Ask:
WHAT IS SUPRASPINATUS TENDINOSIS?
Recently, I had an MRI of my left shoulder. The impression states various things. Can you explain what it means to me since all the terminology is medical. I had two car accidents in 2003. Ever since I live in chronic pain. One of my many pains is my shoulders.
1. Suprapinatus tendinosis
2. subacromial subdeltoid bursal bursitis
3. lateral down slopin acromion, with findings of supraspinatus tendinosis and subacromial subdeltoid bursitis raise the likelihood of subacromial imingement.
4. Focus of intra-substance high signal within the anterior-superior labrum, may represent a sublabral foramen.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE ABOVE IN PLAIN ENGLISH PLEASE? Thank you, for any help you can provide.
Answer:
WHAT IS SUPRASPINATUS TENDINOSIS?
Hi Jen,
Your rotator cuff is made up of four muscles: supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and the subscapularis, and it functions to stabalize the shoulder, and help lift and rotate the arm. The supraspinatus, which is on the top of the shoulder under your collarbone, is the most commonly injured of these muscles. Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, which can make your shoulder painful, especially when you extend your arm away from your body. Many joints have bursae, which are sacs filled with synovial fluid located where your muscles slide over your bone to reduce friction. The subacromial bursa is under your acromion (tip of your collarbone) and above your humerus (arm bone) Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, which causes pain, swelling, and grinding in the joint due to the increased friction. Between the tendonitis and the bursitis, you have a lot of inflammation in a tight space. This leads to impingment because your rotator cuff rubs against your acromion, causing pain, tenderness in the front of your shoulder, and a grinding feeling. In general, not a lot of fun. A foramen is an anatomical opening, and a sublabral foramen would be an opening under your labrum, which is cartilage that surrounds your scapula (shoulder blade) to help keep your arm in the socket (it kind of acts as the pocket on a catcher's mitt would to make it easier to catch the ball or arm).
If I were you, I would see your doctor. He may want to get you going with some physical therapy to make sure you don't lose range of motion or strength. In the mean time, icing for 20 minutes at a time is helpful because it will keep swelling and inflammation down and therefore give you more room in shoulder for things to move around. You might want to consider taking some anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen (advil, motrin, etc.) if it is safe for you to do so.