Six weeks after a fall at work, I finally sought medical attention due to increasing pain in my left shoulder, gradual onset. Over time it became progressively worse. I'm female, 51, in good health, normal weight, no history of shoulder injuries before the one that just happened.

Weird thing is, although I knew I'd probably stretched something in my shoulder, it wasn't really painful when I fell (I'm a veterinary technician, was pulled hard by a large dog while walking it to front lobby). I'm right-handed, and was holding the leash in my right hand with my left hand on the collar to keep the dog close to me (a German Shepherd that did not know how to walk on a leash). When I hit the floor, I was nearly face-down, with my arm extended out--if I'd been standing, it would have looked as though I'd been reaching overhead. I really tried to play it down at the time because I didn't want the dog's owner to feel any worse than he did...(but I do hope that dog goes to obedience school!)

At the time I was mainly relieved that I didn't smash my face into something or plow though a window when I fell. I remember saying something along the lines of "well, THAT probably wasn't good for my shoulder!"...but I had no idea what had happened at that time or how bad it would become.

At this point my range of motion is terrible. There is pain in the very front of the shoulder of a stretching variety, and frequent toothache-type pain that runs down that arm. The pain reminds me a lot of sciatica, only in the shoulder instead of the hip. Sometimes I can feel it in the shoulder blade area as well. If there is anything I'm grateful for, it's that at least it isn't my dominant side that was injured, or I'd be out of work for certain.

It's now 12 weeks post-fall and I'm scheduled for surgery two weeks from now...after an MRI study revealed a bit of wreckage. I was immediately referred to an orthopedic specialist, who explained the nature of the problem and why things need to be fastened back down. At first I freaked out because even though my shoulder hurt, it was hard to believe how substantial the injury was. Now I certainly do believe I've got a mess going on in that poor shoulder. It's gotten to the point where I'm looking forward to getting this thing repaired.

Supposedly the labral injury (a SLAP tear) is a bigger problem than the rotator cuff...because the rotator cuff tear is only partial thickness. There is a minute amount of arthritis in that shoulder, and I assume it was already there when I was hurt. It never caused any sort of pain, however, and I think it was probably just an incidental finding on the MRI. The report stated that there was severe tendinopathy, which seemed extreme at the time of the MRI, considering that the pain wasn't all that severe even six weeks out. If I were to have an MRI done now, I can only imagine what it would look like. This being said, I really miss being able to do normal daily activities. I'm no stranger to pain (I have plantar fasciitis and Dupuytren's contracture), but those conditions are more of an annoyance, and not disabling. I miss my left arm!

What I am wondering is, how many people out there with this sort of injury had practically no pain right after the injury, but found themselves in misery months later? I am still working, though on modified duty. This is being handled by worker's comp (no question as to how my shoulder got this way!)...I know I am in for a long recovery, I suppose.

If anyone has any tips for how they coped prior to surgery (and afterward, for that matter) I'd be grateful!