About 1 1/2 years ago, playing softball I started feeling pain in my throwing shoulder when I threw a ball. I still have that pain and it is getting less tolerable at the moment. This summer I had an MRI done and it did not show anything. It was not done with contrast or GAD ink and it was done on an open MRI. The Dr. only spend literally 7 min. total during the 2 visits that I went to him. He did not listen to what I said and sent me on to Physical Therapy. I went once and got some exercises to do at home. Me being the lazy bum that I am at times, did not stick to the exercises.

I am a volleyball, softball, and baseball coach and am constantly doing stuff requiring overhead throwing. That is when the pain is apparent.

A Sports Trainer from a local sports clinic believes that I have a torn labrum with doing a few tests. I do not have the money to go back to have another MRI done or surgery.

The pain is when I throw a ball and when I lift my arm over my head. I feel pain in the back of my shoulder-close to the scapula and it is tender when I press in on it.

Does anybody have some answers or suggestions?

Yes, Joe... Go see another doctor. An open MRI is not as accurate as the regular one. You may also want to try to sticking to your rehab exercises, as they do help with time. The very last piece of advice, is don't do what aggravates it, such as overhead throwing. Wait a bit, rest it, ice and see what happens. The best of luck!

My understanding is that a torn labrum (SLAP tear) doesn't show on MRI alone. During the same visit, I had an arthrogram and then a MRI. It showed up on the arthrogram (contrast is injected). My symptoms were pain with anything overhead and eventually got to the point of keeping me awake at night because it began hurting when laying down unless I was propped all kinds of ways on pillows. I've also been told that because of the poor blood supply in that area, the only way to fix a torn labrum is through surgery.

I am doing light weight exercises to build this up, but I really do not want to have surgery. Can anybody suggest exercises that will help build this back to normal.

I am also thinking that I am 31 and never going to play competitive sports again,it only hurts when I throw something, so why should I spend the money on surgery.

I think you need to understand that exercises will do nothing to repair a torn labrum. Certain exercises will even inflame
the area further. They can help minimally to aid the other supporting structures/muscles and ligaments of the shoulder and are very helpful pre-surgery to reduce the atrophy effect associated with sling wear and general disuse. Nobody wants surgery, it is just that when the labrum is torn away from the bone as in SLAP tears it must be sutured back onto the bone.
Unless you are very young and or the tear is very small, it just cannot heal by itself. For most people it is either the increase in pain or declining physical function that leads them to surgery. Ask yourself: Can I avoid overhead/throwing activities and still be the coach I want to be? Are there other activities or sports I want to do that I can't because my shoulder becomes inflamed? I suggest getting insurance now before you cannot, because if the pain becomes intolerable you will have little choice. I do know a few non athletes that have did not have a small labrum repaired, for these folks their pain is minimal and their lifestyles have not been negatively affected. Good Luck!!!

I talked to a guy today that has gone to the Dr., had a MRI. His pain sounded a lot worse than mine and the MRI only revealed a small tear. The Dr. said that he wanted him to do aggressive PT for a while and then come back. The Dr. wanted to avoid surgery. This guy was not able to do push ups, bench press, throw a ball without pain wrenching in his shoulder. I have pain, but I can do all of these and not be in tears or extreme pain, but in moderate pain.

I am going to keep doing exercises on my own for 4-6 weeks and see how it goes and then look into a Dr. taking a look at me.

Thanks for your help.