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What Are the Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injury?

Debra Durkee
Debra Durkee

An injury to the shoulder's rotator cuff can be as minor as a muscle strain or as severe as a torn tendon, and the symptoms of rotator cuff injury vary based on how severe that injury is. Mild symptoms include pain when moving the arm and shoulder outside the normal range of motion, or difficulty moving the arm through the full range. There may also be aches and pain in the shoulder after sitting in the same position for a long time, or the individual may find sleep difficult because of the pain of putting pressure on or around the rotator cuff.

Most injuries to the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff involve pain. Even minor injuries such as straining muscles from repeated activities, like lifting boxes from the floor to the back of a truck, can result in twinges of pain. Often, the symptoms of rotator cuff injury are worst when lifting the arm up high, such as taking something off a shelf or reaching up to close curtains. These kinds of injuries can generally heal over time, with proper rest of the damage muscle or tendon.

Heavy lifting may cause a rotator cuff injury.
Heavy lifting may cause a rotator cuff injury.

Different types of pain occur as symptoms of rotator cuff injury. A constant, throbbing pain in the shoulder can sometimes be managed with over-the-counter pain medications and generally gets better with a few days of rest. At other times, there may be a sharp, stabbing pain that gets worse with certain movements. This often indicates a tear in the muscle or tendon, and can be accompanied by difficulty lifting the arm and a lack of strength in the muscles of the arm and shoulder.

Rotator cuff injury may cause sleep disturbances.
Rotator cuff injury may cause sleep disturbances.

If the individual repeats constant motions that irritate but do not tear any of the muscles or tendons, he or she may develop aches and pains that come and go, as well as periods of reduced strength and difficulty in moving the arm. Pressure on the arm and shoulder may make this worse, and these symptoms of rotator cuff injury may begin to interfere with sleep. Usually, there are also difficulties in moving the arm in the direction supported by the injured areas.

Pain medication may be required to manage pain associated with a rotator cuff injury.
Pain medication may be required to manage pain associated with a rotator cuff injury.

In some cases, there may be signs of inflammation around the joint and shoulder. This is caused by the immune system's response to the damage; when torn or damaged tissues are flooded with cells from the immune system, there can be a buildup of fluid, tenderness, and minor swelling. Swelling of the shoulder generally means that the injury is a severe one and may require medical attention in order to ensure proper care.

Discussion Comments

SarahSon

Some people can go for many years without treating rotator cuff injuries, and then it seems like they start having more symptoms. This is what happened to my mom.

She had an old rotator cuff injury diagnosis, but did not have much problem for many years. I don't know if it was a combination of the old injury and arthritis from aging, but she eventually had surgery because the pain became too great. It seemed to be the shooting pains that became more frequent.

Surgery turned out to be a good option for her, as she has not had to put up with that type of pain since she recovered from the surgery.

John57

I was involved in a motorcycle accident, and did not suffer any serious injuries. After a few months I started having pain in the shoulder that I fell on when I fell off the bike.

I had some nagging discomfort, and sometimes some sharp, stabbing pains when I moved my shoulder a certain way. A friend told me it sounded like I had torn rotator cuff symptoms, and she was right.

I have been able to manage it so far without any surgery or steroid shots.

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    • Heavy lifting may cause a rotator cuff injury.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Heavy lifting may cause a rotator cuff injury.
    • Rotator cuff injury may cause sleep disturbances.
      By: Alex Bramwell
      Rotator cuff injury may cause sleep disturbances.
    • Pain medication may be required to manage pain associated with a rotator cuff injury.
      By: zaretskaya
      Pain medication may be required to manage pain associated with a rotator cuff injury.
    • Baseball pitching can cause rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder.
      By: CPonder
      Baseball pitching can cause rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder.
    • Most injuries to the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff involve pain.
      By: Dirima
      Most injuries to the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff involve pain.