torn labrum

This afternoon, I visited my orthopedic specialist for a follow-up after six weeks of physical therapy for my shoulder injury. He said it didn't appear any better and suspected a torn labrum.
I'm having an MRI tomorrow and seeing the doctor again next Thursday to go over the results.
My physical therapist explained a little about the injury and said there's no non-invasive treatment that can repair it. I can have surgery, I can live with it and cut back on some activities (no more heavy weight lifting in the upper body, no more rugby) or I could keep doing what I was doing before, eventually develop arthritis and need a new shoulder.
So I can have my shit sandwich on white, wheat or rye.
Apparently, going back to when I got into this mess and having whatever happened not happen is not possible. But that's probably the only thing that could really help me. If anybody has invented a time machine yet, please let me know.
Reading about the surgery, I'm a little put off by the idea of spending a week out of work and six weeks in a sling, with no driving (which would seriously affect my ability to do my job). Maybe I'm being a little shortsighted about this but if the short term involves car repossession, the unemployment line or bankruptcy, I'm not interested.
Has anyone had this condition or an operation and is it as bad as it sounds?
I'm still doing the rehab exercises and icing it. Hopefully that will help eventually.

 

Welcome to my hell. Only it's not my shoulder anymore. I have a torn meniscus in my right knee. MRI is skedded for Wednesday morning. Yippie-kie-fucking-yay. Just walking the dog hurts like a mofo.

 

Damnedest thing, the knee problems I had this spring are all better now.

 

We must have switched places in the time space continuum then ...

 

Could be.

 

I separated my shoulder two years ago, and along with that suffered a slight labrum tear.

I've talked at length with the orthopedic specialist for the team I cover (high-major DI hoops), and he told me that surgery for such a tear, although poo-pooed as a minor procedure by many doctors, is actually a real bitch. Even for a small tear like mine.

He basically told me to just tough it out -- provided I can still do the things I want physically -- until I get to the point where it's too painful. Then take care of it.

I'm taking his advice and so far, so good. I'm just afraid what the future holds.

Hope this helps.

 

yeah, my gp thought i had a torn labrum...

i started reading up on it and was scared to death

then went to the local big shot doc (does the major league team in town and all sorts of other players) and he diagnosed a rotator cuff tear. was really happy with that. actually said pt should work (now that the cortosone shot has worn off, i need to get on that)

 

Small P--I hope the MRI shows you something....a torn labrum can be hard to diagnose. If that's the problem, and you don't correct it, be prepared for a lot of dislocations. The labrum is one of the ligaments that holds the shoulder together (keeps the ball in the socket). If it's torn or damaged, any range of movement can drop your arm right out of the shoulder socket. Extremely painful, and a guaranteed trip to the ER--repeatedly.

If your doctor recommends surgery (and I would definitely get more than one opinion!), it might be worth the couple of months of recovery to prevent years of pain and limitation.

 

Not that I would know, but I assume it's better to have a torn labrum than a torn labium.

 

I've torn a few labias in my day.

 

I cannot believe it took eight minutes for someone to make that joke.

 

Fixed.