Shoulder: Labral tear and chronic impingement syndrome!

[johnnnysmack7]

The following is from my surgical notes:

I recently had a shoulder surgery (2 months ago), in which I had Impingement Syndrome with limited space for the rotator cuff beneath the anterolateral acromial margin and Labral Detachment.   Shoulder Capsule was repaired and two sutures were placed in my shoulder towards the superior apex.  I was told that the decompression was successful.  

I have searched the internet looking for people with similar problems to what I am experiencing but was unsuccessful.  As I began my physical therapy, I experienced pretty intense muscle spasms on the muscle below my shoulder blade.  Im not sure what this muscle is, but was told it was a major muscle relating to the rotator cuff?  As time went on, and physical therapy went on, I have been unable to stop these spasms and reduce the "knot".  My therapist has done pretty much all in his power to stop the spasms (ultrasound, stim, massage) but has been unsuccessful.  My therapist insisted that I return to see my doctor, which i did.  The doctor said the spasms and "knot" were uncommon and I was given Skelaxin, and I believe Mortrin 800.  I have taken the medication as directed without relief.  The situation is very upsetting and somewhat depressing as I am not able to do my physical therapy.  What is even more upsetting is that the doctor spoke to me for 2-3 minutes without any sort of examination.  He placed his hands on my shoulder and said, "it is healing fine and it seems to be solid."  My therapist has informed me that my shoulder is swollen but the doctor did not even feel or speak of the spasm.

I am not educated on the structure of the shoulder and if asked, would say the pain seems to be in my upper back.  I now know it is shoulder related.  The feeling is one of tightness, somewhat pain and uncontrollable spasm.  Any help or advise?  Do I have anything to worry about?

[lisanear]

after surgery for my rotator cuff tear, i also experienced muscle spasms and my dr. prescribed percoset for them it is a narcotic so it tends to relax you and make you drowsy but it helped!
good luck!

[sofa weight]

I think that if you doctor didn't check out your shoulder in spite of your complaint about it. If after having done surgery, within that short time you have swelling an dpain, and your doctor doesn't check it out, that isn't good. whenever I have a doctor that does that, I get a different doctor.  I don't go to a doctor so that he can be paid to listen to himself talk. :) I've had been doctor experiences and am suffering from lingering bitterness. As for skelaxin, I have never had that medication do any good for me. I can't tell any difference between taking it or not taking it. I like zanaflex better. it actually does help spasms for me. If you are unable to do your physical therapy, are you doing at least he range of motion activites and having the ultrasound done? I have never had luck with active physical therapy and uually end up losing range of motion. However, whenever I have some active irritation going on in my shoulder or something, and I get physical therapy, I just do passive range of motion exercises and get ultrasound treatment until th inflammation and irritation let up. I'm just a person and not a doctor or a PT specialist. But I'm just telling you what my experience has been in those situations and what works for me.

[female54]

I have had rotator cuff and labrum repair and had the same pain and knots at the base of my neck and down the edge of my shoulder blade. FINALLY, they sent me to a pain management center and I received a series of 3 Trigger Point injections..they actually inject a steroid type med right into the knots, doesn't really hurt, just a bee sting! But it worked!!!!!  Good luck, the pain is awful and I sympathize with you.