I am 12 months post op for an arthroscopic stabilisation and acromioplasty. I never had a SLAP tear but needed the capsule tightened as I'd stretched it. The acromioplasty was to shave the bone back to give my impinged suprispinatus room to moved and heal the 8mm x 1mm tear i had it in.

I have to say, my PT in the beginning was useless to the point where i would only get massages and dry needling which wasn't what the surgeon wanted me to do. I never got supervised doing any exercises and was told that what i was doing at home was fine.

I noticed many months ago that if i did a wall stretch i would get this sharp pinching pain when i lowered my arm in the front top area of my shoulder - a feeling i have never experienced in my life (all my original pain occurred at the rear and side of the shoulder).

However, the last couple of weeks, i now get this sharp pinching pain when i do simple things like washing my hair or adjusting my pillow in bed. It feels like a dozen needles poking me from the inside of my skin right at the front of the shoulder.

It is stressing me out because i am now in a sling with my other arm for a SLAP repair procedure done last Thursday (19.1.2012) and i do not want to overload this other arm as i still get a lot of general aching in the joint even after one year.

Is it possible that i could have developed bone spurs in this period of time or could i be impinging my bursa/rotator cuff in a new area?

Is it also possible to develop a SLAP tear just from stretching and theraband exercises? I have done no external rotation stretches or lifted anything heavier than 5kg in over a year now. I have lifted NOTHING above shoulder height also. I know that not everyone has success with surgery and i feel like i am one of those unlucky ones sometimes. I can lie in bed and i can feel discomfort pulsating down my arm almost as if in tune with my heartbeat. My recently operated arm is actually causing me no discomfort whatsoever when i lay in a certain position.

I have NO idea why, but my surgeon would not let me touch therabands after my partial replacement. All I could get out of his PA is that they can really aggravate the tendons - but maybe that was my particular situation. I do know that they were very aggravating after the other 3 surgeries, but so many others use them, they can't be a problem.

Builder, I had the exact same issue as you, when you stretch and bringing the arm down, and yes they found a large bonespur between the clavicle and scaptula. They had to take "several mm of bone out." This was the 2nd time that I had the subcromial decompression done at that spot. If it is a bone spur, it doesn't get any better, only if you don't make those motions I'm 9 wks post op from my 3rd surgery. I noticed a few days ago while driving, having my hand up on the steering wheel and I moved it down on the wheel and bingo, there was that sharp pain! I had my 8 wk check-up today. I seen the PA and told her of some recent pain and she tells me it's normal. I love it when they know more about your body than you do. I've only dealt with this for 19 months. Good luck with your shoulder. Grady

I'm seeing the surgeon this monday and I will explain my situation. I hope I don't get told this is normal because it has been gradually getting worse - i cant even wash my hair now without it hurting. The main reason for me wanting surgery in the first place was so i could live an active lifestyle, if I am going to be restricted in doing daily tasks, this is just worse.

So the bone spurs can return after they shave the acromion back. That is so odd - is that considered arthritis? Will this show up in an MRI that they can compare with previous scans?

My left shoulder is wrecked. I had a grade 3 tear AC joint recon in 2002, the capsule tightened and acromioplasty last year and I am now developing increasing pain and I haven't used it for anything physical. I still don't have full ROM yet either.

Looking at your avatar, are you in the UK?

Saw the surgeon today and told that the pain is perfectly normal because the joint capsule is still tight. Encouraged to continue with PT exercises even though I am immobilized with my right arm recovering from SLAP surgery - which i am happy about.

@cavitator - i am from Australia