Reverse shoulder replacement surgery

Posted by rethajones @rethajones, Aug 21 8:54am

I fell Nov 19 and broke my shoulder in 3 places and tore my rotator cuff. I tried to let it heal on its own but it wouldn’t. So I had total reversal shoulder replacement surgery March 14. I have been doing PT twice a week. I still cannot raise my arm/shoulder up very high at all. I was wondering how long it takes to get full range motion where it doesn’t feel stiff or hurt when I move my arm/shoulder? Don’t know if age makes a difference but I’m 72.
Thanks
Retha

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@myracorbo

That’s so discouraging. I’m an avid tennis player, not very good mind you and I don’t feel I can mentally overcome this situation.

I’m going to get a second opinion and see if a tendon transfer will help my external rotation.

Are you able to lift your arm high enough to wash your hair?

I’m 65, what is your age?

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I’m 72. I can barely reach my hair but I bend my head down some so I can wash it. When I fell I also hurt my back. I have an L2 compression. I just pray we all get better sooner than later!
God Bless,
Retha.

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@myracorbo

I wish that were the case for me. Unfortunately I’ve read that those that start out with this horn blowing effect usually have a poor outcome on rotation.

I’m not giving up until a solution can be found. I’ve heard a tendon transfer can help.

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Can you share more about a tendon transfer,sounds interesting. Thanks

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That’s a lot to digest,but thanks for sharing. I’m not giving up either,but this is going on 13 months postoperative for me and I still can’t touch the middle of the back of my head. Using a stim machine while exercising ,maybe loosening things up ever so slightly.

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I am making an appointment for a second opinion and as soon as I find out what can and or needs to be done, I’ll will post what I was told.
Keep the faith, I won’t let us give up.

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I had reverse rt shoulder replacement in 2017. I have almost complete movement in my shoulder. The shoulder is definately weaker and shaped a little different, but very little pain, I have done pt and excercises ever since and am very happy with the outcome, I had rotator cuff repair on the same shoulder in 2004 and it lasted until I tore it again in 2017.

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@wmh9680

I had reverse rt shoulder replacement in 2017. I have almost complete movement in my shoulder. The shoulder is definately weaker and shaped a little different, but very little pain, I have done pt and excercises ever since and am very happy with the outcome, I had rotator cuff repair on the same shoulder in 2004 and it lasted until I tore it again in 2017.

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Do you have external rotation? How long before that returned?

Did you experience the horn blower effect?

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@myracorbo

Do you have external rotation? How long before that returned?

Did you experience the horn blower effect?

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Yes I do and no to Hornblower

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How long did it take (with physical therapy) to get your external rotation back? Is it partial rotation or close to where your good shoulder can extend to external rotation?

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so many years ago (2017) I dn remember, partial, I dn even remember what total external is, Both my shoulders are/were bad for years, the other shoulder has no external, I'm sure the other one needs replacement, it's so bad, worse than the replaced one which also had rotator cuff surgery in 2004, I've had 11 ortho sugeries so I've done so much pt I could be a pt, when I go to pt after a surgery they ask me am I doing their program or mine, lol. My wife had her hip replaced in July and I'm her home pt guy, she goes out to pt 2x a week, hopefully will be released in 3-4 weeks, she's doing great. Good Luck

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