Say no to reverse shoulder replacement

Bionicwoman
I had the EMG. A bit painful procedure. Nothing was found to reduce my arm pain.

Im sorry you have had such a poor experience...I am 6 months post Reverse Total
Shoulder Replacement and I
have full range of motion...no issues what so ever...doing weight training at present....good luck!

I wish I didn't have to say this but although it is uncommon, some people just don't bounce back after reverse shoulder replacement/arthroplasty. Most are ok.
After L shoulder RSR 23 May 2025, I have my 6 month review at Orthopaedic Clinic this morning. I have been intimidated by the whole process and although my left arm was almost useless due to repeated rotator cuff injuries I wish I never had it done. I have neck damage with nerve pain due to domestic violence and the RSR exacerbated that, setting up bilateral trapezius spasm with severe nerve pain in the neck, and just for fun, severe night time trigeminal neuralgia. I am working with these issues now. Unfortunately the worst problem is a torn long head biceps due to incompetent physiotherapist. I have been rehabilitating that since I stopped all exercises three months ago to allow it to repair. I am still in pain, muslces and deep inside the joint.
I was told the other shoulder (dominant arm) would be done at 90 days. It is now twice that. I can at least use my dominant arm as it is, plus I can lie on that side in my bed. Even though there is no cartilage in that shoulder and the supraspinatus is completely retracted. So I think it is too risky to have the second shoulder done.
I hope the surgeon listens to me this time. I have written a concise summary and set of questions. Otherwise I will be back to A&E in an ambulance like the day after the 3 month appointment, just to get heard and taken seriously. At least on that occasion the kind emergency doctor looked into and ruled out nerve damage and fine bone fractures as the cause of my recalcitrant pain. So I researched post-RSR in the medical literature and reputable shoulder clinics online and found out about complications of long head biceps and conjoint tendon.
I will report back later after the appointment.

I replied to @spcb below, I would appreciate further correspondence as I too have atypical "recovery" from RSR. Good luck.

@koneil After my appointment today yet another xray and bloods taken to test for infection and other stuff. Another appointment in 4 weeks to discuss results.

Thanks to all of you for your comments. It does make me feel less alone. My husband passed recently, so I am going through this solo. It's very difficult in so many ways. I think one of the main things that they did was after the surgery. They put me in a sling that was too small for my arm. This caused deep wounds to occur where the Velcro was cutting into my skin. Because my hand was numb and my nerves were so disassociated. I didn't notice these cuts until they took the sling off. I had deep cuts in the valley under my thumb, my index finger where the Velcro was attached. It was very deep and quite painful. To this day, my thumb is still completely numb and unusable. Last week I was discharged from physical therapy. They were working on my shoulder. Also occupational therapy has discharged me. They were working on my hand. I was told it will be an additional six months to a year before my hand will return to normal. I'm not giving up. I'm still trying to pick things up, unlocked doors with a key. The worst thing is not being able to drive. I cannot reach the steering wheel nor the gearshift at this time. He calls this a successful surgery? I question his judgment.

Have any of your therapists used dry needling

@elizabethjean9339 How are you going now? Is your pain resolved? I wish you well.

@spcb At yesterday's 6 month review (among other things I read out from a prepared sheet) I told the surgeon I have problems I didn't have before surgery. Pain is similar level at rest 3/10 but different parts hurt. Function is not as good as before surgery and sleeping is not good. I am saying no to the prospect of the other one, even though the surgeon said it is in worse shape with arthritis. The left side was worse functionally due to soft tissue damage repeated injuries.
Thanks everyone here for the discussion and for leaving comments. It is helping me sort out what is going on and is of great comfort that I am not alone..

@debhunter this week I too had my last appointment with my surgeon and my occupational therapist until August of next year. I too had a list of questions but it just seemed to me that they were bound and determined to get me out of their care for now. I have been going every week solid to occupational therapy since the surgery in May. He claims he has done everything in his power to get my hand back. It's not even close. The surgeon passes it off as arthritis. I told him that's really funny that you say that because before I had the surgery, I had a completely usable right hand. He mumbled something about my nerves being disassociated from my arm. Wants me to continue to take pain pills says it will help my shoulder and my nerves to reconnect

Like you sleeping is difficult. I still have to sleep on my back. They are telling me that my left shoulder is worse than my right shoulder was before the surgery. I was in a freak accident in 2018. That's when all this started. It was also the year that I knew my husband of 41 years was dying. I knew that if I submitted to an MRI And all the testing they wanted to do that surgery would follow. I had been taking care of my husband 24 seven for over 20 years. I wasn't going to stop now.

Of course my left shoulder is worse. My husband was diabetic in a wheelchair without a leg and he was obese not grossly. I had to compensate and not use my right hand arm and shoulder as much as I was using my left.

Oddly enough, I had less pain in my shoulder than I did in my hand right after the surgery. That remains true. I've had to make changes around the house because I can't get my arm very high. In the kitchen, I've taken everything out out of the top shelves and put them on lower shelves. A friend of mine made me a finger walk. I have that installed in my dining room. I use it every day.

Now they're telling me at the end of that visit that they want me to order a paraffin bath. They say that it will help my hand not be so painful. I have a feeling they didn't like my prepared questions. I've done a lot of research before making that list. Was honestly starting to feel like a guinea pig anyway under their care

No, you are not alone. I'm sure there are other people who are also suffering
From complications from a complete reverse shoulder replacement.

Hang in there hopefully it will get better for both of us.