A 44-year-old member asked:
what is a torn rotator cuff tendon like?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A Verified Doctoranswered
A US doctor answeredLearn more
Weakness, pain: You have weakness when trying to raise your arm over your head, associated with pain. Typically rotating your arm in or out (such as with putting on a shirt) is also painful. An MRI of your shoulder can diagnose it best.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

Dr. Robert Coats IIanswered
Orthopedic Surgery 23 years experience
Painful and weak: A torn rotator cuff tendon is usually quite painful, especially at night or during forceful shoulder motion. The rotator cuff starts out as 4 individual muscle attached to the shoulder blade. As they approach there insertion onto the tuberosities of the humerus, they come together to make a tendonus cuff. When this cuff of tissue is torn, active shoulder motion becomes difficult. Needs surgery.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Shawn Hennigananswered
Orthopedic Surgery 27 years experience
Rotator cuff tear: Most common complaints associated with a rotator cuff tendon tear include pain in the upper arm, increases with lifting or reaching, pain at night, and sometimes weakness with lifting.
5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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Last updated Jan 17, 2019
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