Shoulder replacement surgery

I’m 73, with similar orthopedic history and looking at possible reverse shoulder replacement following prior simple rotator cuff repairs.

Hi,
In the past 2 years, I have had both knees replaced (5 weeks apart) followed by rTSR, both shoulders (8 mo apart). I am female, 68.

The rTSRs were awkward and uncomfortable but not really painful for me. This discomfort was due principally to the post-op sling, sleeping position (in a recliner, uh!), and general lack of mobility in early weeks. My PT began 2 weeks post-op.

Overall results are pain-freeshoulders, excellent range of motion save reaching up my back which is a work in progress, LOL.

What worked for me was following my surgeon's exacting post op specs incl sleeping angle, sling use, pushing through the work w an excellent PT team and doing PT's brief stretching exercises 2x day. My Nurse Navigator was also a phone call away for any questions. The activity was awkward, slow moving and frustrating but not painful (like knees can be).

Oh, home support. I live alone, have a dog. And my dear friends visited to help w key tasks.

Today, I am active including rigorous aquatic exercise which greatly helps my shoulders post formal PT .

Sorry so long. May your rTSRs be successful. Enjoy your continued good health.

Glad to hear fantastic results. I am on week 9 of TKR and still experiencing pain. Starts at my hip goes all the way to ankle😩

Hi Sandra,

Which was the toughest recovery - knees or shoulder? I'm 69 and had both knees replaced at 67 with excellent results. I need a TSR - the shoulder isn't too bad but it's not gonna get better. I'm a gyn rat and was wondering how much time I could expect to miss with a TSR.

Thank you!

Joe

I had a reverse shoulder replacement and knee replacement and the shoulder was much less painful than a knee. However I had to wear an immobilizer with the shoulder for 6 weeks which hampered many of the things I’m used to doing. I had good results from both.

I am on the verge of considering two shoulder replacement surgeries and I’m gathering information. One question I have is… Are you allowed to lift more than 30 pounds after full recovery? I am 73, live alone and travel often. I need to handle my own luggage, as well as other objects. Is this a permanent limitation?
Also have osteoporosis/osteopenia… Will I need to stop gym workouts with weights?

I have a similar question to you (that I just posted) and it appears you did not receive a response.

From my research I found that weight limits are advised by your surgeon, and can be either limited or not depending on your recovery and muscle strength and quality.

With regard to your gym workouts, from what I understand, a complete return to full exercise is possible - as above, depends on your recovery and quality of muscle strength.

Not sure how helpful this is, but maybe we should stay in touch and compare notes?

Once healed, the weight limits would depend on your muscle conditioning, since bone or prosthesis merely provides support for the muscles. In the later stages of my PT, I was supervised using various kinds of weight machines, so I imagine continuing maintenance weight workouts would be a benefit. My surgeon told me in a followup session, that what you shouldn't do is lift heavy items with a straight downward drag on your shoulder, you need to cock your elbow(s) so the lower arm alters the angle and takes some weight. He said lifting heavy from waist level to above your head is not a problem. Obviously this means normal everyday levels, not something ridiculously heavy. My right arm has healed so well that I am not aware of it feeling any different from my left original. But it seems to "know" that picking up and carrying a 35lb bucket of cat litter with a straight downward drag is not a good idea. I have switched over to using my left arm for heavier items without consciously thinking about it.