Shoulder Replacement: Still having pain

Hi colski,

I can only offer my experience and suggestion to have frank and open conversations with your PCP and surgeon.

I had fairly severe pain for only a few days after surgery. I was able to get by with NSAIDs for the most part with only occasional use of an opioid. I have kidney issues also but only stage 1 and am also encouraged to avoid NSAIDs but I cheat. I probably wouldn't do that if I had more severe kidney problems.

I'm not a doctor or a physical therapist but I think it is much too early to be concerned about ROM. For both a rotator cuff surgery 10 years ago and my recent total shoulder replacement, all therapy was passive movement by the therapist. After six weeks I began assisted movement also with a PT. Only then did I start to find out where I was with ROM. I was more or less finished with therapy at about 16 weeks post surgery and I've tried to continue stretching and weight work.

If you're seeing a physical therapist, have an open conversation with him/her about your problem.

I think if you get your pain level tolerable, with patience, everything should go better.

Just remember I'm not a doctor and hopefully my comments might give you some encouragement but they can't substitute for proper medical advice from a physician.

God speed and best wishes.

Mitchell

Good morning @colski, Thanks @johnbishop for the introduction. Welcome to Connect. Yes......total shoulder replacement. I must say that the level of pain you are experiencing at 5 weeks is unusual. Before we dig a little further for appropriate feedback, please tell us if you have had discussions about the status of your shoulder with medical practitioners. Has a PT indicated that s/he recognizes anything that might require a visit with the surgeon? Sometimes PTs notice and can engage the medical team.

By the way.....how many pendulums are you doing? They do help. Are you using any electrical stimulation with ice around your shoulder? Is it your dominant arm? How are you sleeping......and in what position? Do you use wedge support of any kind?

And the last one........are you wearing a brace or mobilizer of any kind?

There will be brighter days @colsk. As soon as I see your reply, I can find some members with similar experiences to share. We are a very happy family with lots of ideas. None of us have medical backgrounds or training. We have just been there!

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

I see the surgeon again next week. The last visit he said everybody heals differently and experieces pain differently. He said the xray looked good. I finished wearing the sling last week. I sleep mostly on my back. I am right handed and the left side had the surgery. The whole time in the sling, I slept with a body pillow on the left side to support the arm and prevent me from turning over on to it. I don't count the pendulums. I do my exercises all different times of the day. I exercise as long as I can without the pain taking over completely. I really don't sleep well. Go to bed about 10:30 and am up between 3-4 a.m. I use a Tens unit, ice, and heat. I also massage it a lot to try to ease the pain.

I have completed 9 PT sessions. Working with a pulley. PT has me lie on a table and helps me to move the arm up , back and around. I can hold it up for 10 seconds only. He also massages my arm to try to loosen the muscles in the arms and around the scar tissue. There is a hard lump at the bottom of the incision by the underarm that he is trying to relax. It has gone down a little over the 9 PT times.

I'm looking for relief and want to get back to being normal again.
Carol

I am not sure how long it has been since your surgery. I find myself always anticipating recovery well before the professionals expect it. It is possible that you are doing too much exercising for where you are in the healing process. I like how well you have done in maintaining your arm’s position while sleeping. I slept in a big easy chair recliner when I was restless or could not seem to position myself correctly. I encourage you to be good to yourself and your shoulder. Baby it a bit. I don’t hear anything that suggests you are shirking on exercise. Also, ice packs help. Or the machine that forces cold water thru padding, if you have one, is absolutely divine. So, take some deep breaths, be good to yourself and allow your body to heal without being so hard on yourself. I hope this helps!

Thank you anncgrl. My surgery was September 15th. You sound a lot like me in anticipating recovery to be like now!
Carol

Best plan to stop throbbing pain without
Opiods.

Hello and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, @martydav. You will notice that I moved your question to this existing discussion on shoulder replacement and pain. I did this so you can connect with other members like @colski @artscaping
@johnbishop and @mdgarnett who have similar experiences with pain after surgery. If you click the VIEW & REPLY button at the bottom of the email, you will be taken to the discussion and you can scroll through past posts.

How long has it been since your shoulder replacement and what is your pain at currently?

Hi @martydav, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @amandajro and other members. My experience is only with a knee replacement but icing and elevating were two important aspects for me to keep the pain and swelling down. I've read cold therapy with cryocuffs or ice bags should be used to keep down pain after shoulder replacement surgery (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/orthopaedic-surgery/specialty-areas/shoulder/treatments-procedures/total-shoulder-replacements.html).

Have you talked to your surgeon or care team for suggestions?

Yes. I use ice and heat, but it is so temporary.
Pain meds tear my stomach up.
Was hoping someone had something out of the norm.

Sept. 17 was my surgery. The PT is brutal.
I also have screws and plate in my elbow.
Pain meds tear up my stomach.