Connect
← Return to Shoulder Bone-on-bone surgery alternative for seniors
Discussion
Shoulder Bone-on-bone surgery alternative for seniors
Bones, Joints & Muscles | Last Active: Nov 26 12:11pm | Replies (43)Comment receiving replies
At age 70 I had a RTS replacement of Left shoulder for arthritis & torn rotator cuff. I had 6 weeks of physical therapy & all healed well. 7 months later I had another RTS replacement of Right shoulder again for arthritis & torn rotator cuff. Now in physical therapy and doing well. Since having them done i appreciate how much pain I was enduring. No more limited range of motion, pain in significantly less. Again using the same surgeon & same therapists all is doing awesome!! I ask myself why did I wait so long!! I keep up with my exercises at home to make sure it all keeps functioning as intended. Have also had both knees replaced at the same time but ended up with a lasting physical side effect that 1-2% of people have post knee replacement. Have tried to see if anything could be done as medicine has advanced in the 12 years since I had them done, but nothing seems to be able to fix it!!
Replies to "At age 70 I had a RTS replacement of Left shoulder for arthritis & torn rotator..."
Connect
Wow Barbara, and here I thought I was pretty tough.
You take first place! Good for you for doing the bilateral TKR. My brother did that. I did them separately, in 2023 about 4 months apart. This year I had my right hip replaced in March and an anatomical TSR about 3 months ago. I just finished PT for the shoulder.
I'm amazed you had RTS replacements within 7 months. I have a friend at the gym with an irreparable RC and he simply won't get the rTSR. No matter what he says about not being in pain, I think the tough guy is actually afraid of the procedure. And there are exercises he simply can't do, like an incline push up and a complete bicep curl. In the meantime, his RC is getting worse and the joint capsule is filling with scar tissue and fat. Eventually his shoulder will freeze, and then he'll be lucky if he can get a rTSR scheduled within 4 months.
And you are spot on as far as pain relief, which is almost immediate following surgery. If I could one thing differently, I would have had all my replacements done at least 6 months earlier, and spared myself a lot of pain.
Because let's face it, when you have an irreparable RC tear(s) and/or crippling, bone-on-bone arthritis in a shoulder, knee, or hip, the time to do the replacement is when you first feel the pain, and there are no other good options.
Anyway Barbara, thanks so much. You are very courageous and my hero!
What is the physical side effect you're having with your knee? I'm curious because 12 years isn't that long ago.
Anyway, your message of bravery totally made my day. Good for you Barbara!
Joe