How to Treat Painful Labral Tears Before Surgery Becomes Necessary

Labral tears may be more common in women and there are several reasons why.

Injuring the labrum—a rim of cartilage around the shoulder socket that stabilizes the joint—can be extremely painful.

According to Gregory V. Gasbarro, M.D., a board-certified, shoulder fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at The Shoulder, Elbow, Wrist and Hand Center at Mercy and medical director of the Shoulder Joint Journey program, overuse injuries and falls can result in a labral tear.

Dr. Gasbarro noted that patients will report their shoulder feels unstable and may even hear a “popping” or “clicking” sound.

Experts say some women have weaker connective tissue, which contributes to instability.

“Women are constructed a little bit differently than men. In general, their ligaments are looser,” Dr. Gasbarro said. “So, because of the kind of micro-instability the ball may have in the socket, that could lead to injuries to the top of the socket, at the top of the labrum, as the biceps pulls from where it attaches.”

The first steps in treatment are over-the-counter medications, ice and heat, and physical therapy. Patients who try these treatments but still have pain can undergo surgery to reattach the labrum to the socket. Recovery from surgery could last about five to eight months.

View Mercy orthopedic surgeon and shoulder specialist Dr. Gregory Gasbarro’s interview regarding repair of labral tears.