Rotator Cuff Tear Specialists in Nashville
Rotator Cuff Tear
Rotator cuff injury, like a rotator cuff tear, is a leading cause for shoulder pain. The shoulder specialists at Elite Sports Medicine can help identify the cause of your rotator cuff pain in Nashville or Franklin, Tennessee. If you think you have a shoulder injury or think you may have a torn rotator cuff, call or book an appointment online today.
Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics
There is no better place in the country to go for orthopedic care.
Nashville Rotator Cuff Tear Specialists
Burton F. Elrod, M.D.
Specialties:
Sports Medicine & Surgery of the Knee, Shoulder, and Elbow
Locations:
Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood
David R. Moore, M.D.
Specialties:
Sports Medicine & Surgery of the Knee, Shoulder, and Elbow
Locations:
Nashville, Franklin
Chad T. Price, M.D. P.C.
Specialties:
Sports Medicine & Surgery of the Knee, Shoulder, and Hip
Locations:
Nashville, Franklin
Amanda D. Martin, D.O.
Specialties:
Sports Medicine & Surgery of the Knee, Shoulder, Hip, and Elbow
Locations:
Nashville, Franklin, Brentwood
Brian D. Dierckman, M.D.
Specialties:
Sports Medicine & Surgery of the Knee, Hip, and Shoulder
Locations:
Franklin, Brentwood
Why Choose Elite for Nashville Orthopedics?
Highly-Skilled Doctors
Our team is composed of highly skilled specialists with a wealth of experience in addressing a wide range of orthopedic conditions. Each doctor’s dedication and expertise ensure that patients receive the best possible care. We emphasize continuous professional development and advanced training to stay at the forefront of orthopedic advancements. This ongoing commitment allows us to manage even the most complex cases.
Trusted by Athletes and Celebrities
Our clinic serves renowned athletes and celebrities, but we prioritize delivering a VIP experience to every patient. With an esteemed reputation that attracts individuals from various backgrounds, including elite sports figures, we are committed to providing personalized, high-quality treatment regardless of fame. Our dedicated team ensures each patient feels valued, receiving exceptional care and attention tailored to their specific needs.
Best in the Country
Our orthopedic clinic is among the best in the country. We stand out due to our highly skilled team and beautiful facilities. Whether it’s routine care or specialized surgical procedures, our unwavering commitment to excellence ensures that you receive optimal outcomes and an unmatched patient experience. We take pride in setting the standard for exceptional orthopedic treatment and personalized care.
Proven Results
The track record of successful outcomes and satisfied patients at Elite speaks to the exceptional care you can expect. We measure our effectiveness through patient feedback and clinical results, consistently achieving high satisfaction rates. From the initial consultation through the recovery process, we provide comprehensive support, making each patient’s journey to wellness as smooth and effective as possible.
Cutting-Edge Technology
We leverage modernization in orthopedic technology and techniques, ensuring that we deliver the highest standard of care. Equipped with cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment tools, we achieve precise and effective interventions tailored to each patient’s needs. By embracing technological advancements, we are able to offer minimally invasive procedures that reduce recovery time and improve outcomes.
Accessible Orthopedics
With locations across Nashville, Franklin, and Brentwood, we focus on making orthopedic care convenient and accessible. Our strategically positioned clinics deliver high-quality orthopedic services right in your community. Understanding the significance of healthcare accessibility, we are dedicated to expanding our reach. Our facilities are designed to meet your needs with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Each shoulder contains a group of muscles and tendons called the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff helps stabilize your shoulder and allows you to lift and rotate your arm.
Excess stress on the shoulder can cause one or more of these tendons to tear and separate from your upper arm bone’s head. A rotator cuff tear can be partial or complete.
A rotator cuff tear can happen suddenly, or it may develop slowly over time. Sudden (acute) rotator cuff tears may result from trauma, like a car accident or a fall on an outstretched arm.
Rotator cuff tears that develop gradually involve degenerative damage to the shoulder. Your rotator cuff may wear down with age or repetitive shoulder motions like throwing a baseball or weightlifting.
Anyone can experience a rotator cuff tear and require treatment from doctors like the specialists at Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics. However, your chances of a rotator cuff tear increase if you have any of the following risks:
- You are older than age 60.
- Other members of your family, such as parents or siblings, have had rotator cuff tears that required treatment.
- Your occupation involves a lot of heavy lifting and repetitive shoulder and arm motions.
An acute rotator cuff tears typically causes a sudden, severe shoulder pain. You may also experience something like a snapping sensation and immediate arm weakness.
A degenerative rotator cuff tear also causes shoulder pain and arm weakness, but these symptoms may start mild and only bother you during specific movements. Over time, you may notice the shoulder pain more frequently and at rest. You may even have trouble sleeping at night, especially if you lay on the injured shoulder.
If you think that you have the signs and symptoms of a torn rotator cuff, should you see a specialist or try to deal with the discomfort at home?
Doctors agree that it’s always best to get a diagnosis for any unusual rotator cuff problems. That way, you’ll know if you need non-surgical or surgical treatment.
In most cases, a torn rotator cuff cannot heal itself. The rare exception would be very minor tears. However, if you already have minor tears in your rotator cuff, you’re more likely to experience a major tear later.
Even if you can “live with the pain,” you deserve to know what’s happening with your body. That means visiting a rotator cuff tear specialist, such as our Nashville team, to learn more about your condition.
An orthopedic shoulder or sports medicine specialist will be able to provide rotator cuff treatment options.
When treating an injury that may require surgery, it is important to seek help from a surgeon you trust. Our shoulder specialists have years of experience treating injuries like rotator cuff tears. They encourage you to ask questions take the time to listen so that you can get back to doing what you love most.
You probably have many questions about your rotator cuff injury. During your appointment with a Nashville rotator cuff tear specialist, you may want to ask:
- Whether the specialist has treated your kind of rotator cuff injury before.
- Whether you should consider non-surgical treatments as a first line of defense instead of surgery.
- What to expect if you decide to move forward with rotator cuff surgery.
- How you can make the most of your treatment plan and recover from your rotator cuff tear.
The shoulder doctors at Elite Sports Medicine and Orthopedics review your symptoms and medical history, then examine your shoulder, checking for tenderness and restricted range of motion.
They may also examine your neck to make sure your shoulder pain isn’t due to a pinched nerve. Imaging tests like an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) help the team rule out other conditions, like arthritis, and give the team important information about your injury.
They then develop an individualized treatment plan. In most cases, rotator cuff tears improve with non-surgical treatments like:
- Activity modification.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Strengthening exercises and physical therapy.
- Steroid injection.
If your rotator cuff tear is severe or your symptoms continue despite treatment, surgery may be necessary. The expert team at Elite Sports Medicine uses minimally invasive techniques like arthroscopic surgery to perform rotator cuff repair whenever possible.
If you are an athlete who uses your shoulder often, or you are recovering from a rotator cuff tear, it is important to focus on preventing a tear from forming or re-occuring.
The best way to prevent rotator cuff injuries is to keep the rotator cuff muscles strong and flexible. It is important to do strengthening and stretching exercises often, as well as taking breaks when you experience shoulder pain.
Our team of physical therapists at MPOWER Physical Therapy have worked with a range of patients with rotator cuff tears. If you’re healing from a rotator cuff tear injury or you interested in preventing an injury from occuring, schedule an appointment with one our physical therapists in Nashville, Franklin, or Brentwood, TN.
What is covered in your treatment plan will depend on the type of insurance you have. Check out our resources page to see the list of insurances that we accept here at Elite Sports Medicine + Orthopedics.