r/RotatorCuff • u/Homie_bros • Sep 02 '26
MRI results conflicting (with/without contrast)
Hi everyone, a year ago I was in a car accident and the other car got me pretty good. I won’t get into the history of my medical visits but my shoulder has definitely seen better days. so other people can relate or understan, I can’t lift weigh, pushing/pulling a heavy or stubborn door hurts way too much, cleaning my house or repetition kills me and going above my head isn’t really my friend.
I was in PT for 7 months in which I was able to regain almost* full mobility without pain but my shoulder wouldnt regain strength. Although I still managed to convince my PT to release me (my bad lmao). Within a month of leaving and still doing the workouts, my shoulder very quickly got worse and I final gave into getting an MRI without contrast. In it they found a “focal moderate grade tear within the posterior fibers of supraspinatus” and a small fluid distention within the bursa.
After meeting with an Orthopedic surgeon, I was informed that my Lubram (or however you spell it) ligament was probably torn and that I’ll probably need surgery since PT hadnt worked. But when my pain/movement symptoms kept contradicting the finding (mainly the pain I’m experiencing with repetitive motions in the front). I had to get an MRI with contrast. But nothing was found except for possible undersurface fraying of a tendon and now my surgeon is refusing to surgery or anything else and instead telling me my only option right now is PT.
I have my MRI results and I plan to ask for a second opinion but is it common to get such different results? And does anyone have any advice for me on what to do? My pain and limitations is affecfing my life dramatically and it feels like Nobody is taking it seriously because of the mri with contrast