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Tear in shoulder labrum

Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Sep 23, 2023 | Replies (17)

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@avmcbellar

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

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Replies to "Hi @angelameyer you’re welcome. I wish there were more answers for you. Why were you not..."

Toni, I am 70, and my age along with all my other ailments played a part in excluding me from repairing the tear. I have prayed hard on this, and sometimes I laugh at myself because I lose sight of how lucky I am in so many ways. My daughter has her Master's in Social Work and she feels there is no need for any senior to be in more pain than a mild headache. That would involve some serious medication at times. C'est la vie. Thank you and again, will pray for the right decision and will pray for your Mom as well.