the ball-and-socket joint of your shoulder, allowing you to rotate and lift your arm. But when any one of those tendons tears, you can lose mobility in your shoulder and experience pain.
Rotator cuff tears often result from overuse of the shoulder but can also happen during a sudden incident like a sports injury or a sudden fall.
After the tear, your shoulder will feel weak and you will likely experience pain and tenderness around your shoulder. If you’re experiencing any discomfort in your shoulder or you’ve abruptly lost mobility or strength, Dr. Rawal and his team at the OrthoTeam Clinic Shoulder Center can help diagnose your rotator cuff tear and create an ideal treatment plan
How is a rotator cuff tear treated?
How a rotator cuff tear is treated depends on your shoulder. Certain tears can be treated with conservative measure including rest, medications, injections, and/or physical therapy.
Certain tears do require surgery to repair. Dr. Rawal uses minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to repair all rotator cuff tears on an outpatient basis. This allows for less pain and quicker recovery.
When should I choose surgery to address a rotator cuff tear?
Dr. Rawal first explores conservative treatment options with you. But if your shoulder doesn’t improve even with those interventions, he can perform surgery to help your body repair the torn tendons.
Dr. Rawal offers arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery. During this procedure, he makes a very small incision in your shoulder and uses an arthroscope — a thin, flexible tool with a camera on the end — to place anchor sutures that reattach your tendons to the bone in your shoulder. With arthroscopic surgery, you have less downtime and a reduced risk for complications.
Don’t ignore shoulder pain. To find out if you’ve torn your rotator cuff and to get targeted treatment to heal your shoulder, call OrthoTeam Clinic Shoulder Center or reserve an appointment online today.
