Any experience with shoulder replacement?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

A couple months ago I went to an orthopedist who recommended two partial knees and one shoulder replacement. While willing to try lubricating injections in the knees (worked for my father) his office was inexplicably uncooperative in pushing through insurance, they want me to pay for the injections themselves out of pocket. This frustration led me to make separate appointments with new specialists, one for shoulder and one for knees.

Today was shoulder. He agreed with replacement, but offered imaging guided cortisone injections to try to buy me time if i want. Said if I schedule replacement asap I’ll be snowboarding by the winter. Injections would delay possibility for surgery by three months. I’m thinking maybe take my chances with injection, focus on one knee for now then the rest after the snow melts.

All that intro is really besides the point. I’m interested in any anecdotal input re shoulder replacement. When I researched it a few years ago it seemed like more for geriatrics, but today’s doctor said it’s common now and it’ll be as good as my good shoulder and should last at least 20 years. Anyone?

Featured Answer

OutsidePlaying

2 years ago

My DH had shoulder replacement in March 2018. He has done very well. He had hip replacement 4 months before the shoulder and it was a piece of cake. The shoulder was not damaged in any way, just arthritis, same as his hip. The worst part was that he is very active and for 6 weeks could not lift anything over 5 lbs or move his arm outside of a specified range.

He was only in the hospital overnight, came home and started PT the day after that. I would just be sure you have the utmost confidence in your surgeon, no matter what replacement or orthopedic surgery you are having. And its recommended you continue some of the exercises at home for complete range of motion. It’s hard.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

aok27502
2 years ago
I don't have any direct experience, but my 76 year old friend had hers done in April. She is historically a drama queen, terrible patient. Surprisingly she has done extremely well with this one. She lives alone, and had hired Home Health assistance for about 2 weeks. After that she was able to do enough to dismiss them. She's still on PT, but is already back to doing most everyday life. She is currently making extensive travel plans for next year, although I doubt that snowboarding is on her agenda.

I think this is either her third or fourth joint replacement. I know of a hip and a knee, not sure if there was one more. This seemed to go much better than the knee.
foodonastump thanked aok27502
dedtired
2 years ago
Check out videos on youtube. ive been researching rotator cuff surgery and found lots of good stuff there.
foodonastump thanked dedtired
Related Discussions
JarBoxes - any one have any experience with them?
Q
Comments (4)
If you have an active local freecycle, you might try posting an ad requesting canning jars. I did that and scored a huge haul of quart and pint jars...almost 200 of them, if I remember correctly. They all came from the same person. I see other people posting requests from time to time, so part of it must be just luck of the timing. Sorry about your jar mishap. I'm sure the cleanup was not a fun chore! I dropped an empty jar last week and it hit the edge of a heavy glass mixing bowl. The jar shattered and shards were all over the kitchen. I was barefoot at the time and couldn't move until my husband brought my shoes and helped with the cleanup. The dishwasher was open and glass particles were in the machine and dishes, particles were all over the counters, across the room, and even down in the garbage disposal. Thankfully, no open food containers were out. Jill
...See More
Subzero Refrig Experience Replacing 2 Compressors on a Slide Tray
Q
Comments (3)
This description strikes me as an improbable design for manufacture. Perhaps you need access to the rear of the unit to disconnect lines. In any case, SubZero actually answers the telephone and connects callers with helpful persons. I can't predict their answer to your question, but I expect that they will be inclined to suggest repair by a qualified tech with access to their repair information. If you are qualified, but do not have the information, perhaps they will send it to you. kas
...See More
Shoulder replacement surgery
Q
Comments (1)
My dad had it, when he was 75+ years old ... he recovered quite quickly and was helping me instll a garage door within 6 months.
...See More
sill replacement experience.
Q
Comments (6)
Sill repair/replacement is one of those things that seem frightening, but from all I can tell, competent workers can do it without too much trouble. Timberframe houses are the usual candidates for this. I also am facing a sill project and here's what I've learned so far: talk to a lot of potential contractors. Many have no experience working on old timberframe houses or any appreciation of how they're put together and would be perfectly happy to "learn" on mine. You need to keep asking around til you find a couple of old-house mechanics who know what they are doing, have experience with gentle methods of repair and house raising and really like working on old buildings. This is an area where contractor ignorance can do a lot damage to one of the essential components to your structire. If you are looking for leads to workers, ask at your local historical society, ask at real lumber yards, ask other traditional tradesman (plasterers, for instance not sheet rock hangers) for referrals. In almost every place with any stock of timberframe buildings there are people who know what to do. It's just sometimes hard to find them, and sometimes they come from some distance (50-75 miles). I would also ask for references and follow up with the former clients. Yes, you can "build-up" a sill with pressure treat. There are some good books (and magazine articles, c.f old numbers of Old House Journal) on old house care, with excellent info on sill work which will make you a better evaluator of proposed solutions. Do you need some references? Good luck. Molly~ PS: I've been searching for the right worker for a couple of years. Sill work, in most circumstances, is not an emergency (though it sure is worrisome), so it's worth taking the time to find the right guy. However, since it is usually done before a lot of other projects, it can take on urgency for that reason alone. My advice: take your time here, none the less, you really want to get it done right.
...See More
sephia_wa
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Something to think about re: partial knee replacements.

A lot of people end up being regretful at that approach because eventually down the road they end up need a total knee replacement. So it's another surgery and another recovery.

Here's a resource I used when I had my total knee replacement. It's a wealth of information where you can ask questions and get answers from people who've been there.

https://bonesmart.org/
foodonastump thanked sephia_wa
foodonastump
Original Author
2 years ago
Sephia - The partials were actually recommended specifically because of the life expectency of the replacement joint. He said that 20 years or so down the road when it needs to be redone, it’ll be better to go from partial to full rather than from full to full. We’ll see if the specialist next week agrees.

aok and op, thanks for passing on the positive shoulder experiences.

As for utmost confidence, these doctors are all with Hospital for Special Surgery which I ”think” itself gives them some cred, board certified of course, good resumes on paper with active research and teaching, all around good reviews… I’m not sure what more to go by?

I’ll check out youtube and the bonesmart group - thanks!
bragu_DSM 5
2 years ago
Just watch your PT afterwards. Don't let them push you too hard. Sometimes they can make you over exert and stress the repair. Then you need a second repair.

Ask me how I know ...
foodonastump thanked bragu_DSM 5
aok27502
2 years ago
^^this

My friend found that her doctor and her PT had different interpretations of the same word, and the PT was overdoing it. They had to dial it way back.
foodonastump thanked aok27502
OutsidePlaying
2 years ago
Agree! pay attention before surgery to what your surgeon tells you about PT. There are very few ’moves’ you can make the first couple of weeks.

The orthopedic practice often has an associated PT clinic which should know the protocols, but often that is not the case. Or you get someone who doesnt pay attention to the orders. The first couple of sessions with the PT may be a blur for you due to post-surgery anesthesia, pain drugs, etc. Ask questions if you are uncertain.
foodonastump thanked OutsidePlaying
sjerin
2 years ago
The only person I know who had shoulder (rotator cuff) surgery didn't have a very good outcome, but that was 20 years ago. She had been a surgical nurse in the days when nurses had to lift patients onto and off of gurneys themselves. It affected her gardening, which was her love.
foodonastump thanked sjerin
Jasdip
2 years ago
My brother got a knee replacement in his 50's. He was an avid runner and he can't do that now, so he bicycles, hundreds of kilometers for exercise.

He goes at everything gung-ho and thought more pt meant better. Not so. He overworked his knee and had ice on it for ages. It's still not right, and still bothers him with pain.

I met a lady at a pub that hubby was playing at, and she was dancing with her husband and having a great time. She had her knee replaced and couldn't wait to have her second one done. She did things right.
sjerin
2 years ago
Apparently doctors are now advising people not to ice too much, as it slows healing. Who knew?
blfenton
2 years ago
A friend of mine who was 70 at the time had both knees replaced at the same time. It obviously isn't for everyone but they both needed to be done and he was in extremely strong shape. While it was a tough go for a bit after the surgery he's glad he listened to his surgeon and had both done together.

Now this isn't quite the same but a friend of mine had shoulder surgery (not replacement) a month ago and she isn't allowed to ski this season..

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Any experience with shoulder replacement?

OutsidePlaying

Comments (12)

aok27502

dedtired

Related Discussions

sephia_wa

foodonastump
Original Author

bragu_DSM 5

aok27502

OutsidePlaying

sjerin

Jasdip

sjerin

blfenton

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Any experience with shoulder replacement?

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

foodonastumpOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

foodonastump
Original Author