How is a torn rotator cuff treated?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and physical therapy are necessary when a rotator cuff muscle is inflamed. The physical therapy regimen may include muscle strengthening and ultrasound treatment. Applying ice directly to the area that is most painful also can help to reduce swelling and relieve pain. A steroid injection can also relieve the pain and inflammation. This especially provides relief of tendinitis of the rotator cuff. However, when the rotator cuff is partially or completely torn, physical therapy and muscle strengthening is not always helpful. In these cases arthroscopic surgery is usually necessary to shave the undersurface of the bone that catches on the rotator cuff. Anything on the rotator cuff muscle that may be impinging on the undersurface of the bone can be removed at the same time. If the muscle is completely torn, then it is necessary to reattach the rotator cuff to bone. This can be done arthroscopically or through a small skin incision approximately two
