What Does a Rotator Cuff Tear Feel Like?

• What is a Rotator Cuff Tear?
• What Are the Causes of Rotator Cuff Tears?
• What Does a Rotator Cuff Tear Feel Like?
• Signs You Have Torn Your Rotator Cuff

Do you suffer from persistent shoulder pain? Have you experienced discomfort while raising your arm or reaching behind your back? If so, you may be experiencing a rotator cuff tear. This injury affects around 2 million Americans each year and can happen to people of all ages, although it is most common in adults over 40.

Rotator cuff tears are incredibly common, to the extent that there are individuals who may have experienced a small tear without feeling any symptoms. There are ways to check if you have a rotator cuff tear. 

At Coastal Orthopedics, we understand that shoulder pain can be debilitating and prevent you from enjoying the activities you love. Keep reading to learn more about rotator cuff tears, including their causes, symptoms, and signs.

A rotator cuff tear happens when the muscles and tendons that make up the rotator cuff in your shoulder get injured. This leads to pain in your shoulder and limited movement in your arm. The rotator cuff is important for lifting and moving your arms away from your body. It also helps to keep your shoulder joint stable. Rotator cuff tears usually happen when the tendons detach from the upper arm bone (humerus). Overuse or injury are common causes of this.

What are the Types of Rotator Cuff Tears?

Rotator cuff tears can be categorized into two main types:

• Partial Tear: In an incomplete or partial tear, the tendon remains partially attached to the arm bone.
• Complete Tear: In a full-thickness or complete tear, the tendon completely separates from the bone, resulting in a hole or rip in the tendon.

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and their corresponding tendons that stabilize the upper arm within the shoulder joint and enable various arm movements, such as lifting and rotating.

A sudden and acute injury, such as a fall onto the arm or a shoulder dislocation, can cause a tear in the rotator cuff. Age-related tissue degeneration may also contribute to tears. However, the most common cause of a torn rotator cuff is overuse injuries. These injuries occur when repetitive arm movements place excessive stress on one or more of the rotator cuff tendons.

Overuse injuries can affect anyone, but they are particularly prevalent among athletes involved in throwing sports, contact sports, and weightlifting. Occupations that require repetitive overhead movements, such as painting, also increase the risk of developing a rotator cuff injury.

The continuous strain on the tendons causes tiny tears to form. Proper rest and allowing the tissues time to heal can help prevent more severe injuries. However, persistent stress can cause these small tears to grow larger, leading to inflammation and eventually a complete rupture.

The symptoms of a rotator cuff tear can vary from person to person. Some people may experience a dull ache in the shoulder, which can be persistent.

Others may feel a more acute and sharp pain, almost like a stabbing sensation. People who experience a sudden tear due to an accident or trauma may feel immediate and intense pain in the shoulder, accompanied by weakness in the arm.

In contrast, degenerative tears may initially cause only mild discomfort that can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers. 

However, as time goes on, the pain can worsen, becoming more persistent and less responsive to medication.

It’s important to note that not everyone with a rotator cuff tear experiences pain, but most people do experience some degree of weakness in the arm and shoulder.

Discovering whether you have a rotator cuff tear is important for seeking appropriate treatment. Here are five common signs to watch out for:

Pain

In many instances, pain serves as the initial indicator of a torn rotator cuff. If the tear stems from an acute injury, immediate and typically intense pain ensues. However, when a rotator cuff tear develops gradually, initial discomfort tends to be mild and primarily arises during specific arm movements, such as lifting or lowering your arm, carrying heavy objects, or reaching overhead.

This pain often manifests in the front of the joint and may radiate down the outside of the shoulder. Many individuals experience heightened discomfort when lying on the side with an injured shoulder.

With continued use of the compromised rotator cuff doing further damage, the pain intensifies progressively. Without intervention, the pain can become severe enough to impede engagement in daily activities.

Limited Movement

Even in the absence of pain, which is the case for some individuals, a rotator cuff injury still impacts arm mobility. Typically, when the rotator cuff tears, it affects one or more tendons connecting the muscles to the top of the upper arm. Since these tendons also move with any arm movement, a tear usually results in a restricted range of motion.

While an acute injury can severely impede movement, an overuse injury leads to gradually worsening limitations. You may encounter difficulty raising your arm, reaching behind your back, and lifting items.

Muscle Weakness and Atrophy

If a rotator cuff injury is left untreated, the muscles involved weaken and undergo atrophy or waste away. This weakness impacts not only the shoulder but the entire arm. The degree of atrophy varies based on factors like age and the size of the tear. As the muscles deteriorate, it becomes increasingly challenging for them to recover and regain full strength, particularly after surgical intervention.

Swelling and tenderness

If you experience a partial rotator cuff tear, you may notice swelling and tenderness when you touch the inflamed tendon.

Crepitus

Crepitus is characterized by popping and clicking sensations or sounds that occur within the shoulder joint during arm movement. While conditions like bursitis can also cause crepitus, it can also arise from a torn ligament, causing the bones in the joint to move off track or become misaligned.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear or suspect that you may have one, it is important to seek medical attention without delay.

Our team of orthopedic shoulder specialists and sports medicine specialists are experts in diagnosing and treating shoulder injuries, and they are dedicated to helping you regain mobility and alleviate pain. Take the first step towards recovery by scheduling an appointment with Coastal Orthopedics today.