Jim Batuyong

Symptoms of A Rotator Cuff Injury and When You Should See Your Doctor

Rotator cuff injuries are nothing to be taken lightly. Although it is not widely known, rotator cuff injuries are actually very common. How do you know if you have a serious injury or not? Here are the most common symptoms associated with a rotator cuff injury.

Rotator cuff injuries are nothing to be taken lightly. Although it is not widely known, rotator cuff injuries are actually very common. Commonly thought of as a sports related injury, many people don't realize you have just as much of a chance of injuring your rotator cuff at work as you do on the athletic field of your choice. But how do you know if you have a serious injury or not? Here are the most common symptoms associated with a rotator cuff injury.

1. Pain and Tenderness.

If you experience pain or tenderness when reaching, lifting or pulling with your arm, it's could be a sign of a more serious shoulder injury. When trying to perform simple everyday tasks like brushing your hair become difficult to do because of the pain, that's when you know you have a problem. Also, if you experience pain when you roll over onto that shoulder in bed, it could be related to a rotator cuff issue.

2. Loss of Range of Motion

Range of motion is the normal movement you can usually make with your arm. If you are unable to lift your arm over your head or have trouble reaching behind you or to your side, it's usually from some type of shoulder problem.

3. Weakness of the Shoulder

When attempting to lift, pull or push objects with an injured shoulder, you may find they feel heavier than usual or you may not even be able to perform simple tasks you could before.

4. Favoring Arm or Trying to Keep Inactive

You may not realize how much your injured shoulder is affecting your everyday life. So if you find yourself favoring or trying to use your other arm to do things, you might have a bigger problem than you realize. Pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you.

Now that you understand the most common symptoms of rotator cuff injuries, you should also know when they are serious enough to seek medical attention. Given the fact that the most common symptom is pain, how much pain is too much before you get help? Well a good rule to follow is when the pain lasts longer than one week, go see your doctor.

Furthermore on the subject of pain, if you are experiencing serious pain, the kind you can't make stop, it's time to make an appointment with your doctor. Serious pain in the shoulder usually means there is something very wrong in your rotator cuff. It is in your best interest to see your doctor to find out if that pain is being caused by a serious tear in part of your rotator cuff. This would explain the constant pain and discomfort and needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.

The final reason you want to consider contacting your doctor about a possibly serious rotator cuff injury is if you just can't seem to use your arm to do easy tasks. Don't take this warning lightly. If you do not get the necessary help to repair your injured shoulder, you are likely to experience continued and increasing pain every day.

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