Monday, February 21

Dealing with Supraspinatus Tendonitis Issues

By Tom Nicholson


When a physician tells a patient that they have supraspinatus tendonitis, or rotator cuff tendonitis, as it is also called, most people want to know what they can do to help better the injury. While we will talk about some of the treatments available, let's first look at this type of injury in a general way.

As you may know, the name rotator cuff tendonitis was given to the condition because it is connected to the shoulder, which is made up mostly of three different bones being the clavicle, scapula, and humerus, and four muscles - Supraspinatus, Infraspinatus, Teres minor, and Subscapularisto.

Certainly, every muscle in this group has a particular purpose in order to make sure that the ball joint in the shoulder stays secure inside the socket. When the supraspinatus tendon becomes damaged, the problem is diagnosed as being supraspinatus tendonitis, or what is known as rotator cuff tendonitis.

Even though this condition often tends to be prevalent in certain sports such as tennis, swimming, rowing, and baseball, it can also result from a number of different occupations. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for the elderly to end up suffering from the condition as well. In fact, anyone who falls accidentally and lands on their shoulder could essentially end up with the condition due to the tendons being injured.

One thing is certain, and that is that this affliction can end up in treacherous pain often. Of course, if you are playing a sport, supraspinatus tendonitis might prevent you from playing until you can receive effective treatment.

In the vast majority of cases, supraspinatus tendonitis can be treated without the need for surgery, although if the tendon has become severely injured, then surgery may very well be the only option. Usually however, the condition can be treated by means of physiotherapy together with medication for the relief of pain and to reduce inflammation.

Before choosing surgery, the physiotherapist will try to help the condition by concentrating on strengthening the muscles around the damaged one to compensate for the one that had been injured. This may hurt very much because you may be given a corticosteroid injection. If you suffer from a mild case of supraspinatus tendonitis, then you can treat it yourself, but you should still go see your doctor about treatment and medications.

To a great extent, plenty of rest will usually allow the shoulder to repair itself, and until such time, it should not be subjected to any form of stress. During the period of, convalescence, you may find it useful to use ice packs and heat pads as well. While the ice packs help to reduce swelling, the heat packs help to tighten the muscles. Additionally, while a certain amount of exercise is crucial, care should be taken not to overdo it.

Bear in mind though that if the injury is causing so much pain that you are reluctant to move your arm, it's vital for you to go and see a doctor. This is because, by the time the condition has reached this stage, professional help is usually required.




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