SLAP tear

[!<-_->!]

Anyone with a SLAP tear still playing without having gotten surgery? I've been confirmed with a SLAP tear but I don't want the surgery. I've managed to play for quite a few years with it relatively fine. Only until recently have a aggravated it to the point of needing to take time off. As of now, I'm hoping it'll passover after some rest and I can get back to playing like in the past.

For those of you who have this or had this, any advice?

Thanks

P.S. I've searched and have read through the shoulder injury thread, but found it eventually led to a discussion about surgery

 

[BMC9670]

I went through this for a year. (I'm also part of that massive shoulder thread you read). Initial diagnosis was a partial rotator cuff tear and "possible" SLAP tear. Doc suggested PT and it worked pretty well. After some rest and a couple months of PT, I felt 80-90%. Started to play tennis competitively again and continued with the PT program, good warm up before, ice after, etc. I thought it was manageable.

Then, about a year out from my initial diagnosis, I started to notice a decline in strength. Not much pain, but my serve started to become weak, and just doing everyday things with the right arm (dominant) became harder than with the left.

So, back in for an MR Arthrogram, which revealed a larger SLAP tear and a bone spur. That's when I decided on surgery. I'm 7 months and not yet 100%, but feel I'm getting there.

Bottom line is that it's hard for the Labrum and RC to heal due to a lack of blood flow to the shoulder joint. Small tears can be compensated for by building up the muscles, as was evident with PT, but there is the likelihood the tears will get worse with activity. Talk to your doctor and take into consideration age, activity level, commitment to PT, degree of the tear, etc, in order to make your decision.

Good luck!

 

[!<-_->!]

I first injured it about 6 years ago but I'm not sure if the injury at that time was a tear or not. Only recently had I had it confirmed that it's a minor SLAP tear. The weird thing is that I play better each time I reaggravated it. I was serving just fine up till I tried doing some pull-ups. So I'm not sure how severe the tear really is. I'm hoping I'm not making it worse slowly

 

[ab70]

Pull ups and anything about the shoulder will aggrevate SLAP...

 

[!<-_->!]

Yea... I've finally come to realize that I'm not going to be able to do pull-ups. However, I can still shoulder press, bench press and most other exercises. It's the pull-ups that really kill my shoulder.

 

[zacinnc78]

i have a posterior labral tear and have been playing probably 2 or so years with it....sux but i dont trust surgery either
i just try to use good form ,abbreviated service motion,etc and do the theraband external rotation exercises

the things that bother mine most are ....the forehand follow-through(especially a high forehand or a stretched out far reaching forehand such as a running forehand )....high volleys or quick reaction overheads..... cant lay on my right shoulder very long it gets that deep ache

maybe one day ill get the surgery but even a surgeon told me that tennis players and even throwers are usually not satisfied with repairing posterior tears(maybe SLAP tears are a different story)

 

[West Coast Ace]

...but i dont trust surgery either...
maybe one day ill get the surgery but even a surgeon told me that tennis players and even throwers are usually not satisfied...

Could you elaborate on these statements? I was just told that I have two tears (MD didn't elaborate - left a phone message - will hopefully talk to him tomorrow. I want to get the surgery - IF it's going to help. There's no way to play at an advanced level that I do with the current situation.

 

[!<-_->!]

Could you elaborate on these statements? I was just told that I have two tears (MD didn't elaborate - left a phone message - will hopefully talk to him tomorrow. I want to get the surgery - IF it's going to help. There's no way to play at an advanced level that I do with the current situation.

I had a friend who got surgery for a shoulder issue. Forgot exactly what it was. Think she said MDI or something. Surgery, 6 months of PT and she ended up having to get a 2nd surgery cause her shoulder still popped out. 2nd surgery and 7+months of PT and still not at what it used to be prior to injury/surgery.

This is what makes me not want to get surgery.

 

[West Coast Ace]

I had a friend who got surgery for a shoulder issue. Forgot exactly what it was. Think she said MDI or something. Surgery, 6 months of PT and she ended up having to get a 2nd surgery cause her shoulder still popped out. 2nd surgery and 7+months of PT and still not at what it used to be prior to injury/surgery.

This is what makes me not want to get surgery.

Thanks. Sorry to hear about her outcome.

I will give you some advice - free and for what it's worth. That's called 'drawing a curve through one data point' - not the best strategy - unless everything is equal. You mentioned your problem is a tear - and your friend's 'popping out' - doesn't sound like the same issue. And, depending where you live, there are probably other options for surgeons if you think her MD didn't do the best possible job. Or a different post-surgery therapy approach.

I like BMC's comments. And makes the point - the longer you wait, the worse it will be and thus the diminished odds of maximizing your recovery.

 

[dollivier]

I had a SLAP tear and went through surgery. Tore it in 2000 - serving hard without a warm up. I'm 6'7" and have a big serve - 115+. I couldn't serve anymore so i quite the game and took up golf. After a few years I couldn't even play golf anymore without pain. Finally relented to surgery in 2006.

Took me 9 months before I felt like I could play tennis again and a full year before I could swing hard at a serve. Rehab is no fun. PT 3 times a week for 4 -5 months and then strengthening for an additional 3 months.

The good news is I'm better than ever - surgery was very successful in my case. I wish I would have done surgery earlier and gotten that year of my life out of the way when I was younger. Its a tough decision as your down from most activities for 9 months. If you go the surgery route - take your time and find a doctor that has had a good success rate with SLAP tear surgery.