Pain in your shoulder can have many causes. You might injure it in a fall or accident, or you could have overdone a chore like painting. Sometimes shoulder pain comes from a condition like arthritis. It can even stem from problems in other parts of your body.There are many ways to treat shoulder pain and injuries. Goals in this book help patients can heal and get back to all the activities in his or her life in the safest, most efficient way.In rotator cuff problems, particularly tendon tears, surgery at some point is very often the correct tool to help patients return to their previous level of activity. It is called the "Rotator Cuff Pathway." When patients understand the basics of their injury and the treatment, there is much less fear and anxiety. Most find the predictability of the pathway reassuring. Then they are free to focus their energy on healing and getting well.This book will be the bridge to the basic concepts and treatment principles that you must learn and understand in order to have a meaningful conversation with your doctor.