Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory medication that, when used appropriately and sparingly, is safe and can be dramatically beneficial. If there is no response to conservative care for a minimum of three months, surgery is discussed. The purpose of the surgery is to remove the bone spur from the acromion. This surgery is performed arthroscopically using 3 small puncture holes in the shoulder. If the tendon is found to be torn, repair can now also be performed arthroscopically, avoiding an incision in most cases.
All surgery is performed as an outpatient and typically takes one hour.
The amount of activity allowed depends on the severity of the injury to the rotator cuff. Weight lifting is a common cause of rotator cuff injuries. Many lifting exercises can be modified so as to protect the rotator cuff and avoid reinjury. The basic concept is to avoid positions which will impinge the tendons. A practical way to approach this is to draw an imaginary box which extends from your chin to your hips and is shoulder wide.