Moving your shoulder shouldn't cause pain. If this type of motion is painful, you may have a problem. The labrum is one of the pieces of cartilage that makes your shoulder work correctly, and if it tears, you'll experience pain, stiffness, and poor motion in the shoulder. At Crescent City Orthopedics in Metairie, Louisiana, you can get timely diagnostics and industry-leading treatment to rid yourself of the pain and discomfort of a torn labrum.
The labrum, a piece of cartilage that cushions and stabilizes part of the shoulder, is also the anchor for several of the ligaments in the shoulder joint.
As you age, the labrum continually suffers pressure, and this regular wear and tear can make it prone to injury, especially with repetitive motion activities. The labrum can also suffer a tear after a traumatic shoulder injury.
If your labrum has torn, you'll experience:
These symptoms can mimic those of a torn rotator cuff, which is why you'll need to see a doctor to get an accurate diagnosis. However, these aren't symptoms to ignore. Waiting to get help could cause further damage to your shoulder, so call Crescent City Orthopedics to get evaluated when you first start noticing these symptoms.
Diagnosing shoulder injuries requires a shoulder specialist, which you'll find at Crescent City Orthopedics. Diagnosis starts with a physical examination, with imaging tests afterward. Common imaging tests used may include:
The results of these scans allow your doctor to pinpoint the location of your pain.
Whenever possible, your doctor will pursue nonsurgical treatment for a torn labrum. These treatments can include:
If these options aren't working or if the tear is substantial, your surgeon may recommend shoulder arthroscopy, a minimally invasive surgical treatment that will get you back on your way to normal activities quickly.
Because Crescent City Orthopedics has several doctors on its team of surgeons who are shoulder specialists, the practice is your logical choice for labral tear treatment. Schedule an appointment with one of the physicians at Crescent City Orthopedics today to discuss your shoulder pain, and receive expert guidance from a shoulder expert as to your best option for a full recovery.
