A shoulder that suddenly stops cooperating and hurts

You lift a suitcase to place it on a high shelf and your arm suddenly loses strength. During a tennis serve, you feel a sharp tug in your shoulder.

Even an ordinary wave of the hand in greeting can now hurt. This is not a ‘strained muscle’ that will heal by itself after a few days of rest. It is probably an injury to a rotator cuff tendon.

What is actually happening?

The rotator cuff consists of four main tendons surrounding and moving the shoulder joint. They act like taut ropes holding a mast: they keep the humeral head exactly in the center of the socket while allowing the arm to move freely. When a tendon is partially or completely torn, the humeral head loses secure support. The arm still moves, but without its former strength and stability; every overhead movement can cause sharp pain, and shoulder strength decreases.

It is most often the result of years of work under load or gradual degenerative fraying of the tendon. Sometimes the injury occurs suddenly after a fall onto the shoulder, a forceful tug, lifting something heavy, or a shoulder dislocation.

How can you recognize it?

  • pain appears when you reach overhead,
  • pain wakes you at night when you lie on the affected shoulder,
  • you lack the strength to hold even a light bag in an outstretched hand,
  • you begin avoiding front crawl or other movements with the arm overhead.

Why you should not wait

A partially torn tendon may fail to heal on its own, and the damage may enlarge over time. The muscle that works through this tendon weakens and gradually atrophies, and eventually this process can no longer be reversed.

The earlier we repair the tendon, the easier recovery is and the more predictable the result. Later, when muscle atrophy has developed, repair may be insufficient and the surgical outcome is much worse. A shoulder treated early returns to full strength much more often than one left untreated for years.

How we help

We begin with a consultation and shoulder ultrasound, which shows which rotator cuff tendon is damaged, how large the defect is, and whether the tendon is partially or completely torn. This image determines further management. In some cases, magnetic resonance imaging may be necessary.

For a partial injury, we usually begin with non-surgical treatment: rehabilitation to strengthen the remaining shoulder muscles and anti-inflammatory medication, sometimes supported by an injection of a steroid or platelet-rich plasma. The aim is to reduce pain, relieve the injured tendon, and then stimulate it to heal.

When this is not enough or the tendon is completely torn, we repair it arthroscopically. Through several incisions a few millimeters in size, we insert a small camera that displays the enlarged inside of the shoulder on a monitor and use miniature anchors to reattach the tendon to the bone. This allows you to regain function faster, with only small scars.

There is one goal: a shoulder into which you can once again put all your strength.

Book a consultation

If you recognize these symptoms, do not wait until the tendon tears completely. Make an appointment for a consultation. We will assess how serious the damage is and tell you whether rehabilitation is enough or the tendon needs surgical repair.