Rotator Cuff Tear Specialist
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Eastern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine & New York Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Kenneth Alleyne, MD, FAAOS
Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon & Sports Medicine located in Bloomfield, CT, South Windsor, CT, Tolland, CT & New York, NY
If you ask an orthopedic practitioner which injury they treat the most often, chances are they’re going to answer: “Shoulder injuries.” Among these injuries, rotator cuff damage is among the most frequent, and a rotator cuff tear can even make sleep difficult. At Eastern Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Bloomfield and South Windsor, Connecticut and Midtown East of New York, New York, Dr. Kenneth Alleyne specializes in diagnosing and treating such injuries with the latest in minimally invasive, state-of-the-art options. If you’re suffering from what you believe is a rotator cuff tear or similar shoulder injury, call Dr. Alleyne to schedule your consultation, or book online.
Rotator Cuff Tear
What is a rotator cuff tear?
Your shoulder is made of many interlocking parts, and among them is the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is actually a series of muscles and tendons that surround your shoulder joint, helping keep your upper arm bone attached to your shoulder socket.
Like the name suggests, a rotator cuff tear occurs when one of these tendons or muscles become so damaged that they tear.
What are the symptoms of a rotator cuff tear?
If you’re suffering from a rotator cuff tear, you’re probably experiencing one or several of the following symptoms:
- Pain when lifting and lowering your arm
- Pain at rest and at night, particularly when you sleep on the injured side
- Weakness while lifting or rotating your arm
- A “crackling” sensation when moving your arm in some positions
Left untreated, a rotator cuff tear can lead to permanent loss of mobility in your shoulder.
Who gets rotator cuff tears?
Rotator cuff injuries, including tears, occur most frequently in people who engage in activities that require repetitive overhead arm movements. Swimmers, carpenters, pitchers, and tennis players are all examples of people who might be at greater risk for a tear.
Other risk factors include age and family history. The natural wear and tear produced on the rotator cuff over the years can leave it more susceptible to a tear, and rotator cuff tears seem to run in certain families.
How are rotator cuff tears treated?
How Dr. Alleyne treats your rotator cuff tear depends on the severity and location of your tear. For less serious injuries and some partial tears, nonsurgical treatment might be all you need to recover. This may include plenty of rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory medication.
For more serious injuries such as full tears, Dr. Alleyne may need to perform minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery to correct the tear. This typically involves reattaching a tendon to the upper arm bone or head of the shoulder.
If you’re suffering from symptoms that suggest a rotator cuff tear, Dr. Alleyne can provide a fast, effective diagnosis and treatment. Call to schedule your consultation, or book online.
