How Long Does Rotator Cuff Tear Pain Last?

In the middle of routine physical activity or following a fall or injury, you feel aching or stabbing pain in your shoulder. It becomes nearly impossible to raise your arm. You may have suffered a rotator cuff injury or even a complete tear.

This type of shoulder injury often occurs due to intense or repetitive stress. How long does rotator cuff tear pain last, and what are you looking at in terms of post-injury recovery?

If you suspect a rotator cuff injury, seek evaluation and care at Burlingame Orthopedics in Burlingame, California, as soon as possible. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Han and his team help you understand your injury, treatment options, and what to expect from your recovery.

Understanding your rotator cuff pain

The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons. Each of your shoulder joints contains a rotator cuff. You rely on this part of the shoulder joint in order to move your arm upward.

If the tendons in your rotator cuff suffer too much stress in one traumatic event or through repeated smaller stresses that build up wear-and-tear over time, the tendon can pull away from your upper arm bone completely. This injury is a rotator cuff tear. You can also experience a partial rotator cuff tear, which doesn’t fully pull the tendon away from the bone.

If you tear a rotator cuff, your symptoms may include shoulder pain or weakness, potentially accompanied by a clicking, popping, or cracking sound when you try to move your arm. Your arm motion may be limited, making it difficult to raise your arm or pick things up.

Pain from a rotator cuff tear may be deep and aching or may feel stabbing. Symptoms of pain and discomfort in the affected shoulder may be mild or severe and often worsen at night or when your arm is resting.

If you experience lingering shoulder pain, get checked out by an orthopedics expert to learn if a rotator cuff injury could be the cause of your symptoms. Without the right treatment, the injury may worsen, potentially resulting in chronic shoulder pain haunting you for years to come.

What to expect from your rotator cuff tear recovery

One of the first questions patients at Burlingame Orthopedics ask after receiving a rotator cuff tear diagnosis is how long pain symptoms last and what to expect from recovery. If you’re an athlete waiting to return to your sport or a professional who works with heavy machinery that causes a lot of shoulder stress, you don’t want to put your life on hold for too long.

Mild rotator cuff tendinitis may clear up in 2-4 weeks with rest and the right care. In moderate rotator cuff injuries, symptoms can last several weeks or months. Treatments like pain injections help with symptom relief during this time.

You should know that total rotator cuff tears typically require multiple months for full symptom relief. It can take a full year or longer to recover from a severe rotator cuff tear. Seeking treatment early often shortens overall recovery time.

Recovery from rotator cuff surgery

You may need surgical treatment or may be able to recover without surgery. A torn rotator cuff tear won’t heal without surgery, but physical therapy to strengthen neighboring muscles may reduce pain and maintain functionality. If you plan on putting your shoulder through intense stress in the future, you most likely need surgery to repair the tear.

Dr. Han and the Burlingame Orthopedics team perform surgical rotator cuff repair arthroscopically whenever possible, working through tiny incisions to reduce post-procedure recovery time. Following surgery, you immobilize and support your arm with a sling for 4-6 weeks. 

Your recovery may be complete after 4-6 months. In some cases, you may need as long as a year to a year and a half to fully recover.

The quickest way to improve pain from a rotator cuff injury is to seek professional evaluation as soon as you become aware of the problem. Contact the Burlingame Orthopedics team with your shoulder joint and pain-related questions today. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone now.