Good eveningk @alanhansen. and welcome to Mayo Connect. I just noticed this post about your shoulder and my memory took me back to a similar life situation. I had injured and "over used" my right shoulder for several years. Softball and horseback riding along with a few falls here and there had left me with constant pain in my right shoulder. Building and remodeling homes also forced my right shoulder to keep "whining". So I agreed to the first repair surgery. It turned out well and then I fell down the mountain at the American Legion. With multiple breaks in the elbow and more serious injuries in the shoulder the surgeon gave it another chance with shoulder repairs. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite enough.

About that time shoulder replacement surgery was becoming successful in France. After hearing about the results in the US in Florida and Washington state, he flew to the East Coast to learn how to accomplish the reverse shoulder replacement. He returned with some films that he shared with me and began the greatest struggle......convincing the insurance company to pay for the reverse shoulder sugery. As you might imagine, the insurance folks wanted an older patient so that there wouldn't be lot of years left for me to bang it up again.

The surgery day arrived and there was quite an audience including some engineers or so I was told. My surgeon actually stayed with me in my room that evening and the anesthesist stoppped by to make sure I could sleep.

My recovery was well supported. Even the Physical Therapist worked with the surgeon to make sure they were giving my shoulder every chance. I am living the rest of my life with the comfortable use of rwo shoulders.

Soooo......what do you think?

Please let me know what you decide. There have been lots of improvements. Now you can have the replacement made to fit you well. And the post surgery care is much more timely and affective.

Let me know if you have additional questions or worries.
Chris