The rotator cuff consists of a small group of muscles and tendons, and because of their small size, they are prone to injury. It’s common for those who use their shoulders a lot (weight lifters, especially) to wear them down and eventually succumb to injury. Sometimes, the only way to repair these injuries is by medical means, and the best method to accomplish this is arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery. If you have shoulder pain that will not seem to go away, contact us right away.
What is Arthroscopic Surgery?
Arthroscopic surgery is a surgical procedure where the physician inserts a camera into the the body, observes the problem areas, and decides the best way to proceed with surgery. In the case of your rotator cuff, arthroscopy allows the doctor to see where it has been damaged without having to make dramatic incisions. Without the use of a camera, our doctor would have to make a larger cut and detach your muscles in order to see where your rotator cuff has been damaged; this would leave a larger scar and possibly cause more complications.
Who is a Good Candidate for Treatment?
The rotator cuff can easily become damaged due to a number circumstances. Falling on your arm or activities that require heavy use of your shoulder and wear it down over time can cause tendons in the shoulder to tear or get pinched by the bones surrounding them. If you experience shoulder pain, have tried over-the-counter medication to relieve your pain, and have not seen any improvement after a certain amount of time, then arthroscopic rotator cuff repair surgery may be of benefit to you.
You can definitely benefit from surgery if you have lost a lot of strength in your shoulder and rely on it to fulfill the requirements of your job or play sports. If it has not healed after an extended period of time, it most likely will not improve without medical assistance.
What are the Benefits of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair?
The greatest benefit of arthroscopic surgery is that the recovery time is shorter than that of open surgery. Because the procedure is less extreme with arthroscopy, the process as a whole will be less invasive.
If you’ve been experiencing chronic shoulder pain with no relief from medicine, it might be time to have a professional take a look. Consult the experts at Angelo Mattalino, MD in Phoenix, AZ during schedule your initial consultation. Contact us today to book an appointment and learn more.