Is it Possible Your Shoulder Pain is a Rotator Cuff Tear?

Shoulder pain comes in many varieties and can mean a number of different things. Weekend warriors can have shoulder pain as a result of overusing the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the shoulder or using them in a way which your body is unaccustomed.

Misalignment of the shoulder joint which irritates the nerves, ligaments and/or tendons of the shoulder (also known as a shoulder subluxation) can produce significant pain and dysfunction without any tearing or rupture of the rotator cuff or surrounding tissues. Shoulder subluxations are one of the most common problems of the shoulder and can lead to a rotator cuff tear if left untreated.

Shoulder pain can also be as a result of a rotator cuff tear.

What are common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?

A torn rotator cuff will often cause pain that you will feel throughout the shoulder region. It may not be localized to a particular point in the shoulder but will rather be uncomfortable with sharply increased pain when you move your arm in certain ways. More severe rotator cuff tears may produce pain down the upper arm and might also cause limitation in movement, especially when you try to raise your arm up to or over your head.

Less severe rotator cuff tears or incomplete tears may only produce pain or pain and some weakness, but not noticeable limitation of movement. In any case, a complete diagnosis is your best course of action so that you can make the most informed decisions about proper treatment for your torn rotator cuff.

The common symptoms of rotator cuff tears are:

• Pain – Rotator cuff pain usually involves the outside of the shoulder and the upper arm, especially when you raise your arm up over the head. Due to increased pressure and strain on the shoulder joint when you lay on your side or stomach, it is also common to notice rotator cuff pain increase at night. The more significant the injury, the more likely the pain will increase and even wake you at night.
• Weakness – As a rotator cuff tear involves the tendons of muscles which move your shoulder, when they become injured, your muscles lose the ability to move your arm with the same strength as they normally would. As a result, certain movements become more difficult. Special tests can be performed by a chiropractor or medical doctor to isolate the damaged tendon and determine the severity of the injury.
• Limited Activity -- Of course, if your rotator cuff tear is a result of repetitive use or overuse, the activities which caused your tear will also aggravate it; certain movements, especially those involving lifting your arm over your head or reaching back behind your body will be particularly challenging and painful.

Diagnosis of a rotator cuff injury can be made using specific tests to check muscle and joint strength and integrity in the case of complete tears. X-rays will often be taken to check for signs of a complete tear. The tendons are not visible on x-ray, but the shoulder joint itself will appear differently when a complete rotator cuff tear has occurred.

Partial rotator cuff tears, where the tendon is not completely severed, are more difficult to diagnose and may require more specialized tests such as an MRI of the shoulder. Ultrasound is also becoming more commonly used to help diagnose and differentiate shoulder injuries.