| It can happen in an instant and leave a person wishing | | | | small incision and does tend to enable a patient to heal |
| they'd only suffered a break. A rotator cuff tear is a | | | | much more quickly. |
| painful injury that can have serious implications if left | | | | Still, there are times when alternatives to surgery make |
| unchecked. Even with all its advantages, arthroscopic | | | | more sense. If a tear is very minor or the desire to |
| rotator cuff surgery is likely something most people | | | | enjoy full strength simply isn't there, surgery doesn't |
| would prefer to avoid. The question is: Is it possible to | | | | have to be a part of recovery. To make sure that |
| avoid the need? | | | | non-surgical interventions are successful, patients need |
| Avoiding the need to undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff | | | | to remember to: |
| surgery will depend a lot on the severity of the tear | | | | - Report for physical therapy - Physical therapy can |
| involved. In some cases, surgery is the best bet for | | | | sometimes be used to help a patient regain some |
| enabling a person to better enjoy a full range of | | | | range of motion and prevent future injuries after a tear |
| motion. It is also quite often required to help restore | | | | has healed. During the healing time, however, it is vital |
| strength to a damaged shoulder. Even with minor | | | | for patients to avoid strenuous activity and exercise |
| rotator cuff tears, surgical procedures are sometimes | | | | that may further damage the rotator cuff. If the tendon |
| simply the best way to fix the problem and enable a | | | | is torn further, surgery might be the only option for |
| person to go on with life without pain, discomfort or | | | | repairing the damage. |
| limited mobility. | | | | - Take medications - Anti-inflammatory medications |
| Arthroscopic shoulder surgery is relatively minor in the | | | | might be prescribed to help a person deal with the |
| grand scheme of things. Unlike open procedures that | | | | discomfort of a tear. These, too, can prevent swelling |
| involve a larger incisions and longer recovery periods, | | | | in the injured area. If care with movement is coupled |
| arthroscopic procedures are a bit kinder on the body. | | | | with the right medications, it is sometimes feasible to |
| During this type of surgery, a surgeon uses a | | | | repair a shoulder enough to avoid the need for |
| video-guided instrument to repair the tear in the rotator | | | | arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery. |
| cuff's tendon. This procedure only involves a very | | | | |