r/ShoulderInjuries

I am going to see an orthopedic doctor for my arm and shoulder. I am pretty certain I have a torn rotator cuff or labral tear. If I don't, I certainly torn something on my arm.

I have a lot of weakness and numbness on my arm. I know that I will most likely have an MRI for my arm.

I read that people have to get surgery for these things. I do read that a lot of doctors do have you try other things first like PT and other things. Now if you have a torn rotator cuff or labral tear on your shoulder, then surgery is pretty much 100% recommended right?

The thing that I'm curious about is cortisone shots. I read lot of people get these but these are always for pain only? So if you have weakness or shaking or numbness, are cortisone shots ever given?

I read several people mention cortisone shots never fix an issue. Is that true or false? Is it true it's always temporary? The thing is does it ever fix any weakness or numbness or shaking? I assume it never does? I did read a few reviews from patients who saw an orthopedic doctor and said whatever issue they had, they didn't need surgery.

The thing is if the orthopedic doctor suggests cortisone shots, does everyone here do it just to see how it works? One issue with it though is you have bad side effects from it or it make your situation worse? But if it somehow fixes your issue, then it's good?

Were you able to get back to all of your pre-injury activities? For context, I am 36M, got latarjet back in January 2026 after 6 dislocations in a 14-year span. I like weightlifting, yoga, tai chi, martial arts, hiking, swimming, etc. I’ve been hitting PT pretty hard since I began and have made great progress. However, the external rotation eludes me a bit still and my PT is saying I probably shouldn’t throw with my operative arm or do overhead press again at the gym. I’m also concerned in my current state if doing a pose as simply a downward-facing dog or certain tai chi movements will not be possible. Two people at work had their sons have latarjets and neither mentioned they could no longer perform an overhead press; actually they said their lifting was improved because of the surgery. Maybe it’s just time or my specific biomechanics but just wondering what others experience was like getting back to the things that were supposed to make this surgery worthwhile.

Hi guys, last Tuesday I (36m) broke my collar bone during a dad's race at my daughter's Sports Day.

When I went to A&E, there was no consultant available who specialises in shoulder injuries. So I was given an x-ray, a sling and sent on my way to await a review.

I was told that I may need surgery and that I would discuss this with the consultant and to think about what I would want.

Since then, I've spoken to two friends who each broke their collar bones some years ago. One had surgery and one didn't. The one who did not have surgery said that he was still suffering with issues like pain and reduced strength and flexibility. The friend who had surgery said his recovery went very well and was back riding a bike 3-4 weeks post operation.

I get that this is a sample size of two people though. So I wanted to ask, those of you that have had a broken collar bone, did you have surgery or not? How was your recovery? Do you wish things had gone the other way?

Any thoughts welcome and appreciated.

Well some context, i had multiple dislocation and well, i somehow managed to get them in place and never didn't think about it much(big mistake, ik). Well 2 days ago, this happened again... But this time when I was sleeping. I went to doctor and he gave me some meds and a shoulder immobilizer for 3 weeks. And after that I am going to get an MRI, i just hope it isn't too serious

Ik theres a good chance this might happen again, but I am really not looking forward to getting a surgery, but given the circumstances, i might have and to it will completly derail everything. Sigh i really messed up

I'm getting an MRI Anthrogram, but I am like 95% certain I have a labrum tear. I want to get surgery as soon as possible, and so im wondering how long it took the vast majority to schedule an actual surgery.

Hey yall, I got an arthroscopic anterior labrum repair 4 weeks and 3 days ago. I’ve also had a posterior labrum repair with a bone graft surgery done on my other shoulder multiple years ago. From my memory, I was not being pushed NEARLY this hard the last go around. Everything was pretty paced until 6ish weeks passed and unanchoring wasn’t a concern. My range of motion in all areas is 90%+ except external rotation which is like 30ish degrees and very tight at that point. My PT was stretching my arm and it was constant muscle spasming, very sharp pain and I was genuinely losing my mind because of it and the fear of it coming back out. Just wanted to ask if this aggressive of a push is typical at only 4 weeks? It feels very out of the norm for me from prior experiences but of course every surgery is different. Thank you!

So as the title says I’ve been having so much joint pressure if I try any movement, week 5 in a sling post dislocation. No surgery, torn labrum.
Every time I try to do a simple pendulum it feels so unstable and so much pressure in the joint. It sucks because I can’t move in the joint at all and have been 5 weeks immobilized so far. Anyone have experience with this?

My ortho said 6 weeks total in sling. I’m just worried about my 0 progress.

MRI of the right shoulder:

The AC joint shows no abnormalities.
The subacromial space is preserved.
Minimal effusion in the glenohumeral joint.
The tendons and muscles of the rotator cuff are preserved.
The long head of the biceps tendon runs normally within the groove to its insertion.
Probable small rupture at the base of the posteroinferior labrum, from the 3 to 6 o’clock position. No major changes in the remaining parts of the labrum, glenoid, and articular cartilage.
No major changes along the course of the capsule.
No major changes along the course of the vessels and nerves.
Signal of moderate edema of the subcortical bone of the humeral head, anteriorly. The remaining visualized skeleton has normal signal intensity.

Opinion:
Probable small reverse Bankart lesion; for a more precise assessment, MR arthrography is recommended.
Mild contusion of the humeral head bone, anteriorly.

Anybody else had reverse Bankart Lesion? How did you recover?

Hi there! I am 10 weeks post op for a grade 2 SLAP Repair and Biceps Tenodesis. At my 9 week follow up, I was diagnosed with Frozen Shoulder and told my ROM was severely behind. I have been experiencing pretty severe pain with any motion above shoulder height/90 degrees and intense pinching in the front of my shoulder, as well as a lot of pain in the rotator cuff.
I am unable to lift my arm past shoulder height without an assist.

I was told that if my ROM hasn’t improved by my 13 week follow up, a shoulder manipulation under anesthesia will be scheduled. I’m very concerned with my progress and thought I would be much further along at this point. I’m wondering if I need to seek a second opinion, as my PT is also skeptical of the recommendation of the shoulder manipulation.
I’m a dancer for a living and my surgeon works primarily with dancers.

Any advice/shared experiences appreciated!

Hey guys I know a lot of people have posted and had the same questions but it’s just been really kicking me lately with this dislocation. I just want to get back into my physical activities.

2 weeks ago I dislocated my shoulder in a very light wrestle, I didn’t even feel it dislocate it until after I tried raising my shoulder. When i went to the doctors they didn’t even pop it in, it was like a very easy and slow rotation and it was back in. No pain, the doctors said it was very minor. But are all dislocations the same? They even said i’d only have to be in the sling for 2-4 days and i’m 20 years old.

I currently can bring my arm up to my neck, it’s improving everyday, but is lifting, climbing, and boxing possible again with just PT? I also hope to join the army and i’m wondering what are my chances now with this dislocation and how it could pop out in future? Or is it really just minor like the doctors said?

I’ve only seen people never full recover or they recover for a couple years then pop it back out again.

I have had several dislocations in the past 2 weeks, and none are really painful. I didn’t fall or anything I just sat still and felt my shoulder slipping out, and it pops back in if I move it a bit. Every time I hear about shoulder dislocations it’s something dramatic and extremely painful. Do I just have high pain tolerance? I don’t think so??? This hurt less than bloodwork for me.

Hi everyone, I’m 3 weeks post-dislocation and dealing with a nightmare situation. I live completely alone with no helper, and I am physically unable to immobilize my shoulder properly.

Every time I use a standard sling or tuck my arm against my stomach, it levers the bone forward out of the socket. If I try an abduction sling with a foam wedge, the open gap under my armpit freaks out my muscles, causes severe muscle spasms, and overloads my healthy collarbone. I’m currently stuck single slinging my arm at weird angles just to keep it from slipping, and I’m completely exhausted.

My appointment with the specialist isn’t until Monday morning. I need advice on how to get through the weekend, how to find a passive resting position that actually works, and what the long-term healing path looks like for this specific damage.

Here are my exact MRI findings:

• Anterior glenohumeral instability (feels like it slips forward/down constantly)
• Disruption of the anteroinferior labrum (Bankart lesion)
• Shallow Hill-Sachs type impaction injury with significant bone marrow edema (causing deep, throbbing bone pain)
• No glenoid bone loss
• Intact anterior band inferior glenohumeral ligament complex (aIGHL)

The issues I'm facing right now:

1. Sling Failure: Off-the-shelf slings are completely failing my anatomy. Standard slings force the bone forward. Abduction slings create an empty "gap" in my armpit that causes severe neurological muscle confusion, involuntary twitches, and intense pressure on my healthy clavicle.
2. Severe Muscle Guarding & DOMS: My shoulder blade is constantly "hiking" up. My armpit and triceps muscles are locked in violent, protective spasms to hold the bone in place because the structural cartilage bumper is gone.
3. Position & Sleep Intolerance: I cannot lie flat at all. If I do, the bone immediately shifts out into my armpit. Even trying to sit up straight or arch my back makes it feel like it's sliding right out of the joint.

My questions for the community:

• If you had this exact MRI profile and severe resting instability, did you manage to heal conservatively, or did you ultimately need surgery
• How did you position your pillows or modify your sling to stop the bone from forcing forward without triggering insane muscle fatigue?
• For those with concurrent nerve issues (like foraminal stenosis), how did you manage to get any sleep without triggering electric nerve shocks down your back?

Any tips on structural setups or what to expect at my appointment on Monday would be life-saving. Thank you

Hi all,

I just discovered this sub, and I had a question if you could please answer.

Background:

I have a history of anterior shoulder dislocation for about 15 years, mostly with sports. I’ve had about 6 dislocations in that time span, and I finally got a Bankart repair done 1.5 years ago, but it failed a few months in. I’m not sure the exact cause, but I didn’t feel much pain; mostly soreness for a week after working to remove old caulk from my bathroom tiles. MRI showed near circumferential tear of my labrum and a posterior Hill Sach’s lesion. Thankfully there wasnt much bone loss.

Fast forward to last May, I had another Bankart repair, but this time with a replissage technique as well. My surgeon used additional anchors and said he was glad he went this route instead of trying a Laterjet procedure.

After about 3 weeks post-op, I had an intense feeling in my surgical shoulder where it felt like my shoulder was pushing forward, and it happened twice in succession with intense pain. Then the pain just went away, and I never had this feeling again. But it was an experience I never felt before because it literally felt like my shoulder wanted to move forward but was tethered. I contacted my surgeon, who said to monitor it and see if it happens again, which it never did.

Fast forward to now, which is 8 weeks post-op, and I can use my shoulder more. I have a few discomforts throughout the day and soreness at times when I wake up, but nothing bad.

My question is: how would I know if my repair failed? My surgeon said I would feel intense pain and my shoulder would be in a stretched abduction and external rotation position. But I kinda did have intense pain, but my shoulder was on my side the whole time.

Just curious about your thoughts. Thanks!

Currently 4 weeks away from surgery for a labrum tear. Second guessing this decision now lol.

I’ve done a lot of research but I guess I’m asking for any tips or suggestions on what to expect. Oddly enough, my pain has decreased significantly just in the last week so I’m getting cold feet. But I’m pretty sure it’s because I cut back on my physical activity and have been babying the shoulder a lot.

My main reason for going thru with surgery rather than just pt is because I want to get back to a higher level of activity. This injury has sidelined my career and I’m hopeful to get back to it. But the idea of not being able to swim, bike, climb, etc. for a while is bumming me out.

How are you all staying sane during recovery?!

I’m struggling with kaisers system! Hoping someone has promising reviews on this doctor!!?? (Or any Kaiser doctor in the Bay Area?)

Hey all! I have a posterior labrum tear, and I'm about 5 and a half months out from my surgery day (some school stuff has me putting it off). I'm trying to start getting some things together now, so I'm not making bulk purchases. Any recommendations on essentials? Also, anyone who has done this in the middle of winter have clothing suggestions? I live somewhere that can go from 65 and sunny to snow and ice in the span of a day.