Question for Docs: SLAP Lesion - Thoughts
 

Hey! I've been away for quite some time. A couple of bad injuries this past summer, starting a new career, starting a new degree programme, trying to get the farm running and profitable (suceeded last year!), and a couple of cars that run just fine. More than 1,000 miles a month on the 993, no issues in the 30,000 + miles since Tab Tanner did the top end.



Many years ago I had a SLAP Lesion tied back together on my right shoulder. We are not sure of when the tendon went (most likely ralated to a spooked horse) but surgery or a continuously out of joint shoulder were my only choices. Surgery went well, screws, tying together of things, and all seemed to work OK. Strength work on the shoulder, very limited throwing of anything after more than one year after the surgery, no apparent further injury. It did hurt if I slept on the right arm.

Fast forward several years to this weekend. The Wife and I were building a new pole barn for the livestock. We had the framing up and were putting in the two posts for the doorway. I had about 1/2 of my hole dug as I lifted the post holer, felt a HUGE industrial rubber band hit me in the back of the shoulder and felt a reverbration in the front of the shoulder. Very little pain, very little. Arm did not go numb (previous issue was arm was almost completely numb) but it did feel weak and shoulder was left visibly lower than the left.

This AM, numb pain, nothing terrible. Sort of like a mild headache in the shoulder, less than about 10% of what I used to have prior to surgery years ago. Shoulder sits at rest a couple of inches lower than left shoulder. Arm feels "out of socket", for what that feeling is worth.

Wife is a Chiropractor by training but has her diplomate in internal medicine. She is rusty on these things but did an exam and believes the tendon has broken loose again. No, she is not doing any adjustments. We are researching strength training in this situation but, obviously, it will not be weight based.

Question: Does it sound like I've torn this again? I am about six months from having enough time off to take off for the operation. I really did not like it the first time and I hardly ever see doctors (except for Spouse).

Are there any good Orthopedic Surgeons in central Indiana? I am between Bloomington and Terra Haute.

Thanks Guys!!!

Not a surgeon but...I see an MRI (at least) and a shoulder arthroscopy (or more) in your future. Big "snaps" are rarely good news...especially in a repaired joint. Good Luck!!