Your shoulder is an incredibly mobile joint where tissues and bones move in close proximity to one another, so if an object develops that impedes normal movement, pain and other symptoms can arise. Bone spurs are a common development that can lead to movement restrictions in the shoulder, but so too is a condition known as a paralabral cyst. As the name implies, these cysts are small fluid-filled formations that develop as a result of tears or damage to the labrum in the shoulder. If these cysts become enlarged, they can compress crucial nerves or cause pain with different movements. In today’s blog, we explore more about paralabral cyst onset, diagnosis patterns and your treatment options.
Causes And Symptoms Of Paralabral Cyst Development
As we touched on above, paralabral cysts typically develop following a tear or acute trauma to the labrum. During a labral or shoulder capsular tear, the synovium, which is a protective layer of tissue that helps to lubricate areas of the joint, can become damaged. This can cause the synovial fluid – the joint’s lubricant that allows for normal movement – to be forced into nearby tissues or pool in a small area. Eventually a cyst develops, and if fluid continues making its way into the cyst, it can enlarge and compress nerves or irritate structures that now have less space to move around unimpeded. SLAP tears, which typically present with pain and discomfort, can lead to cyst formation and additional symptoms in the shoulder.
Fortunately, most paralabral cysts are quite small, meaning you may not even be aware of their presence. If you’re dealing with a labral tear, there’s a good chance that your symptoms are related to the tissue tear and not cyst formation, but your doctor will be on the lookout for any potentially problematic cysts when imaging the tear and developing a treatment plan. Most paralabral cysts are asymptomatic, but when they do causes issues, the most common symptoms are:
- Pain
- Shooting discomfort
- Numbness
- Tenderness
- Shoulder/Arm weakness
If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, or you have reason to believe that you’re dealing with a labral tear as a result of direct or repetitive trauma on the shoulder, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team.
Diagnosing And Treating Paralabral Cysts
Most paralabral cysts are uncovered during an MRI to assess the health of the shoulder joint. Oftentimes the imaging test reveals a more obvious injury like a labral tear, but the presence of cysts will also be noted. Again, since symptoms are more likely to be the result of the labral tear than the cyst, treating the tissue tear will likely resolve symptoms, but your doctor will keep an eye on any larger cysts that may need to be addressed.
Since most paralabral cysts are small or asymptomatic, no specific treatment for the cyst may be needed, although the conservative treatments you pursue for your labral tear will also help prevent functional issues stemming from a cyst. If the growth is potentially causing symptoms on its own, your doctor will likely recommend that you perform a range of motion stretching and flexibility-focused exercises to restore normal movement patterns in the shoulder joint. Oftentimes this proves effective at restoring healthy function in the joint.
For large cysts that are compressing nerves or causing significant discomfort, surgery may be the only viable option. In these instances, the doctor may surgically address the labral tear while also managing any paralabral cysts, so you’ll only need to undergo one procedure to manage two different issues in your shoulder. Once the cyst is drained and the original labral tear has been managed, it’s highly unlikely that a symptomatic cyst will reappear.
For more information about paralabral cyst development or management, or for assistance with a different issue in your shoulder, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
