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Reader Stories: How I Tore My Rotator Cuff

By , About.com Guide

Updated May 30, 2011

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Rotator cuff tears are an injury to the tendons that surround the shoulder joint. Rotator cuff tears can occur during sports activities, falls, or from overuse. There are different ways to tear a rotator cuff, but everyone has a story. Share how you tore your rotator cuff, and what you learned from the events of that injury.

How I Did It

Rehab From Hip Surgery Leads To Shoulder Problem

I knew I had done something wrong at that point, as it was constantly hurting, but thought it would heal on its own. It felt like a strain or a strain. I could not reach behind me with that arm. Gett…More

Doctors & PTs Work Together

I actually didn't have any shoulder pain until about 3 weeks after the injury. All the pain was in my elbow. My shoulder was tight and stiff, but I just thought it was bruised. I did seek medical tre…More

Lifting at Work

I did not know my rotator cuff was torn, it was some time later after x-rays and ultra sounds, I have one more appointment for an MRI I have been going to physiothrapy, and I've just started acupunct…More

Cyclo-Cross Race

The course was set up so there was a 180 Degree turn at the bottom of a basin with a roughly 20' climb back out at about 18% (all within about 45' total distance). I failed to shift to a higher gear …More

Roller Skating Slip

After my fall I felt as if my left arm was weak by that nite I couldn't lift it over my head. I was in so much pain I couldn't sleep:( I went to the doc & had some test did like a MRI & a test where …More

Slipped on Floor

I told my manager at the time of the fall, and she asked me if I could still move my arm I said yeah but its uncomfortable. She told me to complete my shift but that she would make a note of it in m…More

Tripped Over a Hose

I didn't feel anything wrong w/my shoulder that night, as I had too many other aches. However, the next am I was very sore all over. But the worst pain in my shoulder came from when I just sat in my …More

Fall In The Tub

I reached out to try to get up and at about 30 degrees rotation from my body, my arm went limp and I couldn't move it back into place. I had to pull it back against me with my right hand and it hurt …More

MMA Injury

Ever since I had this issue I tried to ignore it. It seemed no matter what I was doing, Wrestling around with my son, lifting weights, even lifting groceries I would have pain in that shoulder. That …More

Breaking a Fall, and Tearing a Rotator Cuff

My shoulder didn't really bother me at all except when sleeping. It is my left (non-dominant) shoulder but my preferred sleeping side. When I awaken after sleeping on it, it feels like the ball of th…More

Ice Hockey Injury

I finished the game and had a couple of beers with the guys in the dressing room. When I went to pick up my hockey bag I couldn't due to the pain, my shoulder didn't seem to function normally. I'd se…More

Unavoidable Injury

Knew it was injured the first time by the feeling of something tearing and a pop type sound. Second time, the pain was quickly remembered.Pain radiates over front shoulder, front top arm, and slightl…More

Weightlifting: Overhead Press

I then put ice on the injury and took two Aleves. Rested the injury from any exercises. Also later in the week of so called recovery I re-injured it again. Now I am on ice and will wait for another t…More

Tore Both Rotator Cuff Tendons!

I couldn't lift my arms, I couldn't push anything shut (even a frig door). The initial pain was sharp...then it was just a dull ache, until I forgot and made a move I shouldn't have - then it was sha…More

Starting New Exercise Routine

I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, I thought, but I had a stabbing pain in my shoulder that got progressively worse especially when I would lay down. Since sleep was becoming impossible I final…More

Rehab Controlled the Pain

This happen for 3 times and during this time, I also noticed a slow ache in the upper arm. Then I made a doctors appt. She prescribed an anti-inflammatory, no real results. So after another examinati…More

History of Many Shoulder Injuries

Symptoms: 1) It was more painful to lift a glass to get a drink than to lift 100 pounds overhead; 2) One of the hardest things was to change the radio channel while driving - the weight of my own a…More

Moutainbiking Accident

I had incredible shoulder pain and went to the ER (in Sept) where they did xrays. I hadn't broken any bones. I couldn't raise my arm for weeks. I didn't find out it was torn until they did a MRI 4 mo…More

Simple Activity Resulted in Needing Surgery

I didn't realize I had torn it. I started not being able to raise my shoulder. I couldn't get anything from a shelf with my right arm. I didn't even realize that I had torn it for almost a year. I th…More

Fall From Chair

I have more examinations and rehab. I do not know, at this time if there will be any thing else the doctor wants to do. I did not know the rotator cff was torn, but went to the doctor when pain becam…More

Tear Not Seen On MRI

For the first few weeks after the injury I was unable to lift my arm above my head but gradually it seemed to get better. Since it was my left shoulder and I am right handed I never used it to the ex…More

Swinging the Sledge Hammer

I didnt notice anything immediately but later on maybe weeks later I tripped as I was getting into my car and extended my left arm to the drivers seat and a massive jolt of horrible pain ran up my ar…More

How I Did It

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