Tear in shoulder labrum

Hi @angelameyer, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm bringing @faithwalker007 @avmcbellar and @fourof5zs who have first-hand experiences with labrum tears.

Is it possible that the lipoma removal aggravated the torn shoulder labrum, causing increased pain?

Welcome @angelameyer

Hi @angelameyer I did have an MRI for my diagnosis of labrum tear in my hip. My pain had started 25 years before and went through different stages. I had learned to do stretching exercises to help decrease the pain. I lastly felt a clicking sound when standing up from a sitting position. I figured I would eventually need a hip replacement until the MRI confirmed my diagnosis. My physician had told me the tear will not heal on its own. I could either continue with exercises or do a surgical repair. I was also told people who elected a surgical repair later developed arthritis in that area. Luckily for me the MRI found none after all those years. I have not done any surgery.
As for your shoulder pain have you seen an orthopedic physician? I know some people who had the surgery and after physical therapy to help with rehabilitation. If your pain level is high and use of your shoulder is very limited I would consider the surgical repair. Talk with an orthopedic physician who may do the surgery for options as to what is best for you. Ask questions what to expect following each scenario so you can make your decision. Hope this helps. Toni

That’s a very good question, @angelmeyer .
If your surgery or rehab affected the joint or positioning of the joint in any way then yes, pain from the torn labrum could be created.

Okay I have a torn labrum from 2 manipulations that were completed during the same month.. I’d had encapsulitis in my Right shoulder. They freed it but damaged the joint very badly. It can’t be opened up again due to my CRPS and the risk of spreading to non peripheral areas such as internal organs

Thank you for your reply. I am going to read up on CRPS. I was diagnosed with POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA two years ago, am on steroids, and get blood work done very often. They are concerned with kidney functions, checking my sed rate. I also have Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, and to add insult to injury, a small brain aneurysm.

Toni, thank you for your reply. I have seen an orthopedic surgeon at NE Medical Center. She doesn't think I am candidate for surgery to repair, but rather total shoulder replacement. Slowly but surely I'm feeling the pain coming back after having cortisone shot two months ago. I'm still questioning her statement that the tear happened sometime prior to my lipoma surgery. Would not at the instant of the tear I would have felt pain? The MD had no real response. I don't want to endure shoulder replacement, I will get shots as long as I can. Again, thank you!

@angelameyer, you may wish to also join the discussion in the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr/

Good question, that is what the doctor said. However, still confused that if the tear was old, when it did happen, would I not have had pain at that time? Thanks!

Hi @angelameyer you’re welcome. I wish there were more answers for you. Why were you not a candidate for surgical repair but a candidate for total shoulder replacement? My elderly mother(90 years old) has had trouble with her shoulder for the past 2 years. Her physician recommended physical therapy which she did at home with home health and outpatient therapy. Both did not help her. She then went to an orthopedic physician and surgeon who diagnosed her with arthritis and recommended total shoulder replacement. She thought hard about it because she has a senior neighbor who did a total shoulder replacement and it worked out well for her. The neighbor is now pain free and able to use the shoulder. My mother at first was going to go through with the surgery but later decided against it because she felt at her age she did not want to take chances of it not working out well as her neighbor. So she endures the pain and does what she can. Despite all her ailments, my mother still lives independently in her apartment. She takes Tylenol for arthritis in the evening to decrease her pain so she can sleep. She does not do the steroid injections because of the side effects. She knows it is not good for the body and the injections do not work well for many she knows. Her pain does not go away. She claims it slowly worsens in time. Not being able to use the shoulder and the pain associated with it certainly limits your mobility. It will not get any better on its own perhaps worse so think about the outcome of your decision to make sure it is what you want in the long run. Difficult decision. Ask yourself, in doing the surgery, will the benefits outweigh the risks? I wish you well. Toni