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Shoulder Labrum Tear Treatment – Idaho Falls, ID

2635 Channing Way Idaho Falls, ID 83404

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Patient FAQs

The labrum is a cup-shape rim of cartilage that lines and reinforces the ball-and-socket joint of the shoulder. It’s the lip of the socket of the ball and socket joint. It helps to connect the socket part of the scapula with the head of the humerus. It makes the socket deeper, creating space for the bones to move, and coats the surface of the socket area with soft cartilage, enabling the shoulder to move more freely and painlessly.

A shoulder labrum tear can be caused by a direct injury to the shoulder or as the result of prolonged wear and tear.1 While labral tears can occur in big traumas, like a car crash or a serious fall, shoulder instability is a cause often missed. 2 Instability can slowly increase after an old injury or a seemingly less traumatic event.

Imagine that the ball of the humerus is a bowling ball and that the labrum a barrier between the lane and gutter.  When the shoulder is stable, the ball stays on the lane. When the shoulder is unstable, the ball continuously goes towards the gutter and hits the barrier (labrum).

Shoulder joint anatomy highlighting the labrum
Labrum – shoulder joint anatomy

The common surgical intervention for labral tears often involves an invasive procedure to reattach the biceps tendon at another location. Labral repair tends to be followed by a long, painful recovery with extensive physical therapy — often with no improvement in mobility and function. Also, labrum surgery frequently fails to address the subtle instability of the shoulder joint that caused the tear, so the shoulder remains unstable and subsequent injuries may occur. 

There has only been one high-level study that compared surgical labral repair compared against a fake surgery. It did not show any difference in outcome between the labral repair surgery and the fake procedure 3. In another study looking at posterior shoulder instability, surgery edged out physical therapy, but the patients knew what procedure they were getting 4. We don’t have much solid evidence that a shoulder labral repair procedure works.

2635 Channing Way
Idaho Falls, ID 83404

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Doctors

Her goal as a physician is to restore people to as close to optimum health as possible. She is passionate about the evolution of regenerative medicine and believes in the body’s innate capacity for healing. And she is equally passionate about her home in southeastern Idaho.

Though she initially graduated with a BA in English, she was eventually drawn to medicine, feeling called to help people toward health and healing. So she went back and completed the science requirements to earn a BS as well.

As someone who enjoys skiing, ultrarunning, and wandering through the wilderness herself, she has a particular interest in treating athletes of all ages and enjoys helping masters athletes continue to perform at a high level into their later years of athletics. And she served as team physician for the University of Utah men’s ice hockey team.

Additionally, she has traveled to Nepal for a high-altitude research project close to Mt. Everest base camp, as well as Denali to serve as physician at the 14,000-foot base camp during climbing season.

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As a physician, Dr. Cooper’s mission is to assist in the improvement of function to anyone that feels physical limitations and allow them to enjoy their life to the fullest capacity. Though he began his college education in business administration, during his senior year of college, he discovered that the reward of assisting others with their ailments was his real passion.

He has had extensive training in the treatment of a wide variety of limitations that include spasticity secondary to neurologic issues, sports injuries and concussions, and non-surgical treatment of peripheral nerve and joint injuries. He is passionate about providing top-of-the-line treatment to his patients to improve their functional abilities and give them more freedom to enjoy day-to-day life.

Throughout his life, Dr. Cooper has enjoyed participating in sports of a wide variety from football, baseball, and golf to water skiing and snowboarding. As a “weekend warrior” athlete, he has always had an interest in human anatomy and how small alterations in it can lead to massive functional changes.

He feels lucky to get to return to the Snake River Valley, as he believes it is the perfect place to raise his four children with the same principles that he had in his childhood.

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I became a doctor because of my desire to serve and help those in need. I wanted a career that allowed me to help those within my community and establish personal connections with people. My mission is to assist in the restoration of function of those who have limitations to allow them to enjoy life to their fullest capacity. I believe the best way to care for my patients is to have them fully involved in their care and to have a shared decision making in their treatment plan and to address all concerns or questions to empower my patients to take charge of their own health and journey to a better life.

I recently returned to Idaho Falls in July of 2022 after completing fellowship and have been practicing medicine within the community since arriving. I however was born and raised in Idaho Falls and am excited to return to the community I was raised in and serve the great people of this area.

I have extensive training in treatment of a wide variety of limitations secondary to neurologic issues, sports injuries, non-surgical treatment of peripheral nerve and joint injuries, neck and low back pain and nerve related pain. I’m passionate about providing the highest quality care and top of the line treatment for my patients. I’m proud to be a part of the North American Spine Society, Interventional Spine and Musculoskeletal Medicine Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic and am board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

I enjoy participating in several sports and outdoor activities including tennis, basketball, baseball, backcountry snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiling, boating, and mountain biking. I’m married with four children and our dog and we thoroughly enjoy being outside and enjoying all that southeast Idaho has to offer.

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Areas Treated

Cervical Spine (Not Upper Cervical or CCI)*, Elbow, Hip, Knee, Lumbar Spine, Shoulder, Thoracic Spine

*This provider is NOT authorized by Regenexx to treat the C0-C1 or C1-C2 levels of the neck or CCI (craniocervical instability).

Woman in telemedicine consult with physician to see if she's a candidate for Regenexx for knee osteoarthritis.

Treat Labral Tears Without Surgery

Regenexx procedures are non-surgical treatments that use your body’s own healing agents to treat shoulder labral tears. Our patients benefit from reduced pain and improved function, helping them avoid shoulder surgery.

Am I a candidate?

Regenexx’s percutaneous labralplasty is a nonsurgical procedure that uses precise imaging guidance and your own healing cells to promote natural healing. Regenexx procedures can be a better alternative for people looking to avoid surgery, lengthy recovery, and overuse of prescription pain medication. They use either platelet-rich plasma or bone marrow concentrate (which contains stem cells). 

The nature and severity of your labral tear (classification type) generally determines if the treatment is right for you. An evaluation by a Regenexx physician is the first step.

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Labral Tear Repair Patient Stories

I tell people about it all the time, and they find it so hard to grasp…100% and no scars, no downtime….I am so happy with my results and just wanted to say THANKS once again.”

Pilates lover with an active lifestyle – Full patient story

Number 8 [at 3 minutes and 35 seconds] is Matt scoring the winning goal for Penn State lead over Cornell. He had 2 great goals! THANK YOU…he feels great:)”

Mother of a college athlete – Full patient story

Note: Like all medical procedures, Regenexx procedures have a success and failure rate. Not all patients will experience the same results.

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Webinar: Alternatives to Shoulder Labrum Surgery

Learn the latest about regenerative medicine, and how Regenexx procedures can treat your shoulder labrum injury.

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Popular Articles On This Topic

Yes, not everyone experiences pain when their labrum is torn. In 2016, a study performed MRIs on patients without shoulder pain who were 45-60 years old, a staggering 55-72% of these people had labral tears. 5 

Yes. When the tear is in the upper part of the labrum, the area where the biceps tendon attaches to the lap of the socket is also commonly torn. When this happens, it’s called a SLAP tear (Superior Labral Tear from Anterior to Posterior).

u003ch2u003eGet started to see if you are a Regenexx candidaternu003c/h2u003ernu003cpu003eTo talk one-on-one with one of our team members about how Regenexx may be able to help your orthopedic pain or injury, please complete the form below and we will be in touch with you within the next business day.u003c/pu003e

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