Q1: How do I know if I have a rotator cuff tear?
Symptoms include pain when lifting or rotating the arm, night-time pain, weakness, and popping or clicking. MRI is required to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other injuries.

Q2: My short therapy trial hasn’t worked — should I do MRI?
Yes. Persistent pain and functional limitations despite conservative care are clear indications for MRI.

Q3: Risks of delaying MRI?
Untreated rotator cuff tears may worsen, causing permanent weakness, tendon retraction, and chronic shoulder pain.

Q4: Why MRI over X-ray or ultrasound?
MRI provides full soft tissue visualization. X-ray cannot detect tendon tears; ultrasound may miss partial or deep tears.

Q5: Fast, affordable MRI option?
The Pain Relief Clinic offers MRI scans under $1,000, insurance and Medisave claimable, within 1 working day, and non-surgical treatment options.