Shoulder Replacement: Still having pain

Hi @kathy2020, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll notice that I moved your message to this existing discussion about shoulder replacement, pain and sleep. I did this so that you can connect with @ellerbracke @anncgrl @mdgarnett and others. Click VIEW & REPLY to see past messages.

Four weeks post surgery is not a very long time. Shoulders are complicated joints with a lot of moving parts that need time and rehab to heal. You mention that you're doing exercises 3 times per day. Good for you. It can be so hard to stay motivated and keep up the exercises. Do you go for regular followup physio appointments?

Everyone is going to be different. In my case, I had home re-hab for 6 weeks and then at a re-hab facility for a little over two months. My soreness was similar to yours but I had decreasing levels and less consistency as time progressed. If I'm remembering correctly, I was off NSAIDs after two months.

Trouble sleeping was different - I had trouble getting into a comfortable position for about 3 months mainly because I am used to sleeping on my side where the surgery was done. I'm just now getting to where I can tolerate it. I will say that I don't experience pain as much as an uncomfortable feeling that wakes me up.

I finished formal re-hab two weeks ago, somewhat ahead of schedule but I have a long way to go with strengthening and a little way to go with range of motion. Internal rotation behind my back has a long way to go but other movement is fine but I'm still working to get it to match my other shoulder. 10 lbs both straight out in front and off to my side is fine. I'm able to lift 50 pound bags of potting soil and gravel example but I am very conscious about try to make sure my unaffected shoulder carries the most weight.

In summary, I feel like I'm back to normal most of the time. Occasionally I'll do something I shouldn't and the shoulder lets me know immediately to stop. I hope my experience helps you some. Hang in there with the exercises, they. make all the difference.

(I see my surgeon on Monday for the final visit - if I find out I'm doing things I shouldn't I'll update this note.)

Good evening, @mdgarnett What a joy to read such positive words about your post replacement journey. Congratulations on paying attention, being aware of your physical sensations, and living up to your commitment to hang in there with the exercises.

Just one note...in many states, you cannot drive with your arm in a sling. Might be worth checking it out.

I will be awaiting news of the update from your surgeon on Monday.
Be healthy and whole,
Chris

Hi Everyone,

All good news from the surgeon today. He thought my range of motion was beyond expectation at this point (4 months post surgery). With respect to reaching behind my back he said to be patient, that it will take a very long time, and I shouldn't be overly disappointed if I don't recover a lot of range. While I'm going to keep working on ROM and strength in all areas, I'm actually at a point where I'm not really limited in my activities.

As for sleeping on my affected side he said that will improve slowly and I should be back to normal within a year of surgery.

Along with the encouragement to keep up the exercises, he noted that it's important to do so because where ever I get to at about the 1 year post-surgery point is probably where I won't improve further. Of course nothing is cast in stone but to keeping at it is important.

As for driving with a sling, it is against the law in Texas. But besides the legal aspect, I found when attempting to back my car out of the way just a few feet once, I didn't have the ROM or strength to do it safely. Even after the restriction lifted, I had problems driving my truck so I didn't.

When I had rotator cuff surgery on my other shoulder 10 years ago in Washington state I was restricted from driving for 12 weeks (long time in a sling). I don't know if it was against the law then or just the surgeon being cautious. I don't think my wife liked being my driver for 12 weeks anymore than I liked being her passenger.

If anyone has questions about my experience, please don't hesitate to ask. When I was preparing for surgery the most common report I could find with an Internet search was people who had had very bad outcomes and I think it is good for people to know that it can be quite tolerable.

Mitchell

I was a little over ambitious with exercise after 6 weeks, and I managed to have the ball move out of place. I also remember stretching very hard from the driver’s side of the car over to the passenger side floor to pick up something off the floor about six weeks after surgery. The shoulder never felt ok after that, and it eventually collapsed with the ball Coming out of joint. I had a redo of the surgery, and all is ok now. You are doing lots of therapy.....have you considered imaging to be sure everything is In Its proper place? I have had a total of three reverse shoulder replacement surgeries: both shoulders and the right one twice because of the redo. I’m doing ok now. Good luck.

Hello @robinsod, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @artscaping and other members. @artscaping saw that you posted in an older shoulder replacement pain discussion and suggested we move your post to this discussion - Shoulder Replacement: Still having pain. If you click the VIEW & REPLY button at the bottom of the email notification it will take you to the new discussion where you can meet @ellerbracke @anncgrl @rascal1 and others who have discussed shoulder replacements.

You mentioned you can only lift your arm up half way, have no strength in it and it is worse than before the surgery. @robinsod has your doctor or care team suggested any follow up rehab or treatment to help?

I have discussed my ongoing pain and difficulties with my Dr. several times. With very little support. They prescribed a prednisone 6-pack which I was able to refill, however after 2 of them, I'm still in severe pain and have very little use of my arm. It's been 4 months since surgery. I started PT, but have not been able to accomplish much because my arm gets so swollen and painful afterwards. It takes several days for it to calm down. That is, if I take Excedrin, which I'm not supposed to take because of my heart. I am very frustrated at this point and don't know where to turn for help with this.

If I were in your position, I would contact my PCP, explain the situation and request an urgent referral to another specialist. I'm not a doctor but something isn't right and you should be getting help, not a push-off. Do you have someone who can help you with this?

A side comment: I'm supposed to avoid NSAIDs because of potential kidney problems but I wouldn't have gotten through the first week without ibuprofen.

I hope you get resolution on this soon.

Today is 5 weeks post total shoulder replacement. I am still having chronic pain in my shoulder, biceps/triceps, forearm and the top of my hand. I have taken Tramadol along with 3 extra strength acetaminephen at a time and that doesn't touch the pain. My ROM, in my opinion, doesn't seem to be improving. PT is grueling. By the time I get home, I can't do anything else. It truly is discouraging. I am also supposed to have my other shoulder done. That is out of the question. The pain I'm in now is more than the pain prior to the surgery. I tried taking Naproxen, which helped, but I have stage 3 kidney disease and am not supposed to use it.

Hello @colski, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I've only had a knee replacement which went pretty well as far as pain. From what I've read persistent pain is common for 1 to 2 years for a shoulder replacement. @sueinmn @basslakebabe19 @artscaping and others may have some suggestions for you to help relieve the pain.

Are you still in contact with your surgeon or care team and had a chance to ask them what would help?