The joints in your shoulders are each made up of a ball and socket that allow you to do a range of activities, from throwing a football to combing your hair. Holding your upper arm bone to your shoulder socket is your rotator cuff, which is a group of muscles and tendons that keep your shoulder bones connected. When your rotator cuff tears, you can experience pain and difficulty performing even the simplest of tasks. Fortunately, you can count on the rotator cuff specialists at Premier Bone and Joint Centers in Casper, Wyoming, for world-class treatment.

Indications of a Rotator Cuff Tear

A rotator cuff tear occurs when the tendons in the shoulder pull away from the arm bone. All tears fall into one of two categories: partial tears and compete tears. With partial tears, the tendon is damaged but not completely severed, whereas with complete tears, the tendon fully separates from the bone. Both types of rotator cuff tears produce the following symptoms:

• Pain when lifting or lowering the arm
• Popping or clicking sounds or sensations when moving the arm
• Shoulder pain that worsens at night or when resting the arm
• Shoulder weakness and difficulty lifting items

Diagnosis & Treatment

Our board-certified, fellowship-trained rotator cuff specialists will conduct a physical examination to assess the range of motion in your shoulder and test your muscle strength. If we suspect a tear exists, we may order imaging tests to help determine if it is a partial or complete tear before recommending a course of treatment. Oftentimes, conservative approaches work well in treating rotator cuff tears, however, more severe cases may require surgery.

Contact Premier Bone and Joint Centers today to schedule a visit to our satellite clinic in Casper, WY, where one of our qualified rotator cuff specialists can recommend an appropriate treatment plan.