Persistant Shoulder Pain + MRI results = Bad News for me.. :(

[JoLLyRoGer]

So I've been having some shoulder pain on and off for several years. Nothing unmanageable, just a little pinch here and there if I moved it the wrong way. I just always wrote it off to sleeping on it wrong or something.

I stay pretty active and I generally hit the gym 4-5 times per week. Play softball (beer league). Swimming, camping, hiking, etc.. all good stuff.

Lately as in the past 6 weeks or so the pain was getting worse to the point that I had even dropped several exercises from my routine and went to see the doctor. He started me on these prolotherapy and cortisol shots thinking it was just some tendinitis or bursitis. But after two rounds of that an no improvement he ordered the MRI.

Here is the report:

PROCEDURE: MRI LEFT SHOULDER WITHOUT CONTRAST

COMPARISON: None.

INDICATIONS: OSTEOARTHRITIS

TECHNIQUE: A variety of imaging planes and parameters were utilized for visualization of suspected pathology. Images were performed without contrast.

FINDINGS:
ROTATOR CUFF:
Supraspinatus: There is a 5 mm in diameter focus of increased T2 signal within the distal and posterior supraspinatus tendon, with some normal tendon appearing to be preserved superficially. Findings are consistent with a near full thickness tear. Some fluid is visible in the overlying anterior subdeltoid bursa and subacromial bursa.
Infraspinatus: Normal.
Subscapularis: Normal.
Teres Minor: Normal.
BICEPS TENDON: Normal.
MUSCLES: Normal.
LIGAMENTS: Normal.
LABRUM: Normal.
AC JOINT: Mild degenerative changes are present.
ACROMION: Normal.
OTHER: There is an approximately 8 mm in diameter well-defined cyst within the anterior inferior margin of the bony glenoid.

CONCLUSION: NEAR FULL THICKNESS TEAR OF THE DISTAL SUPRASPINATUS TENDON. SMALL BONE CYST IN THE ANTERIOR INFERIOR GLENOID. SEE ABOVE COMMENTS.


Fan-fucking-tastic... So I've got a torn tendon, a bone cyst, and arthritis.. Appointment with an Orthopedic Specialist is on next Tuesday... Pretty sure it's gonna be surgery.

Anyone ever have a successful shoulder surgery? All I've ever heard from anyone anywhere are horror stores about how they were better off before surgery...

FML. Getting old sucks!
-JR

 

[brianmanahan]

my friend had shoulder surgery for frozen shoulder a couple months ago

and she has had ridiculous pain, worse than before, ever since then. they said it might take 1 year to feel better.

edit: from what i heard, the longer you wait though, the worse it'll be.

 

[dbk]

what caused it besides getting old? I would think exercising regularly (weight lifting?) would prevent what happened to you? ... GL

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

I have no idea what caused it... Hopefully the orthopedic doc will have some answers..

I know I'm tabling everything completely for now. If it's a near full tear I sure don't want to do something stupid that finishes the job and results in a detached rotator cuff muscle before I can get it repaired.

(I'm only 36)

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I've known several people who have had successful rotator cuff surgery. Pretty common in baseball circles. As for the other stuff . . . good luck man.

FWIW I have been living with a near full thickness tear of my rotator cuff for years. It only prevents me from lifting really heavy items over my head and throwing a ball at full speed (which for me was ~92MPH before the tear). So - not worth the surgery for me.

 

[Slew Foot]

the cysts itself isnt usually that exciting, its usually caused by arthritits. The full rotatorcuff tear is whats causing your pain, like was stated above, you dont NEED to get it fixed if it wont interfere with your life (i.e. youre a MLB pitcher or something), but if causing major disruptions, then do it. Make sure your orthopod is sports medicine trained and not a generalist, you dont want some old ass idiot who does one or two a year trying to fix your shoulder. Ideally someone whose about 5 years out of fellowship and working with a big ortho group, preferably with local sports teams.

 

[dabuddha]

man now you've got me all worried. I've had shoulder pain since last November off and on. It got bad enough where it felt like someone was digging a knife into my shoulder. I had my MRI done 2 weeks ago and I go in tomorrow to my Ortho to go over the results.

 

[JEDI]

Fan-fucking-tastic... So I've got a torn tendon, a bone cyst, and arthritis.. Appointment with an Orthopedic Specialist is on next Tuesday... Pretty sure it's gonna be surgery.

Anyone ever have a successful shoulder surgery? All I've ever heard from anyone anywhere are horror stores about how they were better off before surgery...

FML. Getting old sucks!
-JR

arthritis? how old are you?

with surgery, then should be able to fix all 3 at once w/micro incisions.
or at least clean out the arthritis area to delay the effects

 

[JEDI]

I've known several people who have had successful rotator cuff surgery. Pretty common in baseball circles. As for the other stuff . . . good luck man.

FWIW I have been living with a near full thickness tear of my rotator cuff for years. It only prevents me from lifting really heavy items over my head and throwing a ball at full speed (which for me was ~92MPH before the tear). So - not worth the surgery for me.

92mph? why aren't u on tv playing MLB?

 

[Thebobo]

I have no idea what caused it... Hopefully the orthopedic doc will have some answers..

I know I'm tabling everything completely for now. If it's a near full tear I sure don't want to do something stupid that finishes the job and results in a detached rotator cuff muscle before I can get it repaired.

(I'm only 36)

Get a second opinion before any surgery!

 

[momeNt]

92mph? why aren't u on tv playing MLB?

Location, late movement.

I'm guessing somewhere like 1% of the population can learn to throw a baseball above 90mph, and only 1% of that population could even play ball in college, and 1% of them play in MLB.

 

[Tweak155]

That's what you get for doing physical activities too much I guess.

 

[lozina]

If it makes you feel any better, the last time I had an MRI they found a tumor in my head.

 

[rsutoratosu]

oh that sucks.. I actually have tendinitis, seeing PT for a month already.. sometimes its better but still feels the same

 

[manimal]

If it makes you feel any better, the last time I had an MRI they found a tumor in my head.

you doing ok loz?



Ive had 5 surgeries this year and they cant find why I am making salivary stones weekly. I pass em till they get stuck then they remove them with a hot poker...


not really a hot poker but that what it feels like after. I stopped taking the pain meds cold turkey and just deal with pain.


Funny thing is in a recent MRI for pain my doctor noticed a small tear like Sho nufs from my baseball days.


I recently watched that documentary about the knuckeball pitchers and I started cursing to myself that I wish I could have the best Knuckleballers ever to teach me to throw one. Kids today dont know how lucky they have it!


To OP, Hang in there man, pain is a state of mind. stay ahead of the pain early with meds but when you think you can throw em out.

 

[rudder]

Anyone ever have a successful shoulder surgery? All I've ever heard from anyone anywhere are horror stores about how they were better off before surgery...

Just do your PT and you will be as good as new in 6-8 months. I tore my my rotator cuff.. ahd surgery, did PT, tore it 6 months later, had surgery, did PT and now I am 100% on the right side again. Surgery was a few years ago and have not had any issues since. ine also included a torn labrum and I had a few bone spurs which got shaved off.

 

[OutHouse]

I would think exercising regularly (weight lifting?) would prevent

wow.....

 

[Sho'Nuff]

92mph? why aren't u on tv playing MLB?

Lots of people can throw that hard. The difference between a college pitcher and a MLB pitcher is much more about command than it is about velocity. Miss your target by 2 inches up and to the left or right and the fastball that could K 99% of highschoolers will be hit hard by 60-70% of college and minor league players.

Also - like many who throw that hard my body could not take it. I've had elbow surgery three times, shoulder surgery once, and despite all that I continued to throw hard. Then I broke my right humerus in the middle of a pitch (ala Drave Dravecky, but sans cancer). That officially ended my baseball career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4os7Wa8gtM <- Not for faint of heart.

 

[z1ggy]

Your recovery will prob depend highly on the PT program you undertake. I had surgery for torn ligaments in my hip and after almost 1.5 yrs, it still hurts. My hip will never be the same again because my PT sucked and didn't give me all the possible outlets to recovery.

I know this because my gf is a PT and I told her what my treatments were. She said my PT was terrible (which I guess she ended up being right).

 

[Vdubchaos]

You said its here and there.....sounds like not that big of a deal.

If you are looking for problems, you will find them.

I would say rough it out until it's unbearable. Surgery is MAJOR thing to do IMO.

I would cut back on activities as well, too much wear and tear can't be too good either.

I'm 36 and dealing with chronic disease (read: it can be SO much worse)