Symptoms involve sensations of clicking and catching with certain motions in the shoulder. Often times they can become very painful. The labrum does not generally heal on its own. The mechanical symptoms can increase over time and can become painful.

The labrum is the fibrous rim of cartilage surrounding the perimeter of the shoulder socket. It can commonly become torn with excessive motions about the ball and socket (glenohumeral joint). Traumatic shifts of the ball in the socket or repetitive motions such as throwing can cause tears to this tough rim of tissue.

The main symptom is pain, especially pain that prevents you from sleeping or wakes you from sleeping at night. Other symptoms are general weakness and inability to use the shoulder, especially in the overhead position. Rotator cuff tears do not heal on their own. However, symptoms of pain can decrease and the function of the shoulder can improve with physical therapy such that surgery may not be necessary.

Many adults have a tear and do not even know it. These are typically degenerative or attritional tears. Painful tears in adults are usually larger, "flap" tears. They will cause pain with kneeling, squatting, pivoting, going downstairs and occasionally they will even hurt at night when you roll over in bed.

The classic symptom of a torn meniscus is pain, often felt as a sharp, almost “knife-like” stabbing sensation on the inside (medial tear) or outside (lateral tear) of the knee. This pain is often felt in waves, with bouts of severe discomfort, followed by no pain, felt over the course of several days/weeks. However, the pain may also be felt as an aching sensation or even just as stiffness of the knee.

A sudden increase in number and size of floaters is a warning that small amounts of blood and debris have appeared in the vitreous. The flashes are sensations from the retina as it is pulled or torn, or is rubbed by the loosened vitreous. If a tear breaks a larger retinal blood vessel, the blood spilling into the vitreous can cause a massive increase in floaters or even total loss of vision in that eye.

Patients with “frozen shoulder” have symptoms of pain and often times they cannot do simple everyday life activities such as combing their hair, reaching behind their back, or putting their hand in their back pocket, etc. Pain is usually increased with attempts to lift their hands overhead as this motion is limited. Generally studies show that “frozen shoulders” will “thaw” (tightness lessens), but this can take many months.

Symptoms of instability are pain and weakness in the shoulder in certain arm positions. Often times, specific positions are avoided as you, the patient, know when the shoulder will come out of socket. This is often present when the arm is raised up behind the ear in the throwing position. Generally speaking, shoulders with instability do not get better on their own.

Symptoms are simply pain when you lift your arm. It is really when the arm goes overhead that pinching of the bursa is encountered. It often times can get better with good shoulder mechanics, proper exercises, and anti-inflammatory medicines. Physical therapy and occasionally cortisone injections can help. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce the “-itis” of this bursitis.

Symptoms of calcific tendonitis can involve painful bursitis and painful forward flexion impingement. Simple movements when using the shoulder can cause pain.

Symptoms of a damaged meniscus are pain and catching, clicking, or locking during certain twisting knee activities. These mechanical sensations are very commonly felt by the patient. The knee can also have swelling. Generally, meniscus tears do not heal because they have a poor blood supply. However, they can occasionally become asymptomatic.

Symptoms with a damaged ACL will be pain, swelling and a feeling of instability. Often times the knee can buckle underneath you and “give way.” If twisting, stopping, turning sports are attempted with a torn ACL, these buckling and “giving way” episodes will recur – a “trick knee.

Generally, this pain can go away and heal on it’s own. Body mechanics and control of the femur from above with your hip muscles are important. Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscles are also important.

Symptoms of arthritis are stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joint. Morning stiffness is very common.

Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursal tissue about the knee. There are several different bursas about the knee that can become inflamed from either trauma or repetitive activities. Generally these can heal on their own. Initial icing followed by heat can help. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help decrease the pain. Steroid injections can be given to help decrease the inflammation.

Symptoms include instability and “giving away.” Occasionally, you can feel the tibia slipping underneath the femur. The inside medial collateral ligament (MCL) can heal on its own and rarely requires surgery. Injury to the outside lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is different altogether. This usually requires surgery, but is a rare injury.

Feelings of instability with certain motions about the knee can occur with a damaged PCL. Occasionally, with a long standing injury, the knee cap can be painful.

The famous "pop" is the most telling symptom of an ACL injury, although you may have a tear without ever experiencing the pop. The injury is usually followed by considerable pain and swelling within the first several hours. You may develop a feeling of instability in the knee or "giving way", making walking difficult.

The ACL is the Anterior Cruciate Ligament. There are more than 4 major ligaments that essentially hold the knee together. Without one of more of these ligaments the knee would be loose and you would perceive that the knee was giving way or buckling. The ACL is the most commonly torn knee ligament. The ACL is usually torn as the result of a non-contact twisting injury. You will usually feel or hear a pop, the knee will buckle and within a short period of time, significant swelling will occur.

A painful AC joint is usually caused by a stress or strain of the AC joint or arthritis in this joint. Occasionally, impingement and bursitis can mimic this pain. Lifting your arm across your body can increase this pain. This can heal on its own. However, if arthritis is involved the AC joint can continue to be painful in everyday activities.