Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment

Specialist Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment in London

Pain when lifting your arm? Weakness after a fall? Trouble getting comfortable at night?

These can all be signs of a rotator cuff tear.

Early assessment and treatment make a real difference.

At Your Shoulder, we provide expert rotator cuff tear treatment in London, with consultations at the Fortius Clinic in Fitzhardinge Street and surgery at the Fortius Surgical Centre on Bentinck Street and Fortius Clinic London on Wigmore Street.

Symptoms of a Rotator Cuff Tear

A rotator cuff tear can cause a range of symptoms that affect your strength, mobility and sleep.

You may notice:

  • Shoulder pain when lifting or rotating your arm
  • Weakness or heaviness in the shoulder or upper arm
  • Pain when lying on the affected side at night
  • Difficulty reaching overhead or behind your back
  • Stiffness or reduced range of motion
  • A clicking or catching sensation when moving your arm

If these symptoms sound familiar, book a consultation for an expert diagnosis and personalised treatment plan.

Diagnosis

A clinical consultation is the first step towards understanding your shoulder pain.

During your appointment, I’ll take a detailed history of your symptoms and perform a physical examination to assess movement, strength and tenderness.

If a rotator cuff tear is suspected, I may recommend an MRI or ultrasound scan to confirm the diagnosis and determine the size and extent of the tear.

You should seek help promptly if shoulder pain follows an injury, or if you’re losing strength or range of motion — early diagnosis leads to better recovery.

Treatment Options

Every rotator cuff tear is different, so treatment is tailored to your symptoms, activity level and recovery goals.

Non-surgical treatment

Most patients improve without surgery through a combination of:

  • Specialist physiotherapy to restore strength and movement
  • Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections to ease inflammation and pain
  • Gentle activity modification and targeted home exercises

These treatments can significantly reduce pain and restore function, especially for partial or degenerative tears.

Surgical treatment

Surgery may be recommended for full-thickness tears, traumatic injuries, or cases that haven’t improved with physiotherapy.

Procedures are typically performed arthroscopically (keyhole surgery) as a day case.

In some cases, a collagen Regeneten patch may be used to promote healing, or a reverse shoulder replacement considered if arthritis has developed.

Recovery

Most patients wear a sling for around four to six weeks, return to driving at about six weeks, and gradually resume sport or activity over three to six months.

Full recovery can take up to a year, depending on the size of the tear and your rehabilitation progress.

Book a consultation to discuss your tailored treatment plan.

AC Joint Dislocation

Why Choose Us

Choosing the right specialist for your rotator cuff tear is key to achieving a full recovery.

  • Consultant-led care: I’m Ms Susan Alexander, a GMC-registered Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon, with extensive experience treating complex shoulder injuries in both athletes and everyday patients.
  • Trusted London clinics: Consultations and surgery are available at the Fortius Clinic in Fitzhardinge Street, Fortius Surgical Centre on Bentinck Street, and Fortius Clinic London on Wigmore Street.
  • Comprehensive treatment: From diagnosis and guided rehabilitation through to advanced keyhole surgery, every stage of your treatment is overseen by one specialist team.
Patient satisfaction:

“I underwent successful rotator cuff surgery with Ms Alexander in March 2024 at the Fortius Clinic and received outstanding care at every stage of my recovery.”

Book your consultation today and take the first step towards recovery with Dr Susan Alexander, one of London’s leading shoulder specialists.

Take the First Step Towards Recovery

Don’t let a rotator cuff tear limit your movement or quality of life.

Book your consultation today and start your recovery with specialist rotator cuff tear treatment in London.

Appointments are available in Marylebone, easily reached from anywhere in Central and West London.

Book your appointment now and begin your journey to a stronger, pain-free shoulder.

Rotator Cuff Tear Treatment FAQs

Typical symptoms include shoulder pain when lifting your arm, reaching overhead, or lying on the affected side. You may also notice weakness, difficulty washing or brushing your hair, and disturbed sleep due to pain. Some people have tears without any symptoms at all, which is why a thorough clinical assessment and imaging such as MRI or ultrasound can be helpful.

For some people, it’s very obvious that a single event caused them a lot of shoulder and arm pain – for instance if they picked up a very heavy object, or a fall caused them to severely jar the shoulder.
When the rotator cuff is injured in this manner, we call it a traumatic tear.
Your experience might be different. It may be that your pain has gradually developed over time, perhaps from a sports injury, working in the garden or engaging in other physical activities. This slower brewing tear is known as a degenerative or chronic tear.

Many people recover well without surgery. Physiotherapy is usually the first step and can help restore strength and movement. In some cases, an ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection may be offered to ease pain and make rehabilitation more comfortable. Treatment is always tailored to you — your symptoms, activity goals and overall health.

Surgery is sometimes recommended for full-thickness or traumatic tears, or when pain and weakness persist despite physiotherapy. Repairs are typically done arthroscopically (keyhole surgery) as a day-case procedure. In more complex cases, additional techniques such as a collagen Regeneten patch or reverse shoulder replacement may be considered. Most patients return to driving and light activity within six weeks and feel significant improvement by six months.