A couple things from a different perspective than what has been posted below. 1. The numbness in the hand is concerning for pathology in the neck and a physical exam and a good description of this numbness should help elucidate where it is coming from. It is possible that her shoulder pain is from her neck.
2. Intra-articular shoulder pathology does not refer to the mid thoracic back area. However, it can cause dysfunction in the way the shoulder complex rotates to allow arm movement. All of the superficial muscles on your back (ie. not the erector group) are basically there to stabilize the shoulder girdle and allow us to reach out into the space around us and dysfunction in one part of the system can cause painful compensation elsewhere. 3. Interpretation of shoulder MRIs is not a cut-and-dry business. If you looked at MRIs of 1000 shoulders that were pain free between 30 and 60% would have diagnosable pathology.The radiologist just looks at each shoulder thoroughly and reports even the most subtle of findings. The key here is to match the patient's symptoms to the imaging and that is the surgeon's job. 4. I don't agree with the idea that since the steroid shot didn't help that the pathology is untreatable. It suggests to me that the problem does not have much of an inflammatory component to it. 5. If it were my shoulder: a) get a second opinion. This won't offend anyone. The science of shoulder surgery is still an evolving field. Different surgeons will approach problems differently. b) complete an exhaustive trial of physical therapy c) if you're looking to have surgery you will find somebody who will scope your shoulder. 6. Be confident that she will work again.