Will My Rotator Cuff Injury Heal on Its Own?

You don’t truly appreciate how much you rely on your rotator cuff until it’s injured. This group of muscles and ligaments holds together the ball-and-socket joint connecting your shoulder blade and upper arm, giving your arm full range of motion. 

When you suffer an injury, like a strain or tear, movements as simple as scratching your back can become painful.

While many soft tissue injuries can heal over time, the rotator cuff is complex. Care from an experienced orthopedic surgeon is essential to ensure proper healing, prevent further damage, and restore your shoulder’s full function.

If you’ve suffered a rotator cuff injury, triple board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mark Powell and our team at Powell Orthopedics in Fayetteville, Arkansas, can help you get back to moving freely, without pain.

The rotator cuff: Your shoulder’s silent support system

The rotator cuff gives your shoulder mobility and range of motion while keeping it stable. It has several key components:

Supraspinatus

This muscle is responsible for lifting your arm and is often the most commonly injured part of the rotator cuff.

Infraspinatus

This muscle allows you to rotate your arm outward, which is crucial to shoulder movement.

Teres minor

This smaller muscle aids in external rotation, working closely with the infraspinatus.

Subscapularis

The largest of the rotator cuff muscles, it helps rotate the arm inward and stabilizes the shoulder joint.

Tendons and ligaments

These tough fibers connect the rotator cuff muscles to the bones, providing the support and stability necessary for smooth shoulder movements. Shoulder joint stability allows you to perform a wide range of movements with precision and control.

Types of rotator cuff injuries

Rotator cuff injuries aren’t always as simple as tearing or not tearing. Many injuries can affect your shoulder’s support system, such as:

• Tendinitis: inflamed or irritated tendons, often due to overuse or repetitive motion
• Bursitis: inflamed bursa, a small sac of fluid that cushions the rotator cuff
• Partial tear: rotator cuff tendon damaged but not completely severed
• Complete tear: rotator cuff tendon fully detached from the bone
• Impingement: shoulder bones compress tendons, leading to pain, inflammation 

These injuries may cause sharp or dull pain, weakness, limited range of motion, and difficulty performing everyday tasks.

Can a rotator cuff injury heal on its own?

Rotator cuff injuries need professional treatment. A mild injury like tendinitis might heal over time but can increase your risk of a significant tear. 

The watch-and-wait approach simply isn’t worth the risk when you’re dealing with a rotator cuff injury. Without early intervention, you can be sidelined from your favorite activities — and daily life.

Fortunately, you don’t have to jump straight to surgery. You have many nonsurgical options to treat your rotator cuff injury, including:

• Rest and ice
• Physical therapy
• Activity modification
• Rehabilitative exercises
• Steroid injections
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy

If you have a severe rotator cuff injury, like a tear, surgery may be your best option to restore your shoulder’s full function.

If shoulder pain has disrupted your routine, call or use the online booking tool to schedule a consultation with Powell Orthopedics today. You can rest assured that you’re in expert hands.