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Shoulder Replacement: Still having pain
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 10, 2023 | Replies (80)Comment receiving replies
Hello @rascal1. I'd like to invite a few members who have undergone a shoulder replacement and could share their experience with recovery. @steeldove, @edithmiller, and @mimi99 have discussed having shoulder replacements and may be able to share what their recovery was like.
@rascal1, while we wait for others to share their recovery experience, have you had time to discuss your ongoing pain with your surgeon? How extensive is the PT for a replacement? I had my rotator tear repaired in 2018 and I am still working my way back to this day. Is the recovery time projected to be long?
Replies to "Hello @rascal1. I'd like to invite a few members who have undergone a shoulder replacement and..."
Are you still in pain from your rotator cuff repair in 2018 or is it range of motion you’re working on?
I was a little over ambitious with exercise after 6 weeks, and I managed to have the ball move out of place. I also remember stretching very hard from the driver’s side of the car over to the passenger side floor to pick up something off the floor about six weeks after surgery. The shoulder never felt ok after that, and it eventually collapsed with the ball Coming out of joint. I had a redo of the surgery, and all is ok now. You are doing lots of therapy.....have you considered imaging to be sure everything is In Its proper place? I have had a total of three reverse shoulder replacement surgeries: both shoulders and the right one twice because of the redo. I’m doing ok now. Good luck.
I have discussed my ongoing pain and difficulties with my Dr. several times. With very little support. They prescribed a prednisone 6-pack which I was able to refill, however after 2 of them, I'm still in severe pain and have very little use of my arm. It's been 4 months since surgery. I started PT, but have not been able to accomplish much because my arm gets so swollen and painful afterwards. It takes several days for it to calm down. That is, if I take Excedrin, which I'm not supposed to take because of my heart. I am very frustrated at this point and don't know where to turn for help with this.
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Yes, I discussed my pain with my doctor last week and he said it was rather unusual after a total shoulder replacement but everyone has a different tolerance for pain. He upped my tramadol and put me on Advil. Neither of which seem to help. When I go for physical therapy it hurts on my way there let alone while she is doing the exercises with me and the stretches.
I had the surgery on May 21 with some physical therapy in the hospital for three days. Then I went to an inpatient physical therapy facility where I had occupational therapy and physical therapy six days a week.
After three weeks I came home and had physical therapy here for three weeks. Now I’m going to outpatient physical therapy and I’m just not finding any improvement in pain.
I have quite a bit of improvement in motion and movement but the pain keeps me from activities I enjoy.
I’m wondering if anyone else has had this much pain for this long as I find it very discouraging.