Treatment

• ice
• rest
• compression
• elevation
• referral

Rest is integral in the healing process and it will be important for you to get lots of it. The next thing is to apply ice on your shoulder to minimize any inflammation that may be present. This will reduce any type of swelling which will be better when it comes to mobility. Apply ice for 15-20-minute periods at least three times a day.

Next is compression which is important because it keeps everything stable. At first this is what you’ll want to make sure that your rotator cuff heals naturally. Elevation will ensure that you avoid painful situations due to your shoulder being at a lower point. Finally is referral which means it will be necessary to visit your doctor and possibly get a referral to a physical therapist.
Anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or naproxen may help decrease the pain and swelling of the injury. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions ask your pharmacist for advice.

Physiotherapy

If you have rested and applied ice to the rotator cuff injury but still feel slight pain or tenderness you may wish to consider initiating an small exercise regime. Stretches and strengthening exercises can help develop strength and flexibility in your shoulder. It is important to seek advice from a medical professional, such as a physiotherapist, on which exercises and stretches you should perform and how to perform them correctly. The exercises will be tailored to your specific injury. This is only helpful for those with a minor rotator cuff tear.

If you are unable to afford to see a medical professional , you can learn the techniques yourself. Which luckily they’re very easy to do.
You can learn a few simple stretches to keep the shoulder loose, regain flexibility and mobility and reduce pain. There are also a few basic exercises for strengthening the shoulder’s inner muscles and tendons stimulating the healing process and relieving pain that you can perform in your home.

Sometimes it is likely that some simple home physio can have a dramatic impact on your pain, curing it completely in most cases. You can cureently buy books which document what people have learnt from previous rotator cuff injuries and simple stretches and exercises to help the recovery process.

Surgery

Sometimes rest or physiotherapy isn’t a sufficient cure for a major rotator cuff injury. Surgery should be perceived as a last resort and only considered once you have gone down all other avenues of treatment. Surgery usually involves widening of the space underneath the acromion and may also include repair of the rotator cuff tendon or work to remove calcium deposits. The surgery can be performed using either a keyhole surgery or an open method. Open surgery means that your surgeon makes a cut in the skin over your shoulder and repairs your injury through the cut. A keyhole procedure, also known as an athroscopy, is when the surgeon makes a small incision in the skin and a narrow, flexible, tube-like telescopic camera is inserted which repairs the rotator cuff tear.
If you have a rotator cuff injury, both sides of your muscle or tendon will be connected back together and, if necessary, connected back on to your humerus. The type of surgery you have will depend on the location of your injury, and if it’s a tear, how big it is and it’s shape.
Your surgeon will be able to give you advice on which type of surgery you need for your condition.