Shoulder MRI Impressions

[Hawksonfire]

I've had shoulder pain since August, and have been on prescription NSAID's since September, the VA gave me an MRI on my shoulder last week, and the man who gave me the results was a P.A. with an attitude problem....  So, I was wondering if someone can translate this into everyday English for me.  

Impression:

Low grade thickness tear (less than 25% of tendon thickness) involving the far posterior fibers of the infraspinatus tendon at the insertion.  There is no full-thickness rotator cuff tear.

Thickening of the inferior labrum with a questionable tear of the labro- cartilaginous junction.

Thinning of the inferior glenoid cartilage with sclerosis and subchondrial cystic change involving the underlying inferior glenoid which also demonstrates mild bone marrow edema.

I am a 41 y/o male, and the VA is putting me under 8 weeks of PT for this condition, with a scheduled meeting with the "whole orthopaedic team" at the end of March.  They gave me a shot of cortisone in the shoulder last week on Tuesday, which seemed to help the pain until Friday, then my arm started hurting again.

[Mamabee10]

My MRI says Questionable tear of the anterior inferior labrum...what  does this mean?...Doc says I just need therapy. I've been to therapy and it hurts more.

[Hawksonfire]

Thank you Doctor...  Just an update, I have started PT later than expected, and the pain is intense...  But hopefully the therapy is helping

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

The MRI describes a minor tear in one of the muscles (infraspinatus) of the rotator cuff (the muscles that support the shoulder joint) and thickening of the inferior part of the labrum (covering of the joint), possibly inflammatory in nature. This is also thinning of the joint cartilage with associated degenerative changes. I would suggest continuing with the management plan suggested by your doctor till further review.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!