SLAP tear right shoulder

[calstate23]

So back in March I played a quick round a frisbee golf with some buddies. The next day my shoulder was really sore and began poppin and grinding when moved in certain directions. I didnt notice anything out of the ordinary when I was playing but it was the only thing I could think of that put my shoulder to good work. I didn't worry about it too much until a couple months later when it had still not gone away and was starting to affect my lifting. I went to the doctor and it was diagnosed as a SLAP tear which I was told is not very significant and will heal in time. I took time off from lifting (about two months) and rested it and did some light rehab exercises.

Long story short it has not seemed to improve what so ever. I am back to lifting as normal but lifts that move my shoulder in a certain position still cause it to "pop and grind". Has anyone had one of these type injuries and found a good exercise, rehab, supplement, etc that has helped in the recovery process?

Yes, very much so...I had my right shoulder (Labrum) anchored back down to the bone about a year ago or so...It had bothered me for years before but I had full strength except for shoulder presses and incline chest...Which sucks because these are major exercises I had to workout around..I decided to do the surgery ONLY because I basically had one of the best shoulder surgeons in the US. Dr. Yocum does all the pro baseball players doing a ton of labrums and tommy john surgery. He actually works right below Frank Jobe WHO ACTUALLY INVENTED THE TOMMY JOHN SURGERY FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS! So this guy is legit.

Anyways, here is the deal on labrums. There is 80% chance of full recovery without surgery and doing rehab..The chances are pretty good...But does this mean that the labrum reattached itself back to the bone? No, it doesn't. Once a labrum is torn it CANNOT "REATTACH" itself back to the bone. But again, this doesn't mean you can't make a full recovery, your body healed itself enough to work around the injury....

It is something to REALLY consider...Because I'll tell you right now rehab for labrums is a bitch and it's FOREVER. Rehab is about 6 months or so, and no heavy heavy lifting for at least 9 months maybe even longer....Not to mention, once it's worked on your shoulder will never to the same, it will be repaired tissue now. Which always has a chance to reinjure...The cartilage is debrided and the repair is anchored back down with a screw.

I still cannot do shoulfer presses or incline to fullest potential....Even with the surgeon, best repair, best physical therapy there is always a chance with surgery that it make to help or make it worse. So it is something to carefully consider. So if you don't have all top 3 which I just stated I wouldn't even consider it.

I still debate with myself if I should have even done it...I could lift heavy and hard with everything except for a couple exercises. I could play any sports, baseball and racquetball. But now I'm left with a hefty surgery bill, months and months of rehab during my summer, still can't lift 100% and can't play racquetball like I did before surgery...But it is a long process and mine is still healing and I still do exercises at home.

But as you stated, "I am back to lifting as normal"....Is it worth it? A lot of questions to ask. If you want rehab exercises I can tell you everything I did months and months in rehab.

[AdrenalineJunkie]

Yes, very much so...I had my right shoulder (Labrum) anchored back down to the bone about a year ago or so...It had bothered me for years before but I had full strength except for shoulder presses and incline chest...Which sucks because these are major exercises I had to workout around..I decided to do the surgery ONLY because I basically had one of the best shoulder surgeons in the US. Dr. Yocum does all the pro baseball players doing a ton of labrums and tommy john surgery. He actually works right below Frank Jobe WHO ACTUALLY INVENTED THE TOMMY JOHN SURGERY FOR BASEBALL PLAYERS! So this guy is legit.

Anyways, here is the deal on labrums. There is 80% chance of full recovery without surgery and doing rehab..The chances are pretty good...But does this mean that the labrum reattached itself back to the bone? No, it doesn't. Once a labrum is torn it CANNOT "REATTACH" itself back to the bone. But again, this doesn't mean you can't make a full recovery, your body healed itself enough to work around the injury....

It is something to REALLY consider...Because I'll tell you right now rehab for labrums is a bitch and it's FOREVER. Rehab is about 6 months or so, and no heavy heavy lifting for at least 9 months maybe even longer....Not to mention, once it's worked on your shoulder will never to the same, it will be repaired tissue now. Which always has a chance to reinjure...The cartilage is debrided and the repair is anchored back down with a screw.

I still cannot do shoulfer presses or incline to fullest potential....Even with the surgeon, best repair, best physical therapy there is always a chance with surgery that it make to help or make it worse. So it is something to carefully consider. So if you don't have all top 3 which I just stated I wouldn't even consider it.

I still debate with myself if I should have even done it...I could lift heavy and hard with everything except for a couple exercises. I could play any sports, baseball and racquetball. But now I'm left with a hefty surgery bill, months and months of rehab during my summer, still can't lift 100% and can't play racquetball like I did before surgery...But it is a long process and mine is still healing and I still do exercises at home.

But as you stated, "I am back to lifting as normal"....Is it worth it? A lot of questions to ask. If you want rehab exercises I can tell you everything I did months and months in rehab.

Awesome response. Just what I needed. I never really considered surgery making it worse. Thanks man. Its actually been feeling the best it ever has just this week so Im definitely gonna hold off. And if I ever do decide to get surgery itll be years down the road so I csn give it the best chance to heal on its own. Is there a "rep" option on here. I feel i definitely owe you some for typing thay out and bringing up some things I had never considered.

[calstate23]

[QUOTE=AdrenalineJunkie;6090872]Awesome response. Just what I needed. I never really considered surgery making it worse. Thanks man. Its actually been feeling the best it ever has just this week so Im definitely gonna hold off. And if I ever do decide to get surgery itll be years down the road so I csn give it the best chance to heal on its own. Is there a "rep" option on here. I feel i definitely owe you some for typing thay out and bringing up some things I had never considered.[/QUOTE

No problem...The recovery part I really think is quite relative. There are many factors that are contributed to a successful surgery. Who is the doctor, how well was the injury repaired, where you go to physical therapy, how hard you work in physical therapy and a little luck.

Honestly, I don't always think surgery is REQUIRED (Depending on what it is and how bad the injury is). If you can function very well with most exercises and have most your strength in those exercises AND can do most physical activities the injury can not be that severe. In this case, the first priority any good doctor would say is do physical therapy for a few months and see if that can not heal the injury. If then, and only then, does it not help surgery may be taken into consideration.

You really have to look at your situation and see what is best. Are you trying to become a professional athlete? Are you happy with being at 90% to be able to do any and all activities?

Sometimes, surgery is required though. Meaning, if you cannot function at all doing physical activities and pain is too severe to do anything. Since in surgery there is ALWAYS a risk you have to ask yourself, "Am I happy with what I can do now or do you want to take that risk?"