Surgery for rotator cuff repair is no walk in the park, but then again neither are the conditions and injuries that lead up to the need for this type of operation. There are things you can do to prevent problems and even fix them if they exist. It's important to take the right steps to prevent the pain, discomfort and all around inconvenience that shoulder conditions can present.
To best understand how you can prevent the need for surgery for rotator cuff repair, it helps to understand a few of the major issues that can have normally active people lying on their backs and being wheeled into an operating room. Some common issues that can present the need for surgery include:
- Frozen shoulders - In this very unusual condition, the shoulder itself locks up. This is generally due to the buildup of scar tissue around the rotator cuff. Surgery can correct this, but it is often possible to use other remedies to break through the problem and restore range of motion.
- Tears - Surgery for rotator cuff repair quite frequently follows accidents that lead to rotator cuff tears. How extensive the surgical procedure will need to be to repair a tear will depend on the tear itself. Laser surgery is not at all uncommon in minor tears. Unfortunately, open surgery is sometimes required even for minor tears.
Although it's not always feasible to prevent the need for surgery for rotator cuff repair, there are some things you can do to improve your chances. For example:
- Take care during activities - Rotator cuff tears frequently happen during sports and other physically strenuous activities. Try to take care and avoid overextending the shoulders to prevent tears. Unfortunately, not all tears are consciously preventable, but some are. Minor tears can sometimes heal over time and with therapy. Major tears, however, commonly require surgical repair.
- Seek alternatives for frozen shoulder - Frozen shoulder surgery can often be prevented through the use of physical therapy, at-home exercise, anti-inflammatory medications and other similar treatments. If preventing the need for surgery for rotator cuff repair is the plan, exhausting all other options first is a very good idea.
If you want to prevent the need to undergo surgery for rotator cuff repair, there are things you can do to help yourself. To learn more, click here:
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