Will My Rotator Cuff Injury Heal on Its Own?

Depending on the type of problem you have, a rotator cuff injury may not heal on its own, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need surgery to regain the use of your shoulder. 

At Orthopedic & Wellness in Frederick, Waldorf, and Germantown, Maryland, our orthopedic and pain management physicians — Dr. Ojedapo Ojeyemi and Dr. Matthew Roh — take a patient-centered approach to care, creating plans that provide the best possible results.

With a rotator cuff injury, our goal is to reduce shoulder pain and restore function. Here, we describe this common shoulder injury and your treatment options.

The rotator cuff

Your shoulder is the most flexible joint in the body, giving you the ability to move your arm in all directions. The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that wrap around the upper part of your arm and attach to the shoulder blade, keeping the ball and socket joint together.

Your rotator cuff allows you to raise and rotate your arm. It’s also important for throwing, helping pull the arm behind the back and then thrusting it overhead and forward.

Rotator cuff injuries

When you think of a rotator cuff injury, you may automatically jump to rotator cuff tears. While these are common shoulder injuries, other conditions can affect the rotator cuff. Common rotator cuff injuries include:

Tendonitis

Tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons, the strong connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone. In the rotator cuff, tendonitis occurs from overuse of the shoulder. This is a common injury for throwing athletes. 

Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, which are fluid-filled sacs located between the muscle and bone, providing cushion. Like tendonitis, bursitis is an overuse injury that occurs from the repetitive rubbing of the muscle and bone on the bursa. 

Rotator cuff tear

A rotator cuff tear means there is a partial or complete tear of one of the tendons that attaches the rotator cuff to the bone. Though you can tear any of the tendons, tears most often involve the supraspinatus tendon in the back of the shoulder.

Tears may occur from an acute injury, like falling onto an outstretched arm. However, most rotator cuff tears occur from general wear-and-tear that occurs over time, weakening the connective tissue, making it more vulnerable to injuries. 

Rotator cuff injuries are more common as you get older. Athletes and people with jobs that require repetitive shoulder use are also more likely to have this type of injury.

Treatment for rotator cuff injuries

Treatment for rotator cuff injuries depends on the type of injury you have, the severity of your symptoms, and how your injury affects your life. 

For tendonitis and bursitis, we recommend activity modification to limit the use of the shoulder, giving the injury a chance to heal on its own, and these injuries heal with time. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help with pain and inflammation. We may also refer you to physical therapy for a program that improves strength in the supportive muscles, reducing stress on the rotator cuff. 

A rotator cuff tear may not heal on its own. Initial treatment for this type of injury includes activity modification, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and steroid injections to reduce inflammation and promote healing. If you have a full tear, an acute tear, or continued pain after conservative interventions, then we may recommend shoulder surgery to repair it. 

Most people with a partial rotator cuff tear don’t need surgery, but it can take a long time to regain full use of the shoulder. We also offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to support the body’s healing process.

Although some rotator cuff injuries improve with time, it’s essential to seek treatment for shoulder pain sooner rather than later. It’s never a good idea to work through the pain because it may worsen your injury and delay recovery.

We offer all treatment options for rotator cuff injuries and can help you get relief from your shoulder pain and restore function. Call our office or book an appointment online to consult with our specialists today.