Shoulder replacement surgery

@heyjoe415
I’m with you. He may not have pain now but no guarantee of the future. The limitations with the RC sure affected my life in a negative way and I am appreciative of the results from the surgery.
Everyone makes decisions based on personal preference and your friend has made his. Trusting he has made the right one,
H.

My experience from reverse shoulder replacement was the right decision for me. Two different surgeons for each shoulder. The first surgery was a total success. The other had post pain that was an issue. Frankly, I believe the difference was the surgeons.
Do your research and get a surgeon with experience in SHOULDERS. There are specialists for a reason.

It seems both knees and reverse shoulder replacements can have variable end results and variable pain profiles during recovery.
My advice is to make sure you set up good professional supervision, experience in RSR, befor e surgery.
All the best!

I agree with your friend. I too had damaged rotator cuff inoperable. Was recommended reverse replacement on that shoulder. After 6wk therapy, it helped but I'm not fixed. Limited use but am learning to live with the inconvenience for now. From what I've researched on the procedure, end result would leave me somewhat more limited than I'm currently dealing with. Everybody different. I can always get it done if it gets unbearable. For now I'll live with it. I'm 74

Thanks Harrie, much appreciated. A damaged and inoperable rotator cuff destabilizes the shoulder joint. The deltoids are then more active, and tend to pull the humerus upward, where the ball of the humerus is bone-on-bone with the clavicle. That's not good and unchecked, may require a bone graft when the shoulder is replaced.

The absence of daily pain isn't the issue, it's the deterioration of the bones and tendons involved, notably the clavicle and the tendon that attaches the long bicep to the glenoid (socket). (This tendon is removed in any shoulder replacement.)

My friend can barely do a bicep curl, raising the weight four inches, and he can't do anything to strengthen the very large upper back muscles as well as the chest muscles. I can see the atrophy - and in place of the diminished muscle, fat has taken its place.

Personally, I waited too long for all of my joint replacements, so I probably shouldn't be giving advice! As you said, my friend has made his own decision and he has every right to do so. And he will have to live with the consequences.

I saw your other post on the outcomes of rTSR for both shoulders, each time with a different surgeon. You are correct, the right surgeon is critical. I look for surgeons in their late 30s to late 40s with a good med school pedigree and a good residency/fellowship pedigree - Mayo and Cleveland Clinic come to mind, and there are others.

My shoulder guy fit this description - he went to the University of Wisconsin Medical College, did his residency and fellowship there. At each step, he was selected for admission by surpassing very high standards. I have only had my left shoulder replaced (August 2025) but my recovery went very well and my surgeon did a great job, as did his PA, NP and staff.

I'm sorry your second shoulder replacement didn't go as well as you'd like. Definitely pays to take the time to find a good surgeon.

Thanks Harrie.

Joe

Thanks for your reply Warren.

I'm sorry your shoulder replacement has not helped, although 6 weeks post-op is not a long time. Due to the nature of a reverse replacement, you'll always have some limitations, primarily in how far up you can reach your arm. It should not interfere substantially in your daily life - after recovery which can take 8 months to a year.

So please give therapy a chance to work. What I found when I had my left shoulder replaced was that I needed to 1) follow all the PT exercises at least 2x/day at home, everyday and 2) have patience for the lengthy recovery process.

And a reverse TSR takes longer for recovery because the deltoid muscles now handle shoulder stabilization, rather than the rotator cuff muscles. That transition just takes time, and a good therapist can guide you through that.

All the best to you Warren.

Joe

@debhunter Thank you for the great advice. I've had both knees replaced, right hip, and left shoulder.

The recovery from knee and hip replacement we're pretty straightforward, The shoulder is entirely different and recovery takes longer and patience is required.

Joe

@heyjoe415 I think you mis read my message or response if it is I you are responding to. I had damaged my rotator cuff beyond repair for surgery. Doctor recommended reverse replacement. Then he recommended 6 wk therapy BEFORE surgery if I chose to go that route. I did the 6 wk therapy and it DID help but I'm not fixed by any means. With THAT and knowing my current limitations I chose to NOT do the Reverse surgery at this time. I can live with 75% usage right now and dress without issues. My research on the procedure indicated chance of even less reach and lifting. So for now I'll just deal with my limitations