Anyone go through a full shoulder replacement?

[Sigarms]

Time is getting near for a full shoulder replacement.

Started about 15 years ago whitewater kayaking. Turned out I had arthritis in the right shoulder. About 10 years ago, it was brought up I would be looking at an operation. 5 years ago turned out it's going to have to be a full replacement on the right shoulder.

I was told originally I was a bad candidate for the operation because the pain on my end was more than manageable. Reality is though for some time couldn't handle a chain saw any more, and over the weekend was using the pressure washer for some time and I told my wife I finally would go in and see if a cortisone would help for now (it's always been kind of bad, but getting to the point where the pain at night isn't becoming manageable).

In my my mind, I may make it going into next year, butt, it's on my radar now that it will have to be done.

Just wondering from others past experiences and the rehabilitation you went through?

I did talk to one guy last year that had one actually in 2024, and he said honestly it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be, and only in a couple of months he was actually feeling good. I'm generally on the pessimistic side and perhaps things have gotten with the procedure over time?

 

[akadave]

Not me but two guys I'm close to had it done and both say they'd do it again but not wait so long.

 

[duffer]

Most good docs will advise cortizone shots until they don't work anymore, rather than just jumping into surgery. You could get a year or two or three from the shots.

My sister in law just had her shoulder replaced, and like your friend got better in a couple of months, but that doesn't mean you'll operate a chain saw by then. And in her case, the doc said she would only get about 80% of full use going forward. You might want to have that conversation with your surgeon.

FWIW.

 

[Sigarms]

You might want to have that conversation with your surgeon.

I'm going to believe me, just like personal experiences if that makes sense.

 

[kenmac]

Not me, but I had a friend that had his replaced last yr. He said all was great. Then it started to just pop out of socket for no reason. He said it even did it while in bed asleep. He went back to his doc, and they went back in a couple months ago to replace a piece of plastic ( his words not mine) any way. it was great for a while. I talked to him yesterday and he says it's popping out of socket again. He is suppose to go back to his doc next week, but he doesn't expect there's anything they're going to be able do to fix his shoulder

 

[BravoXray]

I had my right shoulder replaced back in 2018. Complete replacement, normal type, not reverse. The ball on my humerus was completely wasted, and I had no damage to the rotator cuff. I knew it was getting bad, but over stressing it while helping a friend work on his F150 pushed it over the edge. Woke up the next morning in horrible pain, got into the clinic the next day. They took x-rays and they showed how bad it was, tried to get me to do therapy. I told them if it needed to be replaced, replace it, I'm not wasting time with therapy. Told them I wanted their best surgeon, and they hooked me up with the one that had done my sister's hip replacement a year before, with great results.Talked to the surgeon a couple of days later, a great guy that really put me at ease, and had surgery a week later.
I had heard so many horror stories about shoulder surgery I was really concerned about the outcome, but it was great. Had the surgery in the morning, spent the night and went home the next afternoon. The pain wasn't that bad, in fact, I refused to take any pain meds the evening after the surgery, which prompted a visit from a supervisor. Told her I didn't need the pain pills as I really didn't have a lot of pain. When they discharged me they gave me an RX for pain meds, of which I never took a one.
Went to rehab therapy a week or so later, and after 4 or 5 sessions, I forget how many, they released me. Range of motion was excellent and virtually no pain. I was supposed to use the sling for a month, I ditched it after a week, and at the 2 week post-op with the surgeon, told him I only had it on for the office visit. He said if I felt good not using it, fine. I gave it back to him in the office.
Honestly, if I didn't have that 6 inch scar, I would never know I had it replaced. Not everyone will have as good of a result as I did, but I think that as long as the rest of the joint is in good condition, the result will be a lot better.
I thought I had the before and after x-rays, but I can't find them, due to my completely logical and flawlessly organized filing system.
Good luck with your replacement!

 

[Oz_Kioti]

I'm interested in this thread, as I've had a cortisone shot into each shoulder at different times over the past couple of years to treat bursitis. The pain manifests itself about halfway between the shoulder and elbow. A very fine needle directed into the bursa by ultrasound settled the symptoms in a day or so.

Then my right arm pain came on strong a couple weeks ago when I put abnormal strain on my right arm, and when I saw the doc last week, he said that as long as the pain was decreasing, then let it be. When they x-rayed that shoulder 12 months ago, they saw a tear in something or other, and gave me the shot which settled the symptoms. He said last week that another shot now would not be beneficial with the healing of the torn whatever it is.

So is this the sort of ailment which is a precursor to a shoulder replacement?

 

[RayIN]

I've been getting shots in both shoulders for a long time. The Dr. told me to wait as long as I could bear the pain before coming in for shots, as they can only inject so much before they stop working.
It's been 3 years now and I'm ready to see the Dr. again, I've gotten to the point I take Tylenol to sleep, and with bad kidneys that cannot continue or they will fail again; my kidney Dr. said it will put me on dialysis(again) for the rest of my life this time.
I'm an organ donor, but the jokes on them, everything's worn out already.