Rotator Cuff Repair Surgeon in San Diego, CA

Recovery is measured in months, not weeks. Most patients wear a sling for the first several weeks while the tendon begins to heal, then progress through passive motion, active motion, and strengthening in stages. Returning to full activity — particularly overhead work or sport — typically takes several months and depends on the size of the tear and the type of repair performed. Dr. DuBois will give you a timeline specific to your repair.

Whenever the tear allows, yes. Arthroscopic repair uses several small incisions and a camera, which lets the surgeon see the joint clearly while causing less disruption to the surrounding tissue than open surgery. Some tears — particularly very large or retracted ones — may require a different approach, and Dr. DuBois will tell you in advance which applies to your shoulder.

Yes. A percentage of repairs do not heal fully, which is called a retear. The repair itself is mechanically strong — modern suture constructs hold well beyond the loads a tendon normally experiences — but the tendon has to heal biologically back onto bone, and that healing is where failures happen. Retear risk is influenced by tear size, tendon quality, age, smoking, diabetes, and how closely you follow the rehabilitation protocol. This is worth discussing honestly before surgery rather than afterward.

Many rotator cuff problems improve without surgery. Physical therapy, activity modification, anti-inflammatory medication, and injections resolve a large share of cases, and that is usually where treatment starts. Surgery tends to be recommended for full-thickness tears, significant weakness, traumatic tears in younger patients, or pain that has not responded to a genuine course of conservative treatment. For a partial tear, the decision works differently and depends largely on how much of the tendon is involved.

In most cases, yes. Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair is typically performed as a same-day procedure, and patients go home afterward rather than staying overnight. You will need someone to drive you.

Not while you are in a sling, and not while taking narcotic pain medication. Most patients resume driving once they are out of the sling and have enough shoulder control to manage the wheel safely, which is generally several weeks after surgery. Your specific clearance comes from Dr. DuBois at a follow-up visit.

Yes, and it matters more than most patients expect. Rehabilitation is not an optional add-on to the surgery — it is a substantial part of what determines the result. The repair restores the anatomy; therapy restores the function, and adherence to the protocol is one of the few factors affecting retear risk that is within your control.

Generally, yes. Rotator cuff repair is an established surgical treatment, and medically necessary repairs are typically covered by insurance, including Medicare, subject to your plan's deductible, copay, and authorization requirements. Our office can verify your benefits before surgery is scheduled. This is different from orthobiologic injections such as PRP, which most plans classify as investigational and do not cover.

It depends on how the tear happened. A traumatic tear in a younger patient is often repaired sooner, because the tendon quality is good and waiting offers little benefit. A degenerative tear that developed gradually usually allows time for a trial of conservative treatment first. What is worth avoiding is indefinite delay — tears tend to enlarge over time, and a tear that enlarges enough can become harder to repair.