Any experience with shoulder replacement?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 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

5 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.

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Comments (12)

aok27502
5 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.
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dedtired
5 years ago
Check out videos on youtube. ive been researching rotator cuff surgery and found lots of good stuff there.
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sephia_wa
5 years ago
last modified: 5 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
5 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
5 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 ...
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aok27502
5 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.
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OutsidePlaying
5 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
5 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.
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Jasdip
5 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
5 years ago
Apparently doctors are now advising people not to ice too much, as it slows healing. Who knew?
blfenton
5 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

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Any experience with shoulder replacement?

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