What happens if your shoulder labral tear goes untreated

Depending on the location of your labral tear and your age, you may need little to no treatment, or you could need surgery to prevent chronic instability and pain in your shoulder.

[fredcamacho]

I had a labrum repair when I was 17, and it was absolutely the right decision. I dislocated my shoulder in a bicycle accident, and after I popped it back in, it would dislocate again almost daily when putting on a shirt.

It's been 25 years now, and my shoulder is rock solid and hasn't hurt since the surgery.

[brad]

Excellent video. I've watched 15 other videos without finding one that explained the labrum structure and associated tear categorisation in a way that made sense. Advice on appropriateness of surgery was really helpful.

[Willowtree]

For me, the problem with my SLAP TEAR is that the shoulder pain keeps me awake at night when I lay down and turn in my left shoulder. It's unstable and I wake up in pain. No one should live with chronic shoulder pain when surgery can correct it.

[bgaona]

Exactly the information and opinions I wanted to hear. Clearly articulated, too. Thank you!

Downright the best video on SLAP tears, appreciate your insight.

[stoicsanjin]

"Pain is temporary" has been my motto since I tore both my posterior labrums in 2016 thanks for the info Dr. Paull

[grettagrids]

Going on 3 yrs now gor me with a labral tear. Osteoarthritis and complete rotator cuff tear. Mosy orthopedic surgeons wont touch soneone with ehlers danlos. My shoulder now just hangs outside the socket. Very painful and good luck sleeping. Finally found a dr who is doing something about it.

[uioxk]

Awesome info.. This is stuff I haven't heard anywhere else.

[kamalmani]

Thank you! I've had tears on both anterior and posterior labrum on my left shoulder in 2018. It gets better but heels very slowly. My Ortho asked me to leave it alone. Ive learned to live with it.

[yougotkained]

I'm recovering from surgery right now (typing with 1 hand even). Was heavy lifting upwards at an inline and my shoulder dislocated backwards. Awful initially but felt fine back in the socket after a few weeks. It could easily fall out of the socket when my arm was up for a moment. 2 years later, my shoulder kept aching (regular gym usage in that time). Got it looked at and opted for surgery. Pain when healing isn't nice but it's bearable 3 days later. Feels like my arm is held together with paperclips at the moment. I don't know how long it'll take for me to go to the gym again but very single day feels a lot better. I'm 28 yrs old.

[uroTV]

Nice job on your video, Dr Paull! Appreciate the information

[normbittner]

Just found your video and it is well done. I injured my shoulder playing high school football, arm tackle and then another player was behind my should creating a fulcrum- remember it like it was yesterday. Don't recall what I did to get it better but wasn't really an issue for a long time except for range of motion- example, it was difficult to lay on my stomach with my hands under my head- caused pain in the left shoulder joint. Well as I've gotten older, almost 54, for about maybe the last 5-10 years, I would get sharp pain in weakness when doing something while the should is in a certain position- like pushing on a door, opening car door, lifting something. Ironically, I have been going to a trainer and exercising more the past 16 years. A couple years ago my wife and I started taking the BiFlex for joints and it seems to help. But my shoulder will be fine and then I'll do something to tweak it and then it's touchy for a few weeks or so. The pain and weakness are only momentary until my should drops- no pain otherwise at any time. The other week I reached out to pick up a glass of water and the weight of my arm was too much, my arm dropped, and I had to use my other arm. Any thoughts- sounds from what I have seen on YouTube- it may be a rear or top labrum tear. But again, I've been living with it- and like the old joke about the guy who went to the doctor for pain when he moved his arm a certain way- the doctor said "don't move your arm that way" lol, and that's what I've been doing. Sorry so long- thank you!

[wilsong]

I had a slap tear 10 years ago from heavy benching, I wasn’t able to any overhead or pressing work for a couple months after the injury then slowly over time I’ve been able to add it back in . I never got the surgery because it’s not the end of the world to me if I can’t press heavy weights any more which is the only time it bothers me these days . I can still press moderately heavy 315 range for reps but I can’t do it for consecutive weeks without my shoulder feeling like it’s gonna come out of the Socket . There’s some clicking and grinding that wasn’t there before the injury but all in all it only bothers me when I’m wreckless with it . Also I’ve had to use a much closer grip on everything since the injury as well . A wide grip would cause a lot of pain

[JDye-youtube]

I tore my right when I was 51 had it repaired and after a year it was pain free. Now 10 years later I’ve torn my left one and it feels like a hot ice pick in my shoulder when I rotate that arm behind me like when you put on or take off a jacket. I don’t see living with this the rest of my life.

[vinnyvacco]

Thanks very much. I had an inferior shoulder dislocation and there isn’t as much info on it as the other shoulder dislocations. As a result after seeing an orthopedic it was determined that my rotator cuff and my nerves were unharmed. However it was confirmed that i injured my labrum (likely a slap tare). I did not get an MRI..

I’m amazed that i honestly have very little pain (it’s been three days since the dislocation). I feel soreness when reaching above my head. I’m hoping for a full recovery with shoulder stabilization exercises and strengthening my rotator cuff muscles. For not I’m just resting and icing the shoulder.

[Ngchan]

i have issues in my right shoulder starting a year ago, due to some reasons I have not had any treatment on it... altough it's a bit better but it is still bothering me.... (i'm 47 years old)
symptoms:
At the beginning (a year ago),
1: i felt weakness on my right shoulder, i used to bench 145kg but I could only bench 120kg then and during the movement I felt like my shoulder was about to come off... i could finish couple reps but my shoulder would be so sore for days.... then i had to down it to 100kg, i could do it with better after condition, but my right shoulder would feel tired in the middle of the round.
2: when i tried to reach my left shoulder with my right hand, my right shoulder would feel so much pain
3: i just ignored the pain and did regular work-out, then my bicep, trapezius, tricep, infraspinatus were alll very sore
4: i tried to do Y raise of arms with 6kg dumbells, clearly i felt weakness on right side (my left could not 10 reps but my right could do only 4 reps)

now (a year later):
1: i can now bench 120kg~125kg, but somehow I still feel some weakness on my right
2: my bicep, trapezius, tricep, infraspinatus are constantly sore... and very tight.... this has been giving me hard annoying
3: for couple of times i had to raise my hand to put something at high places... at some angle, a cramp would suddenly appear on right shoulder....now I am kinda cautious everytime I raise my right arm...
4: when I do the chest-fly machine in heavier weight...i feel my right shoulder is like a bit coming off....

sorry for long words.... would like to ask if i was like in need of a surgery.... really thanks...

[jimsolmer]

When you say you can live with it for a long period of time does that mean it will eventually cause osteoarthritis and potentially need to be replaced? I already have some osteoarthritis due to bot getting my bankart lesion fixed with the biceps tenodesis. If I get those repaired now will I prevent the osteoarthritis from progressing? Of If i ignore it will the osteoarthritis get overwhelming to the point of a replacement? Thank you Dr.

[Martynas-tzbt]

I believe the surgery is the last thing you should do because I personally had one before and the shoulder still partially dislocated several years later. Training and stabilizing is the answer in my opinion.

[jack-fcoq]

What is anterio-inferior labrum tear with tear of periosteum and diminutive anterior superior labrum.

[c.studio]

would either of dextrose, PRP, or stem cell injection help grow the labrum back to its place and stabilize the shoulder?