Reverse Shoulder Replacement: Recovery process

Since I no longer have a rotator cuff the deltoid muscle I believe takes over for the other muscles and had issues with it as well as biceps etc. it didn’t help that I had had shoulder surgery in 2006 and that was a long recovery only to last 6 months pain free so from then I was in pain all those years til I fell and tired of dealing with pain pt sent me back to dr because I couldn’t make progress after xrays and mri surgeon said reverse toatal shoulder surgery was only option. It really has mad a difference in my life for the better but does take time and length can be different for everyone. Hang in there

I don't know what dry needling and tape means. My reverse surgery was in October 2020 and I'm unsteadily back on the tennis court. Feeling great. Still doing PT daily.

You can research dry needling on the web it basically hits a trigger point in a painful/ aching muscle and the muscle twitches then relaxes it. It tends to remind me of an emg test. Kinesiology tape is placed on my shoulder and parts of upper arm it usually lasts a week or so and gives me more support. That’s amazing that you are doing so well so soon.

@dmk, Good evening. Thank you for your description of the post-surgery activity you can expect for your deltoid muscle. That is exactly right. My personal trainer took me under her wing with support from our local PT. So......it has been 9 years. I have no pain or discomfort in the reverse shoulder replacement. It is my dominant arm and for that reason, I need to tell you that in addition to building up the deltoid, you will also get the non-dominant shoulder ready for fill-in duty. I find that it is a bit difficult to look delicate eating an ice cream cone. It is kind of amazing how you can switch some assignments to your other arm when the shoulder doesn't carry all the heavy lifting by itself.
I am glad you have shared your very positive results. Thanks.

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.

Chris

@ltsally, Unsteadily or not....you are back. I remember when I first read that you intended to play tennis again. Wow...here you are. What particular PT exercises do you do daily? Where are you headed.......with your tennis?

May you be healthy and whole.
Chris

Good evening @martydav, Boy....that is discouraging. I am proud of you for being so accepting of the repeat surgery and your long PT. Have you asked your PT how long you need to accept pain and discomfort? I think I did about nine weeks of PT. I also used quite a bit of ice. That always helps. They have ice machines. I had one that I filled with frozen water bottles. Easier to work with than loose ice cubes. See if you can get a little more information on your PT progress and get back to us.

May you be safe and protected.
Chris

I had my last PT appt. today...BUT... she said I need to do the exercises for a full year post surgery and then 3X a week for the rest of my life... Small price to pay for feeling good. I have 10 exercises I do daily..... If you want me to describe them I can.... many of them I do 30X the rest 20 X so it is a lot of PT.

I asked my PT today and she said that I would probably have pain at least six months, but I’m in s category by myself having the same surgery twice so close together.
I just get concerned because PT makes the pain worse and am afraid of the joint getting loose again.
I do use an ice machine as well.

Good evening @dmk. Thanks for your response and evident patience with recovery and rehabilitation. You will be a big part of the success of a TKR. Please prepare by having your legs and body in the best shape they can be. So many of us get a little too anxious to hit the golf course again or enter too many dance contests (just teasing). The really important aspect is to proceed slowly. Learn to ride the stationary bike with ease before you take off on a 10-mile mountain bike event. Find an MFR therapist who can help you avoid unwanted and unnecessary pain from scar tissue at the incision. Use some more ice water baths from the cryo cuff machine (that sounds cool.). As far as clothes go....stay comfy with good supportive shoes.

You probably won't need a walker very long. You may need bars in the shower and a raised toilet seat. I also found that a pillow to use under your knee helps you sleep better.

And most of all...be kind to yourself.
Chris

@ltsally Thanks for your response, I expected that your shoulder might need a lot of work to keep up with your game. For the rest of your life sounds like a sentence of some kind. I do Yoga every morning and try to walk a mile or two a day along the great Mississippi River. We are putting in a special bridge this spring so we can take the side by side down to the river's edge from our own yard. I am a lot older than you, however. Very proud of you......keep it up. You set a good example.

Would you mind sharing some of your exercises? I am sure others would like to know what worked for you.

May you protected from inner and outer harm.
Chris