Thanks for your question - I won't repeat what Dr Henry has already mentioned in his excellent answer, but perhaps I can add to it.
While I appreciate your concerns about a possible SLAP lesion, there are other potential issues that can happen around a shoulder that might cause ongoing pain.
This includes a AC joint issue, tendinopathy, impingement, a tendon tear, a frozen shoulder, a nerve injury and so on. In the first instance, the humble X-ray is still a good test to see if there is anything significant going on with the joint and also, if done while carrying a weight, we can see if there is an AC joint issue.
The ultrasound is excellent for imaging of the tendons, the AC joint and also for a functional assessment of the shoulder. If you decide to go for an MRI, please consider an arthrogram, where contrast is injected into the shoulder to highlight the injuries.
Many issues around the shoulder can be treated with physiotherapy, injections or adjuvant treatments such as acupuncture. Before you embark on a treatment, perhaps I can suggest a more thorough assessment by an MSK/Sports physician/physiotherapist. They can help you with the initial part of you journey.
I hope this helps.
BW
Dr Dinesh
