Can a Rotator Cuff Tear Heal on Its Own?

You don’t realize how much you use your shoulder until it hurts.

As about 2 million people in the United States find out each year, a rotator cuff tear is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain.

If you’re one of them, you want to get your shoulder back to its normal condition, so you need a treatment plan. The question is, can a rotator cuff tear heal on its own, or does it require surgery?

Based on our experience treating many rotator cuff injuries over the years at Steven E. Nolan, MD, the answer is no, rotator cuff tears don’t usually heal on their own.

However, with proper treatment, you can learn to live with a partial tear.

What is your rotator cuff?

Your shoulder has a good range of motion because it’s a ball-and-socket joint that allows plenty of movement. To keep the joint from sliding out of place as it moves, a cuff of four muscles and tendons surrounds the ball, providing stabilization. 

A rotator cuff tear occurs when one of the tendons in the cuff pulls or tears away from your humerus, or upper arm bone. This can happen due to a fall or other sudden injury, or making the same repetitive motion over time.

You can experience either a partial tear, where the tendon is still attached somewhat to the bone, or a complete tear, where the tendon separates completely from the bone, leaving a hole or rip in the tendon.

What are the symptoms of a tear?

People don’t always notice right away when they tear their rotator cuff, especially if it’s a partial tear. Over time, though, the following symptoms will eventually point to a rotator cuff injury:

• Difficulty raising your arm
• Pain and weakness in your arm and shoulder
• Struggling to lift items you can normally carry
• Hearing a clicking or popping sound when you move your shoulder
• Shoulder pain that gets worse at night

If you notice these symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Left untreated, the damage could become worse.

How are tears treated?

So, back to our original question. Will a rotator cuff heal on its own?

No, your injury will likely not heal on its own. However, depending on the severity of the injury, you may or may not need surgery. Most people who experience a partial tear can learn to live with the injury as they decrease their pain and increase their functionality.

Dr. Nolan typically prescribes several treatments to this end, including:

Rest: This includes activity modification (and possibly an arm sling) so your shoulder can have time to rest and recover.

Anti-inflammatory medications: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help minimize pain and swelling.

Steroid injections: If you need more relief, an injection of cortisone can diminish your inflammation and pain even more.

Physical therapy: A good physical therapist will assemble a program that strengthens the muscles around your shoulder to relieve the burden on your rotator cuff. 

When do you need surgery?

If these measures make no difference and you continue to experience pain in your shoulder, surgery will likely be necessary to repair the rotator cuff. Or, if Dr. Nolan diagnoses a complete tear from the beginning, he performs arthroscopic surgery to reattach the tendon to the bone.

If you suspect your shoulder pain is due to a rotator cuff tear, our team at Steven E. Nolan, MD, can guide you to the best treatment options. To schedule an appointment, call our Sugar Land office or use our online scheduler anytime.