I have had pain in my right shoulder for a few years now. How this happened I have no clue but my guess is either from weightlifting or horseback riding. I was thrown from a horse about 9 months ago and landed in the emergency room with a concussion where they did x-rays to see if there were any broken bones. Luckily, there were none but a lesion was visible on the right shoulder and a bone scan was recommended. I blew it off until about 2 weeks ago.

I met an orthopod who suggested I come in and we can take a look at the x-rays and decide on the course of action. Once there, and after viewing the x-rays, I was given a script for a bone scan and an MRI arthrogram, which is a completely detailed MRI. I suggest anyone who thinks they have a slap tear to do this as it is the only definitive way to see the actual tear. One has to be injected with gadolinium before the MRI and the novacaine shots suck! I swear the second one impaled me to the table.

Anyway, went to see the doc yesterday and yup...I have a slap tear. My options are do the surgery now or do it later but NOT doing the surgery is not an option. I am young, active and  physically in good shape so to suffer with this and have it progressively get worse is just dumb. The surgery should take about an hour out patient as the tear does not look severe. Post-op, I will need to wear a sling for 4-5 weeks and nothing physical such as horseback riding for about 3 months. Physical therapy is a must. I am postponing surgery until the end of July to take advantage of spring/summer riding weather and while some may think this is stupidity to wait...I have waited for years so far and have done nothing so by at least scheduling surgery...it is a step in the right direction.

I would like to know if anyone else has had a mild tear and what their post-op experiences have been? I read the one who was operated in Jan, and thanks for the info as it gave me hope that at 5 weeks I will be WELL on the road to recovery.