The shoulder is an essential joint that is responsible for a lot of our daily upper body activities. The rotator cuff is a crucial component of the shoulder that is composed of muscles and soft tissues holding the shoulder in place and providing for a full range of motion. There are many different injuries or medical conditions that can cause problems with the rotator cuff and negatively impact the use of the entire arm.
Sometimes, surgery on the rotator cuff is the best option for treatment. However, there is the potential that your surgery will not correct the issue, or completely correct the issue, with your shoulder. In these cases, you may need to consider a revision rotator cuff surgery to address the remaining issues and get you back to your normal life as soon as possible.
Causes of Recurring Injuries To the Rotator Cuff
Revision rotator cuff surgery is a procedure to correct or complete a previous treatment to the rotator cuff. The revision may be to previous surgery, or could be built off of work done through a non-invasive procedure like physical therapy or other conservative treatments.
The following are just a few of the possible reasons that someone may need follow-up rotator cuff surgery before a new tear or additional damage to the rotator cuff happens:
Improper Diagnosis
In the event that your doctor somehow fails to identify that the pain in your shoulder is the result of a torn rotator cuff, you will almost certainly find that any treatments you undergo will not prove successful. In fact, a failure to identify a torn rotator cuff can lead to worsening injuries because of additional tearing through further incorrect treatment procedures.
No Changes to Pain
Suppose you have gone through treatment for a torn rotator cuff and found no change or reduction to the pain you were experiencing beforehand. In that case, a revision rotator cuff repair may be able to alleviate these symptoms by identifying additional factors and correcting them.
No Changes to Symptoms
If your symptoms have persisted after the completion of your previous treatment, whether surgery, physical therapy, or another approach, then it is safe to say that the treatment was unsuccessful. A revision rotator cuff surgery can help to correct this issue by identifying the persistent problems and correcting them with surgical intervention.
Is Revision Rotator Cuff Surgery Right For You?
If you are not recovering from persistent shoulder pain stemming from a rotator cuff tear, and have completed the suggested treatments with the support of your healthcare provider, then revision rotator cuff surgery may be the next option to consider. 1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service that can connect you with an experienced and certified professional in your area.