The ball-and-socket design of your shoulder lets you do activities that range from throwing a ball to brushing your hair. Your upper arm bone is kept in your shoulder socket by your rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that hold your shoulder bones in place. A tear in the rotator cuff can weaken your shoulder, making it painful and difficult to do your favorite things, as well as everyday tasks. The orthopedic doctors at Premier Bone & Joint Centers can treat your torn rotator cuff at our satellite clinic in Torrington, Wyoming.

Signs of a Torn Rotator Cuff

Rotator cuff tears occur when tendons pull away from the arm bone. There are actually two different types of tears: partial, when the tendon is damaged but not completely severed, and full or complete, when the tendon separates from the bone. Both types of rotator cuff tears can produce symptoms such as:

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

Diagnosis & Treatment

When diagnosing a rotator cuff tear, one of our fellowship-trained and board-certified specialists will perform a physical examination to explore your current range of movement and test your muscle strength. If we suspect a tear, we can order imaging scans like X-rays and MRIs. All of this information can help us diagnose a partial or full rotator cuff tear and then recommend the best course of treatment. In most cases, conservative treatments work well, but sometimes surgery may be deemed necessary.

Don’t suffer in silence with a torn rotator cuff. Schedule an appointment with Premier Bone & Joint Centers at our Torrington, WY, satellite clinic.