I would appreciate some feedback from any parent whose son has had shoulder injuries and/or surgery. My son is a soon to be 16 year old h.s. sophomore lefty pitcher, who is passionate about baseball, and wants to pitch in college.
Sometime last April, he was pitching for his 9th grade team and doing quite well. In the fifth inning, his shoulder hurt and he took himself out of the game. I believe that he then spoke with the Trainer, but it may have been after his shoulder was again sore the next time he pitched. In any event, she thought that the soreness would go away after some rest. It did not.
During the summer, he was not able to pitch, but did not have soreness that I know of when he played first base or outfield. In late August, he tried pitching and his shoulder hurt. I took him to a doctor who has much experience with shoulders and ballplayers. The doctor believed that my son had a torn labrum, and sent him to get an MRI. The MRI came back negative for a torn labrum, and the doctor then prescribed physical therapy for his rotator cuff. For the remainder of August, September, October, and part of December, we drove thirty minutes before school to receive physical therapy at a facility operated by a big league trainer. He also was quite diligent in performing rehabilitative exercises each evening. In December, he began long toss at precisely the distance and number of throws suggested. He worked with two pitching coaches to refine his form so as to minimize the strain on his shoulder and maximize his effectiveness this spring. He also took swings in a batting cage many weekends.
In late January, my son again got pain in his shoulder when pitching. He was crushed. As the first doctor was on vacation I took him to another well regarded orthopedic physician. The second doctor believed that it was still tendonitis of the rotator cuff and since that time we have been going to PT two mornings a week, and my son has added additional exercises to his nightly routine. Last week the PT suggested that he had a torn labrum, as he still has pain. We went back to the second doctor who suggested an 85% likelihood that it was not a torn labrum. Speaking by phone, the first doctor was apparently 100% certain that it is. Surgery was scheduled for Friday morning, and later cancelled by me in order to give the second doctor's more conservative treatment of a cortisone shot a chance. The second doctor thought my son would be able to attend tryouts on Monday. Finally, my son was examined again by the first doctor on Thursday, and he remains certain that my son has a torn labrum and needs surgery.
At this point, I'm hoping to get the two doctors to speak with one another. I'm also considering getting a third opinion, since the two we've gotten are at odds. We would be willing to fly to Alabama, if that well known facility really is superior. Any advice? Who is the best doctor out there? Must a labrum tear (if he has one) be treated surgically? How long is the recovery? Can he still be an effective pitcher? It isn't cancer, but it does break my heart because he has worked so hard.
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