Rotator Cuff Tendonitis

What is rotator cuff tendinitis?

Rotator cuff tendinitis, or tendonitis, affects the tendons and muscles that help move your shoulder joint. If you have tendinitis, it means that your tendons are inflamed or irritated. Rotator cuff tendinitis is also called impingement syndrome.This condition usually occurs over time. It can be the result of keeping your shoulder in one position for a while, sleeping on your shoulder every night, or participating in activities that require lifting your arm over your head.Athletes playing sports that require lifting their arm over their head commonly develop rotator cuff tendinitis. This is why the condition may also be referred to as:Swimmer’s shoulderpitcher’s shouldertennis shoulder.Sometimes rotator cuff tendinitis can occur without any known cause. Most people with rotator cuff tendinitis are able to regain full function of the shoulder without any pain.

What are the symptoms of rotator cuff tendinitis?

The symptoms of rotator cuff tendinitis tend to get worse over time. Initial symptoms may be relieved with rest, but the symptoms can later become constant. Symptoms that go past the elbow usually indicate another problem.

Symptoms of rotator cuff tendinitis include:

Pain and swelling in the front of your shoulder and side of your armpain triggered by raising or lowering your arma clicking sound when raising your armstiffnesspain that causes you to wake from sleeppain when reaching behind your backa loss of mobility and strength in the affected arm

How is rotator cuff tendinitis diagnosed?

If you’re having symptoms of rotator cuff tendinitis, your doctor will begin by examining your shoulder. You’ll be checked to see where you’re feeling pain and tenderness. Your doctor will also test your range of motion by asking you to move your arm in certain directions.Your doctor may also test the strength of your shoulder joint by asking you to press against their hand. They may also examine your neck to check for conditions such as a pinched nerve or arthritis that can cause symptoms similar to rotator cuff tendinitis.Your doctor may order imaging tests to confirm the diagnosis of rotator cuff tendinitis and rule out any other causes of your symptoms. An x-raymay be ordered to see if you have abone spur. Your doctor may order anultrasound or mri scan to check for inflammation in your rotator cuff and signs of any tearing.

How is rotator cuff tendinitis treated?

Initial treatment of rotator cuff tendinitis involves managing pain and swelling to promote healing.

This can be done by:

• Avoiding activities that cause painapplying cold packs to your shoulder three to four times per daytaking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) like ibuprofen (advil) andnaproxen (aleve)
• Additional treatment may include:
• Physical therapy
• Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist. Physical therapy will initially consist of stretching and other passive exercises to help restore range of motion and ease pain.

Once the pain is under control, your physical therapist will teach you exercises to help regain strength in your arm and shoulder.

Steroid injection

If your rotator cuff tendinitis isn’t being managed by more conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend a steroid injection. This is injected into the tendon to reduce inflammation, which reduces pain.

Surgery

If nonsurgical treatment isn’t successful, your doctor may recommend surgery. Most people experience full recovery after havingrotator cuff surgery.The most noninvasive form of shoulder surgery is accomplished via arthroscopy. This involves two or three small cuts around your shoulder, through which your doctor will insert various instruments. One of these instruments will have a camera, so your surgeon can view the damaged tissue through the small incisions.Open shoulder surgery is usually not required for rotator cuff tendinitis. However, this method may be used if there are other problems in your shoulder, such as a large tendon tear.Surgery involves recovery that consists of rest and physical therapy to restore strength and range of motion.

Home care for your shoulder

You can do several things to help reduce pain from rotator cuff tendinitis. These techniques can also help prevent rotator cuff tendinitis or another flare-up of pain.

Shoulder self-care includes:

Using good posture while sittingavoiding lifting your arms repetitively over your headtaking breaks from repetitive activitiesavoiding sleeping on the same side every nightavoiding carrying a bag on only one shouldercarrying things close to your bodystretching your shoulders throughout the day.