Say no to reverse shoulder replacement

@koneil
You better take it easy

Saw surgeon
Told him I need strength training
Got him to let me have it at home

I also need my right knee done…been 2.5 years of putting it off
Should got so bad so fast so had to do it first

Please don’t over do
It comes back to bite you

@ranch hello new to the site.Having my left shoulder replacement on Tuesday 12/16
Your post has given me some peace and encouragement

@koneil I had a reverse total shoulder replacement in february 2026 after a fall and resulting traumatic injury. Every surgery is different I know and circumstances can be different as well as healing times, as I have been told. I wore my stabilizer brace for 3 months. Did not begin stretching physical therapy until my second month after surgery. And then it was restricted by my orthopedic surgeon. He tells me that it will be a full year before I have most of the use of my shoulder back. Although I see almost daily improvements I still have some pain, but it is not intolerable... It's not fun by any means, but I do believe it will get better as the months move forward and I keep doing my physical therapy. Definitely, have your therapist check with your orthopedic surgeon, to make sure everything is going along smoothly in your case. Good luck and I hope you're pain and movement in your arm improves quickly.

If I was able to go back in time, I would get a reverse shoulder vs a TSA. I did all my PT starting very soon after surgery and going through the year and was happy for about 8 years until it failed. I got a revision and did not realize my osteopenia was so bad it contributed to a tuberosity fracture that never healed. I worked diligently for more than a year and half and managed to get pain reduction but additional surgery to get functionality back is not realistic for me.

In August of last year I fell on and injured my left shoulder. 10% usage of shoulder. MRI indicated rotator cuff too damaged to repair. Orthopedic Dr recommended TSR ((total shoulder reverse replacement). To me it sounded pretty evasive and drastic. He did recommend some physical Therapy before hand. I did the therapy for 6 weeks. I recommend it, it did/does help. The procedure was explained to me though also the fact I may lose some current reach capabilities like reaching around my back. Even once healed I would not achieve full current function and lifting limits. After Therapy I was possibly 65%. Lifting and movement reach. I chose to pass on the procedure for now. I'm 73 can live with what I've got. I STAY busy, active. My condition improved a bit but has not,will not get better . Just not as strong or lift outward with or without weight. My right arm can help lift it, it just can't go above my head without help. At this point I felt I'm better off than the end result of the procedure. Everybody different, this will work for me for now

In 2020 I was 73 and leading a horse and he ran over me. (Yellow Jackets got him.) I was knocked out. rt.zygomatic cracked and rt. shoulder dislocated. When I had enough of the teaching hospital following me I went to a well-known ortho group and picked out my surgeon. He referred me to a expert in TSR. I already had more use of my arm than average. I could not raise my arm, not even passively and asked why. I asked 3 drs. (2 had seen my MRI)and got 3 answers. So I would say Yes to the PT and no to the surger.y

I could not be happier with my reverse shoulder replacement (Dr. Dubiel in Traverse City MI). I was told by the medical community that the follow-up pain would be severe but it was nearly non-existent. Took oxy for pain at bedtime but only because I often slept on that arm / shoulder (though immobilized) and experienced some pain then. I am just shy of one year post-op and doing very well. Yup, I do have lifting / carrying weight limitations but that is fine given the pain and limited movement I experienced prior to surgery. The rotator cuff was no longer attached so I could not raise my arm above my chest. Now I have no limits on movement and no pain. I follow all requirements to the letter.

I have not been so fortunate with my knee replacement (different surgeon). 8 months post-op and knee is unstable, makes a "clunking sound" (kerplunk my wife says), is somewhat painful when walking plus feels as though something is "catching" then "releasing" (thus the "clunk"). I am waiting for a recommendation from the surgeon.

Hi, thank you for your advice , I do not know if I should get my operation done it is my right shoulder and I am right handed so this is a problem.
The shoulder has not dislocated in over a year and I don’t have much pain
But the specialist says only fat is holding it in. Can you advise me what to do my operation is on 4 June I have already cancelled it last month.
I am 66

@tooth I'll begin by saying that fear, anxiety and the wish to avoid major surgery are very normal. Even though I have had more than a dozen joint surgeries/replacements over the past 20 years, I go through the "should I or shouldn't I?" exercise every single time. If you are really stuck there, having cancelled once already, it might be the time to talk this through with a counselor, or a friend or family member you really trust.

Let's start with some basics:
Do you want to continue to live the rest of your life always worrying about another dislocation?
Do you want to improve your ability to use the arm?
Are you willing to do the rehab? This means not just seeing PT twice a week for a few weeks, but doing the exercises EVERY DAY at home for up to 4 months? Even if it hurts sometimes?
Do you have someone to help you at first, whether in your home full-time, or who can reliably come and help you every day for a couple weeks? This means help with everything the first few days - even showering and changing clothes. And help with cooking, cleaning, laundry and getting to appointments for a few weeks. Or is a short-term rehab stay possible for you with your Medicare?

Now let me share my self-questioning process for my wrist, which I will be replaced in June:
What if I don't get it done now, and it fails completely, causing even more pain and taking away use of my right hand?
I asked the surgeon, if my "old" fails, will they still be able to repair it using the same technique they are proposing now? (No)
Would it be more invasive surgery, or possibly even no surgical option? (More invasive, total fusion and permanent loss of range of motion)
How long might I need to wait for surgery, with useless hand in a sling? (It would be non-emergency, so probably 6-7 weeks.)

So now, can you substitute your situation into this Q&A? You might need to call your surgeon's office for a few of the answers.

At 66, you are still relatively young, and unless you have life-threatening conditions, you can expect to live another 10-20 years. Only you can decide if you want a better shoulder. Will you let me know what you decide after the thinking-through exercises above?

@tooth
I have dislocated both my shoulders countless times because of seizures. Ive had multiple surgeries but continued to dislocate. When I was about 20, my doctor said by the time I was 40 I would have to have artificial shoulders, but I'm 73 now and I still refuse to have the shoulder replacement surgery. My shoulders seem to have stabilized and any pain I' have I'm able to tolerate and have accepted my limitations. I'm going to continue to stick with my original parts until the time comes that I can no longer tolerate the pain or limitations. I have extensive damage in buth shoulders, neck and surrounding structures. Are you still having this locations? If so, have you had any stabilization surgeries to help prevent them.
You sound like me, very hesitant. If and when I ever have shoulder replacement surgery or any other type shoulder surgery, it will be because I definitely know I have no other choice.
Best of luck to you,
Jake