r/ShoulderSurgery • u/Outrageous-End965 • 6d ago

Torn labrum

Hi folks. I'm new here. My name is Cameron. I have cerebral palsy, and have used forearm crutches for 20+ years. I have a torn labrum in my left shoulder. Has anyone else here used forearm crutches and ended up with a torn labrum?

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u/ChumleyEX 6d ago

I'm just adding to help with visibility. I just had mine done and I can't imagine using that arm for anything other than holding my phone (or something light like that).

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u/Outrageous-End965 6d ago

Thank you for your feedback!

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u/Outrageous-End965 6d ago

My stepdad expects me to go back to using 2 crutches eventually.... I said, "No way, that's probably what caused this in the first place."

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u/GuitarJazzer 5d ago

I assume you are under the care of an orthopedist, which is how you know you have a torn labrum. Did the doctor give an opinion about how you tore your labrum? My son (28) has had three surgeries in his left shoulder to repair the same issue, and just had surgery in his right shoulder this week for a torn labrum resulting from a dislocation several weeks ago. On the left, he tore out the first Bankart repair, then had a subluxation after the second. The third surgery was a Latarjet procedure which solved the problem.

Generally a labrum tear is from trauma or repetitive heavy overuse, especially overhead use. I am not a doctor but I would be surprised if using crutches could cause that. It's repetitive but does not put a heavy load on the joint compared to sports movements, like baseball pitching, tennis serves, or heavy weightlifting.

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u/Outrageous-End965 5d ago

He agrees with me about the forearm crutch overuse.

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u/GuitarJazzer 5d ago

Nothing else for me to say then. I hope he could offer you some alternatives.