Labral tear - support/advice/anyone experienced this?

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sofaking6
sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
(sorry for being long)

I have an injury that I haven't seen discussed really anywhere. Normally when people have shoulder issues it's the rotator cuff, however I am 99% certain that I have a torn labrum.

http://orthopedics.about.com/od/shoulderelbow/a/labrum.htm

I've dislocated my right shoulder at least 30 times in my life, starting when I was only 4 or 5 diving onto a slip n slide. I always popped it back in by myself and maybe that's why nobody ever told me (or my parents I guess) that you're supposed to go see a doctor about it. So it was always loose, then I swam butterfly and backstroke competitively, etc etc and it just got worse and worse each time.

These days it's miserable 24/7. It's never situated right and is always uncomfortable, it will pop out at the drop of a hat and the last time it did, I couldn't move my arm for a couple of days after. About 5 years ago I went to a surgeon and actually scheduled surgery, but I backed out at the last second because he told me they were going to remove part of my collarbone, smash it up, make a "sling" for the shoulder out of it, and that I would have to keep it completely (like no lying down even) immobilized for at least 8 weeks afterwards. AND that he was basically just guessing that that would make it better.

Someone please tell me that was just a crappy orthopod???? I am desperate for relief but not at any cost. Does anyone have any experience with this? Please...

Replies

  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    It's hard to cite "experience" when you don't the exact nature of your injury. There are always new surgical techniques, so it wouldn't hurt to check things out again after 5 yrs.

    It sounds like you have two main issues: the suggested procedure and the recovery time. Can't really comment on the specific procedure (other than the first paragraph).

    In terms of recovery, however, for that type of surgery, 8 weeks of immobilization is not usual. Especially if you are dealing with a labrum tear, it takes 6 weeks just for the repaired labrum to solidly reattach itself to the bone, and then another 4-6 weeks before doing any serious rehab.

    Unfortunately, shoulders were designed to be flexible, not durable.

    Good luck.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
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    Thanks for responding, Azdak. I wonder what do people do to survive the recovery? No dressing, no driving, no nothing???
  • chic245
    chic245 Posts: 10 Member
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    I had a labral tear 3 years ago, very painful and to raise my hand initially I had to "spider crawl" my fingers up the side of the wall. Rest, heat, ice, etc PRN it took about 6-8 weeks to get back to semi normal then normal. Not too many issues since then, stretching and no lateral weightlifting has also helped
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
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    I had a labral tear 3 years ago, very painful and to raise my hand initially I had to "spider crawl" my fingers up the side of the wall. Rest, heat, ice, etc PRN it took about 6-8 weeks to get back to semi normal then normal. Not too many issues since then, stretching and no lateral weightlifting has also helped

    Thank you for replying! I suppose I should 100% quit the lateral moves, huh?
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    I had tears front, top, and back. About 8 weeks after surgery in a sling with minimal physical therapy to ensure the joint remained mobile. Several months of multiple times per week therapy ... starting with the light resistance bands ... internal rotations, external rotations, lots of stretches, hand bike, eventually up to modified push ups, more resistance exercise. Took it slow but it's better than it's been in almost 15 years.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Options
    I had tears front, top, and back. About 8 weeks after surgery in a sling with minimal physical therapy to ensure the joint remained mobile. Several months of multiple times per week therapy ... starting with the light resistance bands ... internal rotations, external rotations, lots of stretches, hand bike, eventually up to modified push ups, more resistance exercise. Took it slow but it's better than it's been in almost 15 years.

    Thank you! How were you able to get by with the sling? Do you have any advice on how to find a good doctor etc? Thanks again :)
  • bostonwolf
    bostonwolf Posts: 3,038 Member
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    If my shoulder just fell out on my own I think I'd be seeing a few specialists and scheduling surgery. I don't know that any amount of PT is going to fix that, given the number of times you've popped it out in your life.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
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    If my shoulder just fell out on my own I think I'd be seeing a few specialists and scheduling surgery. I don't know that any amount of PT is going to fix that, given the number of times you've popped it out in your life.

    Oh for sure...I wouldn't even think about PT - the first time it dislocated badly enough to go numb for awhile, was actually during PT for a car accident. I told the therapist, if you don't let go of my arm right now my shoulder's gonna come out, she said oh I know what I'm doing and then five seconds later she was screaming at the sight and running off and I was there alone putting it back in the socket. I hate fake doctors :(

    Anyway, that rant aside...I know that it's surgery or suffer for me. I just can't decide, based on so little evidence of recent advances in shoulder surgery, whether the cure would be worse than the disease. I live alone and I can't take time off from work, so I have to know for certain how limited I would be. And even a real doctor can't be trusted to tell me truth about the procedure or the recovery. At least none that I've ever met.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Options
    I had tears front, top, and back. About 8 weeks after surgery in a sling with minimal physical therapy to ensure the joint remained mobile. Several months of multiple times per week therapy ... starting with the light resistance bands ... internal rotations, external rotations, lots of stretches, hand bike, eventually up to modified push ups, more resistance exercise. Took it slow but it's better than it's been in almost 15 years.

    Thank you! How were you able to get by with the sling? Do you have any advice on how to find a good doctor etc? Thanks again :)

    I lucked out and the ortho I went to was good. Almost no bedside manner, but good with a knife.

    The sling was a pain. Nothing but button up shirts for a couple of weeks. Finally learned how to get a t-shirt on. Sleeping took a while to get used to ... tossing and turning hurt for a while.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    Options
    I had tears front, top, and back. About 8 weeks after surgery in a sling with minimal physical therapy to ensure the joint remained mobile. Several months of multiple times per week therapy ... starting with the light resistance bands ... internal rotations, external rotations, lots of stretches, hand bike, eventually up to modified push ups, more resistance exercise. Took it slow but it's better than it's been in almost 15 years.

    Thank you! How were you able to get by with the sling? Do you have any advice on how to find a good doctor etc? Thanks again :)

    I lucked out and the ortho I went to was good. Almost no bedside manner, but good with a knife.

    The sling was a pain. Nothing but button up shirts for a couple of weeks. Finally learned how to get a t-shirt on. Sleeping took a while to get used to ... tossing and turning hurt for a while.

    Thank you so much...yeah I had my ACL done so I know all about making a pillow fort to keep myself still at night lol :) Were you able to drive right away? I think that's my main concern.
  • negrorotary
    negrorotary Posts: 4 Member
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    even tho i'm off topic here, i'm having a Hip Labral Tear surgery, i don't know if it is the same as shoulder, but i'm hoping to be back to running soon
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
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    even tho i'm off topic here, i'm having a Hip Labral Tear surgery, i don't know if it is the same as shoulder, but i'm hoping to be back to running soon

    Wow good luck with it! I'd be interested to hear how it goes.

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