{"id":10618,"date":"2019-08-23T05:36:45","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T05:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10618"},"modified":"2021-05-05T15:26:06","modified_gmt":"2021-05-05T15:26:06","slug":"15-frequent-symptoms-of-labrum-tear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-frequent-symptoms-of-labrum-tear\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Frequent Symptoms of Labrum Tear"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Your shoulder is made up of three main bones which are the clavicle, humerus, and scapula. All three works in harmony to help you accomplish tasks with your shoulders. The labrum is the soft tissue that binds your humerus to your scapula. When it is torn, you\u2019ll find that you can\u2019t function properly with the affected arm. There are various symptoms that could occur as a result of the labrum tear. There are also many things that could cause such a tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Repetitive shoulder motions \u2014 especially those of overhead nature \u2014 could lead to a tear through wear and tear. This is why athletes such as rowers, pitchers, and weightlifters often suffer from these labrum tears. With proper treatment, most labrum tears heal in four to six weeks. Early treatment is key, so here are eight frequent symptoms of labrum tears that will help you get an early diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Grinding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first symptom that you might notice after suffering from a labrum tear is a grinding sensation in your shoulder. You might be wondering why a tear in your soft tissue would lead to such a sensation. Well, as we mentioned earlier, your scapula <\/a>and humerus are bound together by the labrum. Once the labrum tears, the two bones of your shoulder are able to contact each other directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what leads to the grinding sensation that you\u2019ll experience. It\u2019s merely your perception of the two bones rubbing up against each other. This is one of the reasons that early treatment is essential to labrum tear recoveries as the more the bones grind up against each other, the longer it\u2019ll take for you to fully recover. Permanent damage may even be caused in some cases if the injury remains untreated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Locking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond a grinding feeling, you might also feel like your shoulder becomes locked sometimes. This is, again, due to the labrum\u2019s function in keeping your scapula and humerus in place. Normally, the two bones are able to move freely past one another thanks to the labrum serving as a buffer between them. When the labrum is torn, however, they\u2019ll be directly contacting each other and thus could become stuck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your scapula and humerus get caught on each other then you\u2019ll feel like your shoulder is locked. Don\u2019t force your shoulder to \u201cunlock\u201d in this case as you\u2019ll likely just cause more damage to the bone <\/a>and tissue. Instead, head straight to the nearest ER so that a doctor can take a look at you. They\u2019ll likely seek to immobilize the injury so that the bones don\u2019t cause damage to one another. Forcing your shoulder to unlock will only make things worst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Decreased Range of Motion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re suffering from a labrum tear then you might find that your range of motion has been severely decreased. This is due to the fact that your scapula and humerus won\u2019t be able to function as intended. The clavicle <\/a>is a great bone, but it can\u2019t do everything on its own. Tasks that involve overhead motions will be especially difficult if you have a labrum tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people try to \u201cpower through\u201d the injury and perform tasks that require a full range of motion. This is a bad idea as it will only damage the labrum further and even wear out the strength of your bones as well. If your shoulder is refusing to perform a certain task then that\u2019s likely because it\u2019s not in a condition to do so. Listen to your body and head to a doctor rather than forcing it to comply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Loss of Strength<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who suffer from labrum tears will often notice a sudden loss of strength in the affected arm. Before taking the steps to see if this is, in fact, a labrum tear, you should first see if you\u2019re actually having a stroke<\/a>. Look at your face to see if one side is drooping then say some tongue twisters out loud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any signs that you may be having a stroke then call 911 immediately. If your speech is fine and there are no other stroke symptoms then the loss of strength in one arm is likely due to a labrum tear. Don\u2019t try to lift heavy objects with the affected arm. This won\u2019t \u201cjumpstart it\u201d but rather only cause further damage. Instead, call a cab and head to the nearest hospital. Driving isn\u2019t recommended as you aren\u2019t in a condition to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Instability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another telltale symptom of a labrum tear is the sensation of your shoulder slipping and feeling like it may come loose from the socket. As we explained, the labrum acts as a binder between the two bones in your shoulder \u2014 the scapula <\/a>and humerus. When your labrum is torn it can no longer hold the two bones together and thus you might feel like your shoulder is about to slide out of the socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best thing to do when this happens is too immobile the arm by placing it on top of a soft pillow. You can then use your functioning arm to call for an ambulance. Once the paramedics get there, they\u2019ll be able to immobilize your shoulder in such a way that it won\u2019t slide out of the socket. Again, driving is a very bad idea as you can\u2019t safely navigate the roads with only one working arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Inflammation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When your labrum becomes torn, it will gradually become inflamed. This is your body\u2019s natural response to the injury. This can make dealing with the labrum tear far harder during the recovery process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, modern medicine is here to help. Most doctors will prescribe ibuprofen or aspirin <\/a>to help their patients deal with the pain caused by their shoulder injury. In some cases where the pain and injury are severe, cortisone injections may be used to relieve the pain that the patient is experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have even been some reports of cannabidiol serving as an effective pain reliever for patients with labrum tears. This is due to the fact that the compound holds natural anti-inflammatory properties. The studies evaluating its efficacy are still relatively young, but the data we have thus far is looking very promising. If you\u2019re in pain then it could be worth a shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Nocturnal Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are some cases where shoulder injuries \u2014 such as labrum tears \u2014 cause more pain in the night. If you notice severe pain in your shoulder at night then it may be due to a labrum tear. As of yet, the exact cause for why the pain is more prominent at night remains to be seen. That being said, some doctors hypothesize that there may be a correlation between the nerves <\/a>in your shoulder and REM sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say that your brain may be more receptive to nerve signals announcing the pain while you\u2019re in a state of REM sleep because there\u2019s less information going through your brain and thus more processing power available to detect pain. There are a few studies currently being conducted to see if this theory is true, and if it isn\u2019t, find out what the actual link between sleep and pain is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Overhead Pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you notice pain whenever you raise your arms overhead but there\u2019s no pain in your shoulder when it\u2019s in a lowered position then you might be suffering from a labrum tear. There are some cases where patients with labrum tears won\u2019t experience much pain until they try to lift their arms overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because the scapula and humerus won\u2019t be contacting each other too much \u2014 even without the labrum serving as a buffer \u2014 if your arm is lowered. Pain that only occurs when you raise your arms overhead is very indicative of a labrum tear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than repeatedly raising your arms overhead to see if it still hurts, just head on over to the hospital so that you can receive proper treatment for the injury <\/a>so that you can start the recovery process before more damage occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. A Tremor in the Hands <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the first signs that you have a labrum tear is obvious pain in the shoulders and neck; from there, you will likely develop weakness that lasts for the recovery period and often never returns completely to normal after this. There are symptoms that can be associated with the weakness <\/a>that you are likely to experience, including a prominent shake or tremor in the hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be around for years after an injury has happened, and it can be a huge impairment that stands in the way of what used to be simple daily activities. The tremor could be bad enough to stop you from picking up heavy objects or holding things like a fork stable while eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working to make the muscles strong again with moderate exercises can help the body to recover after an injury and might help to lessen the degree of the tremor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it continues, see your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Arthritis <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Arthritis <\/a>is a common health condition that affects thousands of people all over the world and can affect you no matter what your age or activity level. Many factors can contribute to developing arthritis, including a family history of the condition, connective tissue disorders such as Marfan Syndrome and repeated stress through impacts, often as a type of career injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though labrum tears won\u2019t directly cause arthritis, the two conditions are often known to go hand-in-hand. Where a labrum tear has more associated pain and inflammation than you would expect, it\u2019s likely that it\u2019s caused by arthritis \u2013 especially if you can tie it to other symptoms experienced in other joints or parts of the body such as the hands, elbows or another shoulder even if it was not affected by a previous injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arthritis can be managed with changes to exercise routines, diets and with the use of anti-inflammatory medication.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Flare-Ups of Pain <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Other than the initial pain that you might experience together with a labrum tear, the effects that it has on the body can mean that it affects the system even years or decades after the original injury has happened. Flare-ups of pain are common ones in labrum tear cases (and with many other similar injuries), with many things that can potentially make these injuries worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes flare-ups of pain associated with a labrum tear<\/a> can be triggered by the same dietary factors that cause a flare-up of arthritis or gout. It might also sometimes be triggered by other environmental factors such as a drop in pressure or cold, which is what people commonly mean whey they are complaining about old injuries that are giving them trouble.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Heat to the Touch  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Where a labrum tear has taken place, inflammation <\/a>is very likely right after the initial injury and can easily continue for several years after this. During periods of inflammation, pain is the first obvious symptom, but won\u2019t be the only symptom of inflammation that you are likely to experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joint and tendon inflammation are also regularly associated with the affected surface feeling warm to the touch as a result of the inflammation and pain. Inflammation might be located in only one spot, or it might spread to several locations in the body where you\u2019ll find the same symptoms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heat to the touch can be countered with the application of cold, but the relief is only temporary and it\u2019s better (and safer) to opt for the use of anti-inflammatory medication instead that can help you to manage the condition better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speak to your doctor where \u201cheat to the touch\u201d instead changes to fever, which is a serious and separate medical symptom that should be brought under control as soon as possible and might have other causes too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Numbness and Tingling <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain isn\u2019t the only symptom that you are likely to experience with a labrum tear (whether the injury is recent or happened several years or decades before), but you can also start to experience tingling and numbness <\/a>at the same time. Where you experience these symptoms, you should make an immediate appointment with your doctor due to the varied seriousness of what could be causing them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel any tingling or numbness, then it could point to a trapped nerve, nerve damage due to t the original injury or circulation problems. In more extreme cases, it can point to the presence of a blood clot, which automatically puts you at an increased risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any signs of numbness or tingling should mean an appointment with your doctor to establish just bad the underlying problem might. Don\u2019t attempt to treat symptoms like numbness and tingling until you can be completely sure what the underlying cause of it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Underlying Disorders <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If the symptoms you experience from a labral tear injury become any worse, stick around for longer than they should or change in any way, see your doctor. Many people will ignore the worst signs of an injury for years without realizing that they are actually just making their problem worse by not going to the doctor to have the symptoms looked at. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where your symptoms are worse than you would expect them to be or similar symptoms have spread to any other joints in the body, it\u2019s likely that an underlying medical condition of some sort will be present. These medical conditions will only be spotted (and can only be treated) with an appointment with your doctor and a few simple tests.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these underlying disorders can include inflammatory arthritis <\/a>or connective tissue disorders (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan) that cause your body to react differently to injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. An Increased Likelihood of Further Injury<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have any existing labrum tear that has been diagnosed or treated before, your likelihood of contracting the same injury increases by default and it\u2019s likely that you will need to compensate your routine in order to make sure you\u2019re able to take the pressure off the affected body part as much as possible in the long-term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some factors that can increase your risk of developing the same injury again, including some disorders (like Ehlers-Danlos<\/a>) that have been mentioned before in this article. Brittle bone disorders can also increase your risk of repeating the injury, as can a return to a routine that\u2019s too much for the affected body part to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have recently hurt yourself or recovered from an injury, be sure to take special care with the amount of pressure that you place on the body part from there. You can easily hurt the same injury again if you don\u2019t take the proper precautions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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