Sorry it took so long for me to get back to this. I wanted to respond when I had more time to read over everything better. Oakley - With the MRI first I was hoping they could better direct the PT without causing more harm. I didn't talk directly with the Dr. about my results and I'm scheduled to meet with the surgeon in a few weeks. That rotator stuff sounds terrible! Natal - Thanks for the link! I'm adding it to my list of options. "Earlier this year I could barely kneel down, now I can stoop down with no problem." That's great! Dlm - The knee surgeries sound bad but the collar bone..hooboy. I remember a guy in school broke his collar bone during a soccer game. That just sounds like a really bad area to break. I've been hearing better things about liquid glucosamine/condroitin vs. the pills too. Thanks! Tina - Actually I'm scheduled to see the same Dr. that I'm seeing for me knee. - On the same day as my knee appointment! Come to find out he does lots of shoulders too. Mitch - Thanks for the article. I've also heard it doesn't work. I didn't realize until recently about the shellfish. Does your knee still bother you or did/does strengthening the other muscles work pretty well? Judiegal - I'm sorry to hear about your shoulder and your back. Is your shoulder pain free now? It's interesting how I've noticed in the past year how I've taken my health for granted. I never realized how much I actually use my knee or shoulder until I started having pain. Trailrunner - Thank you for the link. Yeah, I didn't think PT was supposed to actually hurt. I never had any major surgeries so I don't know, I guess if you were cut open and start therapy it's not going to feel real special but when I was going for my knee the Dr. kept asking and stressing how I shouldn't be feeling any pain during the exercises. Maybe just due to my specific circumstance. ? Liz-beth - I'll look into the Physiatrist. LOL I'm glad you clarified because I didn't catch that at first. :) Thanks! Liriodendron - Wow, PT on the same day as surgery doesn't sound appealing to me either! I'm going to look into the myofascial PT. I have pretty good insurance but I wonder if that's covered or if I'd have to go to regular PT first. I did some quick reading about it (plan to do more) but it sounds like it involves more stretching thank regular PT. I like that you sent a Christmas card to the surgeon! :) You don't have to continue some type of regular home routine for your shoulder? "My myofascial PT told me that small to moderate tears can stabilize themselves, or at least heal in enough to no longer matter" Good to hear! I just dug out my report thinking it said the SLAP tear was mild but that was regarding the tendinosis. One of the things in the reports says "There is abnormal linear intrasubstrance signal within the superior labrum, oriented in the superolateral direction, extending posterior to the biceps-labral anchor, compatible with a SLAP tear." Yeeah, I wish somewhere the whole report was in simple terms so I didn't have to look up so much, lol. I was doing some thinking trying to figure out maybe what exactly I originally did to cause the problem. I can’t think of anything but I do remember wiping out in the middle of the store a few months ago and doing down hard. I'm sure that didn't help You know, both feet in the air; purse flying. Of course, a lady saw me. I remember why I don’t wear those shoes anymore and they went in the trash as soon as I got home. Thank you everyone who took the time to share your stories and thoughts. I have more digging around to do and I'm putting together a list of questions to talk with the Dr. about. I like looking at different options. I've been saying this for some time now but we're planning on starting a family soon and that's another big reason I don't want surgery. I'm sure I'll need my arms a lot! Thanks again and I'll keep you all posted.

How did it go? What did they find - do they get an answer right away? I hope that you know what's wrong ... and that there's not going to be a lot complicated, risky or expensive stuff needed to fix things. ((((Kathy)))) I'm pretty sure that I had one of them to examine my prostate a few years ago. Don't remember any of their equipment arguing with my (rather large) nose for space. Don't remember any hammering. Could I have slept-walked through it all?? Oh, my! ole joyful

Sorry you had to reschedule. I always just want to get whatever test done and over with. My sister had to have rotator cuff surgery done about 6 or 7 years ago. She said the MRI was horrible. It took over half an hour, she was in severe pain, and was shaky trying to walk afterwards. She said she would never do it again. Very glad you get the sit in kind next week. Best of luck for a good outcome.

Sue_va -- Oh, no, I couldn't do 'the tube' either. I had my tests in a 'wide bore' MRI -- mostly open except for two areas at the sides -- envision a hamburger bun. The facility brags that this is a "Tesla", new in 2014. I'd asked my MD for an anti-anxiety med before I saw the machine. I had taken one pill before the first of the three tests, but I won't be taking any more! I think I related here that, while I wasn't aware of it having any effect, that pill was too strong for me. Ten hours after taking it, and having had the test, I got up out of bed and went into the kitchen to cut up some strawberries for the next morning's breakfast -- something I never do until morning. I have ZERO memory of doing that and was dumbfounded to see the rather wilted berries in our cereal bowls the next morning. DH confirms that I'd told him I was doing it, and rather testily told him, "They'll keep just fine."