Before we assess the size of this injury, we have to clarify a few segments. Before all other aspects get covered, we have to explain what the rotator cuff is. It’s an amalgamation of four separate muscles that move and stabilize the shoulder joint. The name rotator cuff comes from the very nature of the shoulder’s movement – it rotates. Now, many muscles help move and stabilize the shoulder. The most important of them is the rotator cuff. Without it, all movements would be either impossible or painful. It’s one of the most common sports-related injuries. It isn’t considered a major injury anymore but still has serious repercussions. If not treated right, it can derail many things. Starting with your sports career can move on to exacerbate even your day-to-day life. There are lots of detrimental misconceptions that concern rotator cuff injury. The worst one is that it is always felt immediately. Sometimes, the tear can be a slight one, only amassing a slight fraction of the muscle fiber. Because it’s not immediately evident, the rotator cuff injury isn’t to be trifled with. That’s why we’ve decided to put an end to rotator cuff-related ignorance. By compiling this list of treatments and symptoms, we aim to make your road to recovery an easier one. The sooner you notice your rotator cuff injury, the easier it will be to treat it. It’s for the good of your own health.

A Sudden Tearing Sensation

Keep in mind; that, not all rotator cuff injuries are like this. When you pull the muscle, there are high chances that a tearing sensation will engulf the arm. The pain most likely covers your entire shoulder. There are chances that it might even spread to the elbow. Of course, the best treatment, in this case, is admitting you to the ER. There might be acute bleeding involved. Such an occurrence is best handled by a medical professional. You will first get painkillers and be admitted to surgery or booked for a later appointment.

Acute Pain

Of course, an injury of this magnitude sure won’t go unnoticed. Pain will ensue as soon as the adrenaline wave subsides. It will be severe and come off as a shock. You will most likely be unable to move your arm. The key here is to follow how your body behaves. That pain will most likely last for a few days. You may get some over-the-counter painkillers, but an examination will be in order. There are high chances that you will need surgery. If you’re having trouble sleeping, you can buy a shoulder pillow.

An Inability to Raise Your Arm

Since tears can be both big and small, symptoms and outcomes can vary. When dealing with bigger tears of the rotator cuff, you may encounter this one. The muscle can be so severely damaged that you may be unable even to raise your arm. This can be seriously detrimental to every facet of your life. This symptom is a consequence of two things – pain and loss of muscle power. In this case, the doctor’s office is your only and primary destination. To treat this type of tear, you will likely need a cast and an adjustment of your sleeping position.

Increasing Weakness

Like we’ve said, tears and be big and small. Smaller ones usually manifest time-worsening symptoms. This one belongs to that category. Since the tear is small, the body won’t register it as a big problem. However, the damage to your muscle fibers can make your arm weaker and weaker. In order to combat this symptom, you can do a series of simple tests. By stretching your arm and massaging your shoulder, you can assess the situation. If the pain is there and responds to touch, you will most likely need pain meds and rest.

Inability to Raise the Arm About the Shoulder Weight

To classify the severity of the tear, you ought to look at the symptoms. In this case, when you’re able to raise your arm this high, the injury is not that serious. Tearing your rotator cuff is always serious, so you should always be careful. Many people will disregard this symptom thinking it’s not serious enough. This can be a health-jeopardizing mistake. If you feel any trouble while raising your arm, visit your doctor. The treatment will most likely be physical therapy, alongside some pain medications.

Sleep Problems

Of course, pain can interfere with your sleep patterns and schedule. It can either be too serious or even cause you to wake up. The first kind is most often seen in serious rotator cuff tears. When it comes the second one, it is caused by rolling in the bed during the night. It’s important to get medical help in this case. Not only will the pain get worse, but also, a lack of sleep will impact you. Your cognitive abilities decrease. Your work, studies, and other facets of life will suffer. If you can’t sleep because of pain, ask your doctor to prescribe you some sleeping pills.

Tenderness

This is a symptom that fools, people, for ages. Tenderness isn’t classified as pain. It can be thought of as sensitivity to touch. There can be a million reasons for it, so people disregard it. When feeling tenderness for a longer time, a small tear is likely. Your rotator cuff isn’t damaged bad enough not to be able to move. Still, you should restrain from any physical activity for some time. Altering your diet to speed up recovery is also a good idea.

Shakiness in the Entire Arm

Because your muscles will be weaker, they won’t be able to perform. This is because an entire group of fibers has weakened. On contracting the shoulder muscles or using them, the inability translate to shakiness. At first, you may not view it as something serious. Because of this, the tear may worsen. Shakiness requires medical attention if it interferes with your daily life. A few weeks of rest along with specific exercises will do the trick.

Possible Dislocation of the Entire Shoulder

The shoulder consists of both muscles and bones. They both support one another and make sure the movements are timely and precise. If the muscle weakens, the bone has to put up with much more strain. Unstable muscles will increase the likeliness of your shoulder simply popping out. If you suspect that you have a rotator cuff injury, get medical help. By getting a cast and preventing it from getting worse, you will save your health.

Slight Hemorrhage

Muscle fibers are energy spenders. They need a lot of oxygen to maintain proper functioning. So, there are a lot of blood vessels within your rotator cuff. If the muscle gets torn, the vessels will too. That’s why you will notice a slight bruise and a possible discoloration of the skin. This may not be a reason to panic but take it seriously. Consult your doctor about the nature of the bruising. You can get supplements along with some rest direction. That way, you will recover faster.