How long does it take torn shoulder muscle to heal?

Moderate sprains or strains may take as long as six to eight weeks before you can resume day-to-day shoulder activities. Severe strains or sprains may feel better within four to six weeks, but they need three to five months of rehabilitation before resuming full shoulder activity.

How do I know if I’ve torn my rotator cuff?

The most common symptoms of a rotator cuff tear include:

1. Pain at rest and at night, particularly if lying on the affected shoulder.
2. Pain when lifting and lowering your arm or with specific movements.
3. Weakness when lifting or rotating your arm.
4. Crepitus or crackling sensation when moving your shoulder in certain positions.

What are the symptoms of a torn ligament in the shoulder?

Common symptoms of a shoulder ligament tear are:

• Shoulder pain and swelling.
• Increased pain with arm movement or shrugging your shoulder.
• Distortion in the normal contour of the shoulder.

What does a partially torn rotator cuff feel like?

It’s common to feel locking, catching, and even popping sensations in your shoulder. Other frequently reported symptoms include shoulder stiffness, reduced range of motion, swelling, and tenderness. Rotator cuff tears can happen immediately after a traumatic event, like after a fall, and symptoms can be immediate.

What happens if you don’t repair a torn rotator cuff?

Without any treatment—either rest and rehabilitation or surgery—rotator cuff disorders may get worse. Over time, you may have more pain. You may lose range of motion and strength in your shoulder, making it harder to do your daily activities.

What happens if a torn rotator cuff goes untreated?

If left untreated, a rotator cuff tear can severely restrict function and range of motion. The tears can also increase over time. This may cause partial rotator cuff tears to progress to total tears.

What happens if you don’t fix a torn rotator cuff?

Your doctor may recommend rotator cuff surgery if: You are young and your tendon tissue is strong and healthy. There is a good chance that your tear will get worse over time. You had a forceful injury to your shoulder, such as during an activity or car crash.

What does a muscle tear in the shoulder feel like?

Symptoms include pain, a decrease in range of motion, and instability, which can feel like your shoulder may shift out of place. You may not notice a very small tear, whereas a complete tear can cause persistent, aching pain accompanied by weakness or even paralysis in the affected arm.

Can you wait too long for rotator cuff surgery?

The bottom line is that based on these studies, 6 months appears to a reasonable timeline within which to repair the rotator cuff and optimize one’s outcome. When delayed, there is often progression in tear size and a decreased biologic potential for healing.

Can a torn rotator cuff heal on its own without surgery?

Even though most tears cannot heal on their own, good function can often be achieved without surgery. If, however, you are active and use your arm for overhead work or sports, then surgery is most often recommended because many tears will not heal without surgery.

Is rotator cuff injury permanent?

Without treatment, rotator cuff problems may lead to permanent loss of motion or weakness, and may result in progressive degeneration of the shoulder joint.

Can you still lift your arm with a torn rotator cuff?

A partial or complete rotator cuff tear makes it difficult to raise and move your arm. You may have shoulder pain and arm weakness.