Let me share something we hear all the time: “My shoulder’s been bothering me, and I’m really worried it’s a rotator cuff tear. My dad had one, and it was awful. I do not want to go through what he did.”
We get it. That fear is real. Especially when someone you love went through a tough recovery—or worse, had surgery that didn’t seem to help.
But here’s what you need to know: Just because your dad or uncle had a bad experience doesn’t mean you’re headed down the same road.
Let me explain:
- No two injuries are the same.
- No two rehab journeys are the same.
- Just because someone in your family had a rotator cuff tear doesn’t mean your shoulder pain is the same—or that it needs the same treatment.
A Little Shoulder 101
Your rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that help stabilize and move your shoulder. It works all day long—reaching, lifting, pushing, pulling. That means when something gets irritated, it shows up quickly.
Rotator cuff injuries show up in grades:
- Grade I: Mild strain or irritation.
- Grade II: A partial tear.
- Grade III: A full-thickness tear.
And here’s the key point: Most shoulder injuries don’t require surgery. Even if you do have a tear, that doesn’t automatically mean you’re on a surgical path.
Think About This:
When someone tweaks their hamstring, do they get surgery? Almost never.
We rehab it. We strengthen it. We give it the space and tools to heal.
The rotator cuff? Same thing. It’s still muscle. It’s still tendon. It still has the capacity to heal when we give it the right support and direction.
But you’ve got to stop guessing—and start understanding what’s really going on.
If your shoulder is bugging you, let’s talk. Not in a scary, overwhelming, worst-case-scenario way.Just areal , honest assessment of what’s happening, what your goals are, and how we help you get there.
Because you’re not your dad.
You’re not your uncle.
You’re you.
And that means you deserve a path that works for you.
I’m here when you’re ready.
– Dr. Blake