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Say no to reverse shoulder replacement
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 8 2:26pm | Replies (108)Comment receiving replies
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
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@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?