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Rotator cuff pain

Pain when lifting the arm, reaching behind, or lying on that side at night. It comes from the tendons around the shoulder — and for most people, exercise works as well as an operation.

Do not wait for an appointment

These are uncommon — but they need to be seen now.

  • You cannot lift the arm at all after a fall or injury
  • The shoulder looks a different shape from the other side
  • Sudden weakness with a visible bulge in the upper arm
  • Fever, or the shoulder is hot and swollen
  • You have had cancer in the past
Sheet 11 · Shoulder cuff exercisesShoulder & elbowUsually improves over 3–6 months with exercise

Do this

  • Exercise is the treatment. Isometric holds first, then rows and rotation — Sheet 11
  • Keep using the arm below shoulder height
  • A pillow behind the shoulder at night, and avoid lying directly on it
  • Painkillers at night for the first weeks
  • Give it three months of proper exercise before judging whether it has worked

Avoid this

  • A sling. It stiffens the shoulder quickly
  • Repeated steroid injections. One may help you exercise; three is a failure of the plan
  • Rushing to an MRI. Cuff changes are found in most painless shoulders over sixty
  • Stopping the exercises as soon as the pain settles

The questions everybody asks

Is my tendon torn? Do I need it repaired?

Many cuff tears never need repair.

Tears are found in a large proportion of people over sixty who have no pain at all. A torn cuff is not automatically an operation — shoulders compensate remarkably well with the right exercise.

Do I need a scan?

Not at first.

We scan when there has been a sudden injury with weakness, or when several months of genuine exercise have failed and surgery is being considered.

Does surgery work better than exercise?

For most degenerative cuff problems, no.

Good trials comparing surgery with structured exercise show much smaller differences than people expect. Acute tears in younger people after an injury are a different matter.

Open the exercise sheet

Pictures, how many and how often, and what it should feel like. Free, and printable.

Guides for you

In your language, free to download. Each one is a short PDF you can keep on your phone or print.

Braces, Splints and Slings Englishहिंदीमराठी
Starting to Exercise Safely Englishहिंदीमराठी
Sleeping Position and Your Pillow Englishहिंदीमराठी
Your Pain and Swelling Tablets Englishहिंदीमराठी

On cost: if we suggest a scan, an injection or an operation, ask us what it costs and what happens if you do nothing. We will answer both. You should never feel pushed into spending money.

Consultation is ₹500 for a first visit and ₹300 for a follow-up, the same at both clinics. For anything else, ask at the desk or on WhatsApp before it is done — we will tell you the exact cost.

Should you come and see us?

A page is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If the pain is not settling, come in and have it looked at properly — bring any X-ray, MRI or CT films you already have.

Nallasopara West

Opposite Patil Hospital

Shop No. 14, Veena Apartment,
Opposite Patil Hospital, near Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir,
S.T. Stand Road, Nallasopara West — 401203

Monday to Saturday
12:00 noon – 2:00 pm  ·  7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Sunday by prior appointment only

Call 87665 22099

Virar East

Opposite Parimal Hospital

Shop No. 7, Damodar Tower,
Opposite Parimal Hospital, Morya Nagar,
Manvel Pada Road, Virar East — 401305

Monday to Saturday
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunday by prior appointment only

Call 92702 84859

Other conditions

Ready when you are.

Call either clinic during consulting hours, or send a WhatsApp message any time.

Nallasopara West Virar East