Torn Labrum and Stemcell Therapy

Okay decided to spin off a new topic from the one Lefthookdad started called "Fingers Crossed". Back ground, son is a 2016 catcher that had experienced shoulder pain back in late October 2015. We did the normal shut him down for a couple months and PT hoping by January it would get better. Come January pain is still there. Has him looked at by Ortho and the diagnosis was a torn Labrum. Scheduled and MRI (yesterday) should get the results back today. In the meantime have another appt scheduled for this Friday for a 2nd opinion. Started to research treatments for torn Labrums and Stem cell therapy came up. has anyone on this site had experience with this treatment or knows someone who has? Normal route is surgery, but if it's not that severe maybe alternative treatment?  

Everyone is guessing until someone looks at the MRI.  They will be able to tell you how bad it is and what kind of treatment is appropriate.  I suggest the ASMI forum for any additional medical questions.

Stem cells to treat disease offers great hope, but there are no approved therapies in the USA to treat diseases other than certain cancers through a traditional bone marrow or peripheral blood transplant. Thus in the interim as more experimental clinical trials are completed, you see many people going outside of the USA to foreign stem cell clinics (using non-approved approaches) in hope of finding cures for various debilitating diseases or degenerative orthopedic conditions (e.g., degenerating cartilage in many athletes knees).  

Can't imagine stem cells would work with a seriously torn labrum (which impacts performance) as the issue is the labrum is torn and disconnected from the shoulder cavity requiring the need for surgery to reattach.

Had a world renown baseball arm specialist in our state tell me that every major league pitcher has some level of micro-tearing in the labrum as the shoulder was not made to move into the extreme positions needed to throw a baseball at high velocities.  If there are micro-tears with no detachment and performance is not significantly impacted, players learn to manage the pain/discomfort as return to previous levels of performance are challenging after labrum surgery as the shoulder joint becomes tightened back up again. Aside from talent differences, he said professional athletes separate themselves also from the average or above average athlete based on the ability to tolerate discomfort/pain.

Thank you for your reply, just looking at alternatives to surgery if in fact his Labrum was torn. Good news is that I just got back from the Doctors appointment and the son does not have a torn Labrum so no surgery. Will continue rehab and a throwing program when ready.

That's great!

What was the diagnosis?

standballdad,

glad to here the less severe diagnosis!  I'm sure I don't need to tell you but you are in great hands with that group.  We are sadly quite familiar.  Best wishes for full and speedy recovery for son.

internal Impingement from over use, has some displasia? around the labrum. Recommendation was to continue PT (not from his mom) but to go to someone else. He will resume a throwing program at some point. Doctor is the shoulder guy for the LA Angels out of the Kerlin and Jobe office.

Yup that happens. Glad to hear that it will not require surgery. Do those exercises!!!