# So my shoulder is a mess **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 16, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048 "2025-01-16T18:21:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/1 "2025-01-16T18:21:28Z")
I have been dealing with shoulder pain for more than 6 months now. It started out similar to the frozen shoulder on the other side that I had back in 2019 that almost entire resolved after a cortisone shot and a couple of months of physiotherapy. This one is worse and is not going the right way. I had an xray and ultrasound which showed fluid and inflammation around the biceps tendons and a cortisone shot which definitely helped, but I have hit a wall with physio. My sports medicine doc ordered an MRI back in October and I just received the appointment confirmation for April - yay Canadian healthcare! (yes, if I needed heart surgery I could get it today). I exercised the better option by shuffling off to Buffalo yesterday, dropping USD$450, and getting an MRI. It appears I have a mess including a large SLAP tear: > IMPRESSION: MODERATE-GRADE PARTIAL-THICKNESS UNDERSURFACE TEAROF THE > SUPRASPINATUS TENDON AT THE LEVEL OF THE CRITICAL ZONE. > LARGE SLAP TEAR EXTENDING FROM THE ORIGIN OF THE LONG HEAD OFTHE BICEPS TO THE > POSTERIOR INFERIOR LABRUM WITH PARALABRAL CYSTS. > HIGH-GRADE PARTIAL-THICKNESS TEAR OF THE DISTAL INSERTIONAL FIBERSOF THE > SUBSCAPULARIS TENDON WITH MEDIAL SUBLUXATION OF THE LONG HEADOF THE BICEPS > TENDON INTO THE SUBSCAPULARIS DEFECT. I’m waiting to see the Sports Doc for a follow up in about 4 weeks (did I mention Canadian health care?) but has anyone here dealt with this as a physician or patient? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/2 "2025-01-16T21:24:44Z")
I don’t have that particular source of physical pain but I can understand what this is doing to your life. I wish you the best in dealing with this. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/3 "2025-01-16T23:33:29Z")
You have four “rotator cuff” muscles at the shoulder involved in throwing, raising your arms to the side as if you were making a snow angel, and raising your arms overhead (which is limited with frozen shoulder). The subscapularis is at the front of the shoulder joint. The infraspinatus and supraspinatus are below and above the shoulder blade (scapula) at the back. The teres minor is also at the back, closer to the armpit. The biceps has two tendon heads and both flexes the arm, and helps supinate it (twist forearm so palm faces up). A Slap tear involves the ring of cartilage around the shoulder. This can cause pain and other symptoms, as can tendon injuries and muscle tears. My limited understanding is in non-young, non-athletes surgery is not usually the best option for partial tears, but a lot depends on specifics. This requires a more expert opinion to better identify the cause of the pain and possible solutions. > **[SLAP Tear: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment of Shoulder Labrum Tear](https://www.shoulder-pain-explained.com/SLAP-tear.html)** > > A SLAP tear is caused by damage to the cartilage lining the shoulder joint. Find out about the different types of SLAP lesion, causes, symptoms & treatment ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/4 "2025-01-16T23:56:26Z")
I haven’t dealt with your exact injury, but I’ve had multiple bike wrecks that injured both shoulders (AC joint separations and minor rotator cuff tears). I am here to say that shoulder injuries are horrible and make getting meaningful sleep difficult. I’ve been lucky that physical therapy has helped both, but they are still problematic. One still binds/locks up, particularly when driving and it has to “pop back into place”…that isn’t ever going away. I hope you get some meaningful treatment soon. Sorry to hear Canadian healthcare has those huge waits, but I’m experiencing the same thing in the US now. If I want to get into see anyone soon, I have to go to “urgent care” which is barely a step above using Google as my healthcare provider. Just an annual checkup can be 6 months down the road. And I’m of the age I’m supposed to be getting those. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/5 "2025-01-17T00:11:34Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > My limited understanding is in non-young, non-athletes surgery is not usually the best option for partial tears, but a lot depends on specifics. Who are you calling a non-young, non-athelete? 😆 I keep joking that my pitching career is over at 54 before it ever got started. I have the added complexity of a brain injury 25 years ago that led to the shoulder sagging in the joint that has contributed to the injury. I will keep up with the physio for now and wait for my follow up. > [@wguy123](#): > > Sorry to hear Canadian healthcare has those huge waits, but I’m experiencing the same thing in the US now. If I want to get into see anyone soon, I have to go to “urgent care” which is barely a step above using Google as my healthcare provider. Our system works well enough most of the time and at least if I need surgery it won’t cost me anything. Physiotherapy is covered by my work insurance (to a cap) or paid for privately. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/6 "2025-01-17T00:14:40Z")
I can’t help, but boy do you have all my sympathy. This sounds like frozen shoulder aggravated by an additional injury? Ow, ow, ow. They say frozen shoulder is quite common but once you’ve gotten through it, it generally doesn’t recur. I’ve had it in both shoulders now so hopefully I am home free. One shoulder wasn’t too bad but the other was excruciating, so I can only imagine how much yours must hurt. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/7 "2025-01-17T01:03:39Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > My limited understanding is in non-young, non-athletes surgery is not usually the best option for partial tears Huh. My probably more limited understanding was that SLAP tears that stay symptomatic after a reasonable PT course are going to need surgery. But don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/8 "2025-01-17T03:39:05Z")
Not so much, but it’s pretty unsettled (and outside my wheelhouse). My guess is they operate more often in the US than Canada. > **[Treatment options for massive rotator cuff tears: a narrative review](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8420830/)** > > The treatment of massive rotator cuff tears poses a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. The prevalence of massive rotator cuff tears is 40% of all rotator cuff tears. Compared with smaller tears, massive rotator cuff tears are often complicated by ... > **[Conservative versus surgical management for patients with rotator cuff tears:...](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7796609/)** > > This study aims to compare conservative versus surgical management for patients with full-thickness RC tear in terms of clinical and structural outcomes at 1 and 2 years of follow-up. A comprehensive search of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ... > **[SLAP lesions: current controversies](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6362364/)** > > Knowledge of the pertinent anatomy, pathogenesis, clinical presentation and treatment of the spectrum of injuries involving the superior glenoid labrum and biceps origin is required in treating the patient with a superior labrum anterior and ... ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/9 "2025-01-17T04:15:19Z")
I aggrivated my left shoulder. Can’t put a jacket on without pretty decent discomfort. So, I tried doing it backwards. Put the left arm in first (I’m right handed). Damn if it isn’t hard as shit to find the arm hole with the right arm to pull it up and on. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/10 "2025-01-17T05:53:26Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I haven’t dealt with your exact injury, but I’ve had multiple bike wrecks that injured both shoulders (AC joint separations and minor rotator cuff tears). I am here to say that shoulder injuries are horrible and make getting meaningful sleep difficult. Same here. I got a complete AC joint separation (Grade 5) after a devastating skiing accident two years ago. The pain after I got surgery was the worst I ever experienced, and to top it off after being allowed to remove the brace 6 weeks after surgery I found that I had a frozen shoulder with very limited range of motion. But…after about 6 months of physical therapy, the frozen shoulder got better. I am still favoring it a bit, but I can now do lap swimming again. And I’m skiing again too. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/11 "2025-01-17T11:23:55Z")
I have a similar issue to the OP. My right shoulder started hurting about 6 months ago after I “fake threw” a baseball at home. Since I converted to a high deductible plan with an HSA beginning in January, I rushed to see an ortho the Wednesday before Christmas. He was able to get me in for an MRI on Friday, and then a follow-up on Monday. The MRI showed a labrum tear that, according to my ortho, pretty much everyone who played sports for a significant time probably has at some level. It also showed arthritis, which is also common. Fortunately the rotator cuff looked fine. I got one cortisone shot from the back of the shoulder that is really helping with my range of motion. Since it worked, I go back in next week for a 2nd cortisone shot from the front side. He gave me a bunch of exercises, which I really haven’t done. He said depending on how the 2nd shot helps, he may prescribe PT, and that surgery may be a possible option down the line. But he’s confident that the occasional cortisone shot and PT could prevent it completely. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2025, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/12 "2025-01-17T18:24:09Z")
A couple of years ago I had a (right) shoulder that started to get very painful. Felt like a sprain but I couldn’t recall any particular injury. Went to my GP. They didn’t do any scans but just referred me to a physiotherapist. Who gave me some exercises which didn’t seem to make any difference. A year later I just realized: it’s not hurting anymore? I guess I’m lucky: there probably wasn’t any serious underlying problem? Sometimes the body just heals itself, I suppose. As I said, lucky. I don’t know what to advise? ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-my-shoulder-is-a-mess/1013048/13 "2025-01-20T15:49:26Z")
I’ve mentioned in other posts that I hurt my left shoulder after slipping and falling on ice last Feb. It was still VERY painful after a month so I went in for x-rays thinking I cracked something. X-rays were normal. The doc mentioned (almost in passing it seemed) that it could be a rotator cuff injury and I could go to an orthopedist and/or do PT. I knew my crappy insurance wouldn’t pay for all of that so I Googled it and found some exercises online to do. Along with the exercises, I tried braces, heat, patches, Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, you name it, I tried it. I woke up numerous times every night because it hurt so bad. I read that I shouldn’t sleep on that shoulder because it could make the injury worse, so I didn’t. I couldn’t reach back to grab the seat belt, couldn’t use that arm in a drive-thru, couldn’t put my bra on normally. I was in agony just sitting and watching tv unless I had a pillow under my arm. The weight of my arm pulling is what made it ache. It’s been almost a year now and it’s finally about 75% better. It rarely hurts at night any more. It sometimes feels stiff because I still don’t move around in my sleep. But that goes away within a few minutes of getting up. When I take a shower, I have the shower head aimed at my shoulder with the hottest water I can stand and the hardest pressure it has. That really feels good. I still protect it. I won’t hold the dog leash in that hand, because the dogs like to suddenly stop and pull in the other direction. If I lift something, I keep my arm pressed close to my body. I can now use drive-thrus normally and can reach back for the seat belt! It sure has been a looooong recovery. I get excited every time I notice I can do something without the pain. Good luck - I hope you have a quick recovery!