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Reverse shoulder replacement - What can I expect for recovery?

Posted by rethajones @rethajones, Aug 21, 2024

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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belgagrande | @belgagrande | Oct 28, 2024
In reply to @marci5 "Hello Looking for advice on the polar ice machine? Did the hospital provide one for you..." + (show)
@marci5

Hello Looking for advice on the polar ice machine? Did the hospital provide one for you or did you purchase one outside the hospital?

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My hospital provided mine, it was billed along with my surgery. I am lucky enough to have a wife who really took care of me. We have an ice maker in our fridge but it could not keep up with the demand. She would buy several bags of ice every day and keep them in a cooler. I always felt the best results of the machine was to fill the polar machine 3/4 full of ice then top off with water. My wife managed to continue this 24 hours a day.

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belgagrande | @belgagrande | Oct 28, 2024

I had reverse shoulder replacement on my left side
You mentioned PT twice a week, how much do you do the exercises you learned at home? In between PT appointments I would do at least 3 hours of exercise everyday. Because I lost most my right hand in accident when I was young it was imperative that restore my left hand and as soon as possible.
Don’t expect just going to PT to bring yourself back to normal! You have to push yourself everyday at home. I went from surgery to complete usage, pain free in 6 weeks.

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1 reply
rethajones | @rethajones | Oct 28, 2024
In reply to @belgagrande "I had reverse shoulder replacement on my left side You mentioned PT twice a week, how..." + (show)
@belgagrande

I had reverse shoulder replacement on my left side
You mentioned PT twice a week, how much do you do the exercises you learned at home? In between PT appointments I would do at least 3 hours of exercise everyday. Because I lost most my right hand in accident when I was young it was imperative that restore my left hand and as soon as possible.
Don’t expect just going to PT to bring yourself back to normal! You have to push yourself everyday at home. I went from surgery to complete usage, pain free in 6 weeks.

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That’s great! Evidently I’m not doing enough exercises at home. I need to increase that! Thanks so much!
God Bless,
Retha

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1 reply
belgagrande | @belgagrande | Oct 28, 2024
In reply to @rethajones "That’s great! Evidently I’m not doing enough exercises at home. I need to increase that! Thanks..." + (show)
@rethajones

That’s great! Evidently I’m not doing enough exercises at home. I need to increase that! Thanks so much!
God Bless,
Retha

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I forgot to mention I to am 72 years old. My surgery was done 2 years ago. Yes the exercises were painful but you just have to say a prayer and push yourself through it.

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rethajones | @rethajones | Oct 28, 2024

I’m 72 and my surgery happened in March but my fall happened in November 2023.
God Bless,
Retha Jones

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wmh9680 | @wmh9680 | Jan 20 11:51pm
In reply to @rethajones "I’m so glad you are doing well and having very little pain. Hopefully I can get..." + (show)
@rethajones

I’m so glad you are doing well and having very little pain.
Hopefully I can get to that place where I’m happy with my outcome and not feeling so stiff all the time.
I have a lot of scar tissue and I heard that massages can help with that. So I’m getting a massage tomorrow and hopefully that helps.
God Bless,
Retha

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i HAVE HAD 9 OR SO ORTHO SURGERIES OVER THE YEARS SO I'VE DONE ALOT OF PT AND HAVE HOPEFULLY LEARNED WHAT TO DO AND NO TO DO AND WHEN. i STILL DO PT/WORKOUT ABOUT EVERYDAY, I'VE LEARNED TO REALIZE WHEN I HAVE PUSHED TO FAR AND NEED TO CUT BACK SOME. I AM WAY PAST MY RESTRICTIONS BUT IT HAS TAKEN A LONG LONG TIME TO GET THERE. THE DR WOULD PROBABLY FREAK OUT IF HE KNEW ALL I DO. MY OTHER SHOULDER PROBABLY NEEDS A REVERSE DONE, IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BAD TEAR YEARS AGO AND I GET MORE PAIN AND RESTRICTIONS WITH IT, I HAVE ALSO HAD 7 KNEE SURGERIES , ONE ACL ON ONE AND THEN A REPLACEMENT ON THE OTHER ONE AND I'M PRETTY SURE I NEED A REPLACEMENT ON THE OTHER ONE, MY WIFE HAS HAS 2 SPINAL FUSIONS (THE BOTTOM 6 ARE NOW ONE) AND JUST HAD A RT HIP REPLACEMENT AND IS DOING GREAT. SORRY FOR THE CAPS, I'M 74 AND IT HELPS ME READ WHAT I AM TYPING. MASSAGES DEFINATELY HELP. GOOG LUCK, JUST ASK ANYTHING YOU WANT, I LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE.

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myracorbo | @myracorbo | Jan 21 2:30pm

I had my surgery 1st of Aug. I am slowly being able to raise my arm to touch the top of my head. It’s an on and off being able to do this. I still need strength in my arm, deltoid? to be able to lift it up by my own strength.
A slow progress for me.

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