Torn labrum questions

#1
TheDeeble

TheDeeble

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#1
Found out a couple days ago I have what's called a 270 degree tear of the labrum in my left shoulder. A tear in three points on the front, top, and back I think. Not the typical labrum injury from what it sounds like. Hospital sent the mri results to the orthopedic doc I've seen the past few months and said I have a significant tear. He called me yesterday when he had a chance to look at the mri himself and told me what's up. Probably going to go the arthroscopic surgery route since steroid shots/anti-inflammatory medication/physical therapy did nothing, and this injury will not heal with time, rest, or more steroid shots/anti-inflammatory medication/physical therapy.

But I was wondering if anyone else had similar a procedure and had questions or things they asked beforehand.
 
#3
#3
Guy I worked with had a partial torn labrum. As stated, long rehab, but he was able to do some things within a month.

However, anything significant that works any part of your arm will be off limits for about 4+ months if not more.
 
#4
#4
TheDeeble said:
Found out a couple days ago I have what's called a 270 degree tear of the labrum in my left shoulder. A tear in three points on the front, top, and back I think. Not the typical labrum injury from what it sounds like. Hospital sent the mri results to the orthopedic doc I've seen the past few months and said I have a significant tear. He called me yesterday when he had a chance to look at the mri himself and told me what's up. Probably going to go the arthroscopic surgery route since steroid shots/anti-inflammatory medication/physical therapy did nothing, and this injury will not heal with time, rest, or more steroid shots/anti-inflammatory medication/physical therapy.

But I was wondering if anyone else had similar a procedure and had questions or things they asked beforehand.
Click to expand...

I think it's painful at first but more than anything it's just a good bit of rehab. I'm not sure how old you are but I'd expect six months before you are back to full use.

More than anything, it's getting accustomed to not having full use of that arm for a while. Expect to wear a sling 24/7 during the first recovery phase. You'll be using your off-hand to wash your hair, brush your teeth, etc. Simple things like putting on socks can be a challenge.

A 270-degree tear is pretty significant, I think. How did you injure it?
 
#5
#5
I'll be 34 next week. I'd be in a sling for about 6 weeks. 4 months of physical therapy afterwards. It's not my dominant side. I'm right handed, but this is on the left. So it won't be as bad as having to do everything left handed.

How I hurt it? I think it was overuse. The doc said I probably had one tear for a while. Years maybe. Said a lot of people have tears in their labrum but may not know. Pain isn't always a given. I started crossfit last October and there's a lot of different overhead movements involved. Overhead press, push press, thrusters, wall balls, handstand pushups. And there's a lot of cleans, jerks, snatches, pullups, kettlebell swings. When I look back at it all, it's very shoulder intensive. I never did a lot of weight with any movement, but I think it's just reps. Some weeks we'd have 3 or 4 days where the movements above are integrated.

There was no single instance where I did something and knew I injured something. It was just a little sore after a workout which wasn't uncommon with any body part. Anything that's ever sore would usually go away after a couple of days so I didn't pay much attention to it at first. I modified what I was doing, but it slowly got worse and worse. The pain wasn't in my shoulder. I felt it on the side of my arm. Deltoid and tricep area. I thought it was just a strained muscle at first, but the ortho doc said a lot of time rotator cuff and labrum tears are felt in that area. Referred pain I think he called it.
 
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#6
#6
Tore mine and had ortho two years ago. Maybe I'm a fast healer, but I was in a sling for month and rehab for two. I was 42 at the time.
 
#7
#7
Tore mine just rescently, and had arthroscopic surgery. The only advice I can give you is.... Make sure you do your rehab correctly. Don't half azz it. Do your homework. After surgery don't move your shoulder. You don't want it to heal loose. Ice, ice,ice. Your rehab will start with passive movements. Don't try and move your shoulder or lift anything. You could set yourself back. The hardest part will be having confidence to use your shoulder without worrying about hurting it. Oh yea, and trying to sleep after surgery is going to suck. I stacked pillows up beside me to rest my hand on, while my shoulder stayed on my side. It made for some long nights.
 
#8
#8
Having my R biceps tendon repaired Thursday, and my doc is going to check my labrum and AC joint while he's in there. Rehab is about the same, I believe. 6 week immobilizer, 6 more in a sling. Can lift and play golf in 4.5 months, I've been told.
 
#9
#9
I had the condition about 100 years ago so anything I could offer would be dated...I was a tennis player and recovery was long and difficult...

Seeking information and using it is a key element...now days I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't chat rooms and or message boards for this specific injury.....however what I've done on several occasions in the past is go to the waiting room of an orthopedic clinic and ask who's here for a ____(pre and post op) and then gather as much information as you can...

I used KOC in Knoxville and they as are most of the larger groups specialized and 'bullpen' patients at specific days and times....which provides a great opportunity to form an informal support group if you will....
 
#11
#11
coug said:
These vaginal theads just have to stop.
Click to expand...

True story.... My Dad tore his labrum and went around for a month telling people he had a torn labia before somebody finally broke down and told him.
 
#13
#13
Tell your doc you want a vasopneumonic cold/compression device postop and it will speed up your recovery and help you sleep.
They are the devices pro and college athletes use.
 
#14
#14
Spartacavolus said:
Tell your doc you want a vasopneumonic cold/compression device postop and it will speed up your recovery and help you sleep.
They are the devices pro and college athletes use.
Click to expand...

I'm not exactly sure what it is or if my insurance would cover it, but it's a great subject to ask about.

@ Smokey:

Yea, I'm not going to mess around on the rehab. I've been trying to anticipate certain things...like shoes for example. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to tie a shoelace if I'm in a sling and can't move my shoulder. I'm gonna go buy some cheap slip on dress shoes for work. I didn't think about the sleep aspect. I guess if I'm on my back, my arm weight would try to pull it down. Thus the need for pillows. Did you sleep in the sling? Wear it at all times?

I haven't had any lack of confidence in it. I've still been playing softball and doing some types of workout. It doesn't bother me there. It's mainly overhead movements which I've avoided for a while now.
 
#15
#15
TheDeeble said:
Found out a couple days ago I have what's called a 270 degree tear of the labrum in my left shoulder. A tear in three points on the front, top, and back I think. Not the typical labrum injury from what it sounds like. Hospital sent the mri results to the orthopedic doc I've seen the past few months and said I have a significant tear. He called me yesterday when he had a chance to look at the mri himself and told me what's up. Probably going to go the arthroscopic surgery route since steroid shots/anti-inflammatory medication/physical therapy did nothing, and this injury will not heal with time, rest, or more steroid shots/anti-inflammatory medication/physical therapy.

But I was wondering if anyone else had similar a procedure and had questions or things they asked beforehand.
Click to expand...

I'm sort of late responding to this but I had an almost identical injury/reinjury about 6 years ago and I'm 34 myself.

I had three tears to the labrum (top, back, & near the bottom), a cracked humerus, bum AC joint, and...something else, can't remember.

Suffice to say it sucked, before I had arthroscopy. I originally did it playing softball (hit the fence running full speed) but just did PT and it was "ok"...but I play racquetball every week and probably rushed back too soon. Anyway, it wound up dislocating one day when I had my elbow on the arm rest of my truck and just scooted myself over a little...scared the hell out of my wife.

It came out 4-5 more times before I finally had arthroscopy. Best decision I made. PT was 6 months and didn't have, what I would consider, a normal shoulder for about 8 months--but by that I mean being able to throw a softball, swing a racquet over my shoulder, sleep on my right side, etc.

However, I could tell by the first few weeks that my shoulder was solid again. I basically went an entire year w/o being able to lift my arm over my shoulder without fear of it dislocating again.

The PT will hurt on some days and you will be sore, just be prepared, but it's nothing ice and 400-800 mg of Ibuprofen can't fix. The main thing is, once you have the surgery, you'll be on the road to reclaiming a normal shoulder again.
 
#16
#16
TheDeeble said:
I'm not exactly sure what it is or if my insurance would cover it, but it's a great subject to ask about.

@ Smokey:

Yea, I'm not going to mess around on the rehab. I've been trying to anticipate certain things...like shoes for example. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to tie a shoelace if I'm in a sling and can't move my shoulder. I'm gonna go buy some cheap slip on dress shoes for work. I didn't think about the sleep aspect. I guess if I'm on my back, my arm weight would try to pull it down. Thus the need for pillows. Did you sleep in the sling? Wear it at all times?

I haven't had any lack of confidence in it. I've still been playing softball and doing some types of workout. It doesn't bother me there. It's mainly overhead movements which I've avoided for a while now.
Click to expand...

Yea I slept in it for a couple weeks. You will also want to do this, but always follow docs instruction. Remember, when it starts feeling better doesn't mean it is better. Soft tissue injuries take up to a year to heal. If it doesn't feel right DON'T do it. Time will be the only thing that helps you don't rush it. I'm steal healing today and I hurt My shoulder in march.
 
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#17
#17
Healing well here. The first night was a Butch. Take your pain meds, even if you don't feel pain after the block.
 
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#18
#18
I had a torn and detached labrum. It had to be reattached. Not fun.

Had the giant padded sling for about 8 weeks. Wasn't allowed to move my arm on my own for 6 weeks.

Take a pain pill about an hour before your therapy. You will need to give it a head start, trust me on this.

The therapy isn't fun, but do what they say and you should get your range of motion back. Mine is fine.

Good luck to you!

Dep
 
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