Rotator Cuff Injury
Located in the shoulder, the rotator cuff is a group of four muscles and tendons that surround the joint. If you injure your rotator cuff, it can cause immense pain and even disability in your shoulder's range of motion. Rotator cuff injuries can occur to any of the muscles and tendons involved. They happen for various reasons, including:
- Acute injuries from a fall or accident
- Extreme overuse in sports or on the job
- Injuries that occur over time from gradual aging
The most common kinds of rotator cuff injuries result from constantly moving your arms above your head, which is common in many hands-on jobs and even more often during sports that require you to throw a ball, swing a racquet or club or even lift a weight. In Midtown Manhattan, your sports medicine and pain management team of experts keeps athletes apprised of potential strains and tears of the rotator cuff to prevent further injury and provide the best rotator cuff injury treatment in New York City.
Rotator Cuff Injury NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
Ready to get relief from a rotator cuff injury?
Same-day rotator cuff injury appointments available.
Symptoms Are Usually Painful
Shoulder injuries caused by rotator cuff injuries can be extremely painful. But if you keep in mind the different causes and symptoms that can arise, you're more likely to seek appropriate medical attention when you suffer the injury. Some symptoms you can experience with rotator cuff injuries include:
Rotator cuff injuries can range in severity from just a mild ache or joint inflammation to a tear in the rotator cuff that may require surgery to fix. See your doctor immediately if there's a loss of motion in your arm after the injury occurs. Ask him, "How do I know I have a rotator cuff injury, and what is the best treatment for a rotator cuff injury?"
Get a Professional Injury Diagnosis
After your doctor has compiled your medical history — including the specifics about your pain and recent injuries to your shoulder — your doctor works to discover the injury through a thorough physical examination. You may have to go through a series of activities so your sports doctor to determine what is the best treatment for a rotator cuff injury. The series of tests involves moving your arm in various positions as well as testing the strength of the muscles in your shoulder and arm. From there, your doctor can prescribe the proper rotator cuff injury treatment plan for you.
In more serious cases, your doctor may use x-rays, ultrasound or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to determine the nature of your injury. In worst cases, surgery may be needed to fix any complications that occurred, but that's always the last option explored. The kinds of rotator cuff injuries you may experience include:
Acute rotator cuff tear.
This can come from a forceful upper arm movement that can result from heavy lifting or throwing.
Chronic tear.
This is a more severe tear than usual, which results from a sport that requires constant overhead activity, like baseball and basketball, for example.
Tendonitis.
Tendonitis is a different kind of inflammation that occurs with the wearing down of the muscles and tendons with age.
The best way to ensure a safe and healthy recovery process is to consult with your doctor to get the best rotator cuff injury treatment for your situation. With the physical examination and other tests, your doctor can recommend a variety of different treatment options that are available.
Ready to find relief from a rotator cuff injury?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
What is the Best Treatment for a Rotator Cuff Injury?
Treatment for a rotator cuff injury can include anything from conservative treatments to surgery. Initially, if the physical examination proves negative on a severe injury, then rest, ice, and physical therapy are all used to rebuild strength in your arm and make for a safe and condensed rotator cuff injury treatment. Other non-surgical options for treatment for a rotator cuff injury include:
- Steroid Injections, which are used to decrease inflammation that may have occurred in the shoulder joint from the injury
- A therapeutic ultrasound
- Shockwave therapy
- Dry needling to relax the muscles in your arms
Speak with your sports medicine doctor in New York City to find the best treatment for you. With an expert onboard, you can look forward to a safe recovery from a rotator cuff injury and get back to your regular activities as soon as possible.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Rotator Cuff Injury Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to rotator cuff injuries is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Rotator Cuff Injury Patients Say
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."