Shoulder pain

[danny116]

back in June I felt minor sharp shooting pain in my left shoulder/arm. The next day while at work I was using my left arm when I couldnt move my arm what so ever..when I did it seemed most of the pain was concentrated in the shoulder. After a few days of rest and Motrin I still had limited range of motion at the shoulder area and continued buring, tingling feeling from shoulder blade down arm into hand at times. After PT for 7 weeks the shoulder strength seemed fine with no serious pain but slight discomfort.  An Mri was performed due to this buring feeling and the report came back as "Linear increased signal undermining the superior labrum may reflect POSSIBLE degeneration and/or tear".  !st surgeon was rushing me to surgery without even looking at the MRI. he's just going by the report. 2nd Surgeon did look at MRI and he confirms that I have a minor labrum tear that is not worth going under the knife for. 2nd Doc would rather focus on this tingling feeling and set me up with a physiatrist to rule out some sort of nerve issue in the neck.( I passed both shoulder strenght tests performed by each doctor)  The physiatrist claims I pushed my shoulder to the limit causing the nerve to enflame and did request a cervical spine mri and a emg test. ( I also passed a shoulder strength test) I just did a light workout with no issues but as soon as Im done I feel that buring feeling once again mostly in the shoulder blade/deltoid  area...the tingling comes and goes. Any ideas if this minor labrum tear is the main issue causing this burning, tingling feeling.

[Michael L Gross, MD]

although the labrum may not heal, if the shoulder is stable and pain free, the labrum does not need to be repaired.

[danny116]

Thank u..so the physiatrist claims i have instability in my shoulder and would benefit from 2/3 months of pt..at that point get reevaluated to c if i have improved. I started pt this week and i able to perform exercises with little or no pain,,mostly fatigue but after i workout my shoulder feels like its burning and my arm just doesnt feel right.. I also get that same burning feeling when watching tv on my left side or talking on the phone..research Ive done also states the labrum tears dont heal , u can only rebuild muscle around the affected area. I have a very very physical job of driving and delivering packages for 9 hours a day... My shoulder/arm just doesnt feel right ...Im not rushing to surgery but I think the labrum tear will have to addresed at some point. What do u think?

[Michael L Gross, MD]

I agree with doctor number two. I don't think the torn labrum is clinically significant, and I do not think a rush to surgery is warranted at this point.