I had a failed rotator cuff repair which led to mind numbing pain. The reverse total shoulder brought an end to that kind of pain but delivered a different pain in the healing process.

I think I am absolutely delighted today, 18 months later, but I think if you’ve had a failed rotator it adds to the healing time. Just me and my doctors guess.

Now I can sleep on that side but it was a process learning to sleep on my back as I was always a side sleeper.

I would stick with the PT as it helped beyond words. Take pain meds if you are able and don’t wait until it’s out of control.

If you look at the literature, 1 year of recovery isn’t odd or out of norms. The shoulder moves in so many more directions than a knee replacement and I also chalk it up to that.

Of course everyone is different and you may be great at 4 or 6 months or even sooner but I had planned to allow myself as long as I needed without self criticism since I learned from my TKRs it took about 4 1/2 months then I was home free.

Everyone is different! Stay calm about that and realize bodies heal at different speeds. I am sure if I was 40 years old it might have been faster too. I was 66 years old.

Good luck and stay positive. I’m delighted every day my new shoulder feels great.