The shoulder labrum is a thick piece of fibrocartilage that’s attached to the rim of your shoulder and helps keep the ball of the joint in place, providing strength and stability. When it’s torn, you can experience pain and weakness around your shoulder, as well as a limited range of motion. Finding a great practice to treat your shoulder labrum tear in New Jersey will be key for restoring your mobility and autonomy.
Our offices are located in Middletown, Morristown. Ridgewood, Westfield and West Orange, New Jersey. We also serve all of Belford, Holmdel, Hazlet, Keyport, Red Bank, Tinton Falls, Fair Lawn, Midland Park, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Paramus, Wyckoff, Clark, Mountainside, Springfield, Garwood, Cranford, Scotch Plains, Livingston, Millburn, Maplewood, Montclair, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, Morris Plains, Madison, Parsippany, Florham Park, and East Hanover.
For appointments, call us or book online at any of our convenient locations in Middletown, Morristown, Ridgewood, Westfield, and West Orange.
What Is a Shoulder Labrum Tear?
A shoulder labrum tear occurs when the soft tissue that surrounds your shoulder joint gets torn. This might happen because of wear and tear, degenerative issues, or an acute injury. Depending on the specific location of the tear, your doctor will diagnose it as one of the following:
- Bankart tear: when the lesion happens at the front or lower part of the shoulder socket.
- Posterior labrum tear: at the back of the joint.
- SLAP tear: short of Superior Labrum Anterior to Posterior tear, refers to when the injury occurs at the top of the socket and extends to the back.
Most Common Shoulder Labrum Tear Symptoms
Shoulder pain can be caused by a variety of conditions. If you are suffering from chronic, uncomfortable sensations on either of your shoulders that also cause difficult movement, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some of the signs your pain may be caused by a labrum tear are:
- Persistent or sharp pain
- Difficulty or inability to perform certain movements, such as raising or stretching your arm
- Popping or grinding noises around the joint
- Joint instability
Most Common Shoulder Labrum Tear Causes
There are several causes to shoulder labrum tear, but the most common are related to repetitive movements and/or degenerative issues.
- Overuse: athletes or workers that make constant overhead motions are the most common shoulder labrum tear patients. Swimming, weightlifting, baseball, tennis, and softball can increase your chances of this injury.
- Aging: as your labrum wears out over the course of the years, you might be more prone to tear it. Degenerative conditions like arthritis can also play an important role in this.
- Acute injuries: while not the most usual, a shoulder labrum tear can also happen if you suffer from an abrupt movement or fall that directly impacts your joint.
Shoulder Labrum Tear Treatment in New Jersey
Know that an untreated labrum tear can increase pain over time and will directly affect your joint and muscle functionality. While total recovery usually takes between six and twelve months, the sooner you get professional care, the quicker your path to a pain-free life will be.
Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine specializes in non-surgical hip pain treatments. Our team will evaluate your symptoms and overall condition to choose the most fitting pain management treatments for you, as well as offer suggestions for lifestyle changes that contribute to minimizing the pain. Then, you will get a customized treatment plan with follow up sessions that will ensure you get back on track as soon as possible.
Your provider will conduct a physical exam and probably order an MRI. Once they know how severe the tear is, you can both discuss possible treatments, most commonly:
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections
- Lipogems adipose/fat therapy
- BMAC (Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate), which is a type of regenerative therapy
Our therapies all use safe and natural methods of stimulating your body to repair itself and are ideal for patients with shoulder labrum tears in New Jersey. Call Genesis Orthopaedic and Spine today for more information or book an appointment online.