Question: Hello.

I fell forward 6 weeks ago and caught myself with my right arm.\

Ever since i have had pain off and on that ranges from 2 to 10.

Usually during the day it is close to a 2 or 3 pain wise, sometimes none 0.

The worst is when I sleep. I wake up in the middle of the night and it feels like someone punched me in the shouler. Pain at a 10! Its like a really annoying dull ache inside the shoulder, almost hard to pin point exactly where.

I had an MRI done and the following came back in the "Impression summary at end":

1. Mild to moderate tendinopathy/articular surface fraying of the supraspinatus tendon.

2. No evidence of rotator cuff tear.

3. Tear/detachmet of the anteroinferior labrum with minimal paralabral cystic change.

4. Minor hypertrophic acromioclavicular joint degeneration.

5. Minimal subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis.

Could you possibly comment on #1 - #5 and what each one actually means?

Also to add regarding your answer #3 above, in main report is said the following "There is abnormal signal undermining the anteroinferior labrum from the three to five oclock position, with minimal associated paralabral cystic change"

Lastly, do you think there could be a chance that something like this can heal on its own over time without surgery? I can move my arm freely but when I go over my head it starts to hurt?

Thank you in advance for your help with this. Very much appreciated!!!:)
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Thank you for your response.

Few other questions

1. When it says "Tear/detachment, is that the same as just saying tear? (detachment sounds more intense is there a difference or do they mean the same thing?)

2. Minimal associated paralabral cystic change...does that mean their are cyst's there but they are minimal so not that big of a deal? Can they clear up on there own?

3. If I want to try to not have surgery, what would I do besides anti-inflammatories, icing it and trying to not use the arm much? Any other suggestions? Do I need a sling? Can I still use my arm but just try to not reach higher than shoulder level or should I not be using it or really moving it much at all?

4. Can I carry things in that arm at my side like a bag of groceries or should I carry nothing, no weight?

5. Is it bad that in my sleep I wake up with my arm over my head sometimes or laying on that shoulder? I try to sleep on the other side or my back but sometimes wake up in other positions and then I have a lot of ache/pain in the shoulder? Could I be making the tear worse or just irritating it?

6. Why do you feel it is unlikely to heal without surgery?

7. Is there a chance it could heal without surgery? Could it heal completely? If so how long does this type of tear usually take the heal if I opt to try to go without surgery first? Several months or?

Thank you in advance for your help with my questions.
XXXXXXX XXXXXXX

Thank you for your response.

Two last questions,

If I want to try to wait and do ibuprohen, ice, physical theropy first to see if that will help, how long typically can it take for a tear like this to heal?

When you say not to do anything strenuous with that arm, can I carry a bag at my side, like a bag or groceries or a brief case for work, so the weight will be downward but I wont lift with that arm, is that ok or can that irritate the tear as well and I should carry absolutely nothing in that arm at all, even down at my side?

And thank you in advance for all or your help and support. This is a pretty scary thing that has happened to me and I appreciate you helping to guide me on what I should and should not do until I have my follow up appointment with my orthopedic doctor which unfortuanatly wont be for another 2 weeks:(

Great glad to hear it may heal on its own in about 3 months.

I promise this will be my last reply;)

My friend told me today that he had pain in his shoulder last year and they found out it was tendinitis. His ortopedic doctor gave him a cortisone shot and it helped a lot with his pain and inflammation.

I have tendinitis, bursitis, and the labrum tear and it hurts and is achy on and off all the time.

Do you think a cortisone shot would be helpful in my situation or no? If yes, is there any danger with getting one, can they hit a nerve with the needle or anything or is it usually pretty safe to get and if so do you think it would help with the achiness and the pain I feel in my shoulder and help with the overall healing process? Would there be any reason not to get one (could it make anything worse?)

Lastly I like to go walking 30 minutes a day. When I walk my arms naturally swing at my sides and I noticed today when my arms were swinging it was bothering my shoulder.

Could the natural swinging of my arms when I walk be hurting the tear or do you think it is just the tendinitis or bursitis being bothered? Is it ok to walk regardless of it is bothering it or could I be making things worse? I really love to walk each day but if it could be making my shoulder worse i could stop for a while? Do you think it could be making anything in the shoulder worse, especially the tear or not really just irritating things and it would be ok to still go for walks?

Thank you again for all of your help and support and I will be sure to close this discussion out opon your reply and give you the highest rating possible!!!

Thanks again XXXXXXX Marie:)