Had an MRI done on my shoulder yesterday. The dr.'s office called this morning & said I have a SLAP

[RamblingRose]

labrum tear.

My follow up appointment is Monday, then I can find out how bad it is & what my treatment options are. Of course I want to start with conservative treatment.

Has anyone else had this injury? What questions should I ask the doctor?

There goes my career as a terrible pickleball player (never played tennis).

I'm very sad and can use some words of encouragement.

[underpants]

1. Aren't MRI's fun?

I’ve had a couple this year. I chose Classic Rock as my music choice.

[RamblingRose]

3. This was the first I had an open MRI machine. Definitely a big improvement! n/t

[Paladin]

10. You lucked out. The "closed" MRI's are still in widespread use.

I know whereof I speak.

[sakabatou]

21. No, not fun. I hate the loud "clunks" and other noises

[Walleye]

2. Do you know how you injured it? I've been having a lot of trouble with my shoulder

I had injuries in the past but nothing specific this time. It’s making grinding noises in my whole bicep is sore.I hope your treatment is not too difficult and you get better fast. My brother injured his shoulder and had to take time off from his pickle ball. But lately has been playing pretty regularly, so we could get better. I’m putting off getting an MRI. I may have to do something soon though it’s really limiting my movement and like you say it hurts to do anything. Good luck we are with you

[RamblingRose]

5. When I first went to the orthopedist the PA said she's seen a lot of injuries from pickleball but

since most pickleball players are former tennis players it's hard to draw any conclusions. I never played tennis so I think it's a combination of things and pickleball was the the final blow.

No pickleball or swimming anytime soon right as summer is about to start.

[Walleye]

13. So it must've been kind of cumulative instead of one traumatic event?

[RamblingRose]

14. I've had back/hip pain on my left side & have only been able to sleep on my right side for years. I

think that may be some of it (?). Then pickleball and swimming were the tipping point.

[Walleye]

18. Thanks. That's good info I'll quit trying to pinpoint exactly when I hurt it.

[blm]

4. If I had to do it over again I'd choose surgery sooner

rather than later as I did, because I initially tried avoiding it through other routes.

[RamblingRose]

6. That's what I was wondering since PT mostly helps with mobility & strength but does not 'fix' the

tear and I'm afraid it could get worse before it gets better.

[blm]

7. Mine worsened through PT.

The inflammation pain was intense and constant. And costly.

[blue sky at night]

8. You are good to get an MRI...

when I partially tore my Rotator Cuff and went to PT to pretty much heal it. Last Fall my dog pulled me off my feet and I landed on that shoulder: MRI showed complete tear of two out of four tendons in the Rotator meaning Full Reverse Shoulder replacement. It went well and now I can use my arm again. You most likely will need surgery to fix the tear and I would recommend that. They told me some folks just learn to "live" with the problem. I go to the Cleveland Clinic for everything and I trust the doctors. Good luck and BTW, Motrin works wonders for the pain.

[Donkees]

9. Hoping the 'non-surgical' therapy option is the doctor's first choice ...

Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.

Are there different types of SLAP tears?

There are several different SLAP types and sub-types. The most common SLAP tear is the type 2 tear. Type 2 tears have several sub-types, each describing different ways a type 2 tear might appear:

Type 1: In this type of tear, your labrum shows signs of fraying or shredding but still functions. Type 1 tears are often seen in people who are middle-aged or older.
Type 2: This is the most common SLAP tear type. In Type 2 tears, the labrum and bicep tendon are torn from the shoulder socket.
Type 3: Torn labrum tissue is caught in the shoulder joint.
Type 4: In this type, the tear that started in your labrum tears your bicep tendon.


How are SLAP tears treated?
SLAP tear treatment depends on the amount and kind of damage healthcare providers find when they examine your labrum. They might recommend non-surgical therapies first before concluding surgery is the best option. Regardless, SLAP tears can take months to fully heal.

Here are common SLAP tear treatments:

Rest.
Anti-inflammatory drugs.
Cortisone shots.
Physical therapy.
Debridement.
Arthroscopic labral surgery to repair your labrum.
Bicep tenodesis.

What happens after SLAP tear surgery?
You’ll wear an arm sling so your injured shoulder isn’t bearing weight. You might need to wear the sling for several weeks to several months.
Your shoulder might feel stiff.
Your shoulder might feel weak.
You still might have limited range of motion.
Your doctor might recommend light exercise or physical therapy to help you regain strength.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21717-slap-tear

[RamblingRose]

11. Thank you so much for the information!! It gives me a good starting point for talking with the Dr.

It's the most comprehensive info I've seen.

[Donkees]

17. The "Questions to ask your doctor" section does seem thorough :) Best Wishes!

Questions to ask your doctor:

Will my SLAP tear heal without surgery?
What are the benefits of non-surgical versus surgical treatment?
Which treatment has the fastest rate of recovery?
What are the surgery’s side effects?
Why does it take so long for SLAP tears to heal?
Will the treatment make my pain go away?
Will I be able to play sports again?
Will I always have trouble moving my arms or reaching overhead?
Can I hurt my shoulder again?

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21717-slap-tear

[GumboYaYa]

12. Hanging from a pull-up bar works for some shoulder injuries

It solved my rotator cuff issues. Talk to your PT before you do anything. But if the problem is caused by a rotator cuff impingement, hanging works. Go slow and only a few seconds with support at first. Use your legs to hold part of your weight. Do it every day. It takes months to work. Build up slowly until you can hang without any support and then try to go longer each day. Do it every day. I regained mobility in my shoulder with that program.

[Bobstandard]

15. Get surgery as soon as you can if.,

If surgery is indicated get it as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more difficult the surgery and the more difficult the post op physical therapy. If you get the surgery, start PT immediately and do everything the therapist says. No more, no less, no matter how much it hurts. Be aware that shoulder surgery recovery is quite painful. The reward is strength and mobility equal to or nearly equal to pre surgery.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

16. Do you have two hands? Two arms?

I had tennis elbow so bad I couldn't shave right-handed. I switched to playing tennis left-handed. I sucked so bad I had to take lessons for starters. After a few months, I was back into my old "ladder" recreational league (partly about tennis, partly about beer) and worked quickly to the bottom of the ladder.

It was still tennis, I still ran and sweated, still yelled at myself for bad shots, it was all fun, if at a lower skill level.

Go play pickleball, if you can find a left-handed paddle.

Oh, yeah, words of encouragement: (in an east-european accent) "You can do it!!!"

[RamblingRose]

19. Funny you said that. I texted the guy that organizes our pickleball text group & told him to take me

off the list. He said, "Nope, you will always be on the list and are expected to play. No excuses."

I told him I was on the DL cause of my shoulder and he replied, "Ok, but you still have a left shoulder."

I'm so bad you wouldn't even notice a difference

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

20. "I'm so bad you wouldn't even notice a difference"

THAT's the spirit!!! Way to go!!

Please let us know how your next match goes. We're rooting for you!