Torn Labrum, A/C joint Osteoarthrosis

[Justin Gross]

I got an arthrogram a couple weeks ago. The report said that in addition to a SLAP lesion, there is "moderate A/C joint osteoarthrosis manifested by cartilage loss, joint space narrowing, subchondrial cystic changes, and some degree of bone marrow edema involving the distal clavicle and acrimon." The doc didn't say much about this except that it's common in weightlifters.

I'm arranging surgery for the labral tear. My question is this: is the osteoarthrosis a part of normal wear and tear for a 38 year old CFer who likes weightlifting or is it something I need to get taken care of? If I put it off am I setting myself up for more serious trouble later?

[Steven Low]

The osteoarthritis is fairly normal...

Stave it off as long as you can with fish oil and other anti-inflammatory foods, ice if need be, plus not doing insane amounts of work on your shoulders. Sleep well, eat well, less stress, etc.

Not really anything to worry about IMO. Most people have degenerative changes in their lumbar spine... pain just doesn't affect a significant portion of the population. It's more common that people who weight lift properly do not have this pain so as long as your shoulders are balanced in strength / muscle mass (anterior-posterior) and keep up active flexibility you should be fine.

[Justin Gross]

Thanks

[Justin Gross]

Surgery scheduled in early November.

Doc's gonna scope it to better see what's going on inside. When I pressed him he said depending on the amount of damage, he'll probably leave the labrum as it is and cut the biceps tendon, reattaching it to the humerus.

[Tim Mercer]

So, did you end up having the tenodisis? How did it turn out?

[Patrick Haskell]

A little food for thought for those considering bicept tenodesis (Falling more into the old guys camp than that of a young athlete, I'm glad I got mine.):

http://www.mikereinold.com/2012/10/is-a-biceps-tenodesis-the-answer.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed& utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mikereinold+%28MikeReinold.co m%29

One thing I would add about the arthritis is that the go-in-and-clean-it-up surgery can help reset the inflammation cycle to a lower level and allow room for PT to do the work it's designed to do. In my case, removal of free and loose cartilidge, as well as inflamed synovium, and a soft-tissue tenodesis, followed by PT, was a good solution. YMMV.