Will my shoulder ever be the same after surgery for a rotator cuff tear?
Ordinary mortals may not immediately recognize the significance of that painful snap in the upper arm following a fall or quick movement, but professional athletes certainly do. For most of us, a rotator cuff tear is serious. Depending on the severity of the tear, there will likely be periods of pain, decreased mobility and either some form of physical therapy or surgery to look forward to. All of that is also true for athletes, but the first thought that springs to mind for them is that this may have been the one single moment that ended their career.
Sadly, for all too many athletes, a rotator cuff tear does bring about the end of their playing days, or, at the very least, seriously affects the level of their success. It only takes a slight decrease in performance to lose a spot in a starting lineup or seed in a tournament. A few miles an hour off on a fastball can quickly send a pitcher back to the minors.
The good news, however, is that this is not always the case.
- Kobe Bryant played basketball at the superstar level for 20 years. One-thousand-three-hundred-forty-six regular-season games. But it is the very last one that he will be remembered for; the final 42 minutes of his career where he took 50 shots and scored 60 points, including the one that won the game — all little more than a year following rotator cuff surgery for an injury many thought would prevent him from ever playing again.
- Four seasons after a defensive lineman landed on his throwing arm and nearly tore his rotator cuff in two, Drew Brees lead the New Orleans Saints to their first ever Super Bowl victory. Combining the skills of an experienced and talented surgeon with a powerful work ethic and determination, Brees has become one of the best quarterbacks of all time and a symbol for the rebirth of a city following the destruction of hurricane Katrina.
- When Maria Sharapova suffered her rotator cuff tear, it took three years of less than stellar performances and a lot of losses to make her comeback. She initially tried rehab techniques but her decision to opt for surgery paid off when she won the 2012 French Open and became only the tenth female tennis player to complete a career Grand Slam.
The rotator cuff is a group of tendons and muscles that stabilize your shoulder joint. Your ability to lift and rotate your arm is entirely dependent on this mechanism, and, when it is torn, movement becomes painful and limited. Not all rotator cuff tears are the result of one incident. Often, this condition develops over time from normal wear and tear. Consistently repeating the same motion, like in sports or occupations that require doing the same function over and over, like window washing and house painting, are good examples.
It doesn’t matter what you do for a living or how it happened, a rotator cuff tear is serious. There is a good chance that surgery will not be required, but it is important to not ignore the symptoms. Left untreated, relatively minor symptoms can lead to conditions like a frozen shoulder or arthritis, which may be more difficult to treat.
The key to a successful recovery is to immediately consult with your healthcare professional. After a thorough physical examination of the shoulder, including range of motion and muscle strength, additional testing may be suggested. This will provide a clear picture that will aid your doctor in making suggestions on the best way of moving forward. Treatment may include physical therapy, over-the-counter pain medications to reduce pain and inflammation and possible surgery.
For over 25 years, Peter McCann, MD has specialized in the treatment of shoulder and elbow injuries and conditions. Highly regarded for providing personalized service to his patients, Dr. McCann is Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and holds the academic title of Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. If you are experiencing arm or shoulder pain or have questions about rotator cuff tears or any of our other services, we invite you to schedule a consultation by simply calling (212) 844-6735 or using our convenient online form by clicking here.
