Rotator cuff tears do not heal well with time. They tend to either enlarge or, at best, stabilize in size. The good news is that rotator cuff tears do not necessarily need to heal in order for the symptoms to resolve.
Pain between the shoulder blades is often due to muscle strain, which may result from lifting heavy objects, poor posture, or overuse. Other health issues can cause upper back pain, though, including acid reflux, disc problems, gall bladder disorders, or even a heart attack. Different disorders will cause different types of pain.
The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is the superior (upper) portion of the shoulder joint, comprised of the distal (furthest from the center of the body) portion of the collar bone (clavicle) and the acromion process of your shoulder blade (scapula). Problems here can lead to loss of shoulder motion, pain, and difficulty performing tasks that require the use of your arm.
Chronic pain and inflammation can really take a toll on your physical and mental health. Oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) can help reduce pain and inflammation. But they also carry certain risks for cardiovascular and kidney issues, stroke, bleeding and ulcers when you take them for extended periods of time. Fortunately, there are topical anti-inflammatory creams that offer the same amount of relief with significantly reduced risks.
A SLAP tear is an injury to the labrum, the cartilage rim that surrounds the socket of the shoulder joint. SLAP stands for "superior labrum anterior and posterior," meaning that the tear occurs at the front of the upper arm where the bicep tendon connects to the shoulder.
