Labrum repair feeling unstable

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hello

I'm at a bit of a loss here. I had a slap and bankart repair, as well as bicep tenodesis roughly 11 weeks ago. I go to PT twice a week and have been going for 5 weeks. I called the doctor's office 2 weeks post op to tell them my shoulder felt like it was "slipping" when leaning forward or walking. They told me this can be normal because of the sling, and not to worry.

Here I am week 11, my shoulder is still very stiff, ~120 degrees passive flexion, maybe about 90 degrees active. I have a ton of feelings of what I describe as instability, but doc and PT don't think there's a very high likelihood the surgery failed. Did an x-ray to verify the anchors didn't move.

It still seems to slip when walking with my arm swinging at my side or occasionally doing pendulum exercises. It seems to get better after stretching or after going on a long walk, but quickly returns after everything stiffens back up.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Is it muscle tightness/weakness or could it be something worse? Haven't had any falls or injury after surgery.

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  • Posted

    Hello- I did not have the same surgery, (mine was a 95% rotator cuff tear with anchors put in place 1-30-18)

    but I will chime in about what I felt. My elbow was clicking and very painful after 11-15 weeks. I noticed after I started doing weight training, to build the muscle around it, that clicking and pain stopped. I was SO surprised too. Because I had NO idea lifting weights at my PT appts would have such a positive effect. So with that said, and you seem to have had it all checked out..I'd give it more time.

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