Good afternoon @martydav Welcome to Connect from someone who has had a few shoulder surgeries and an elbow with several fractures as the result of a fall down the mountain. I ended up having a reverse shoulder replacement on my dominant shoulder because the shoulder bone came out of the socket and the rotator cuff was destroyed....meaning that it would not support a shoulder replacement that was dependent on a healthy rotator cuff.

You also mention that pain meds tear up your stomach. I have been down that path also and had to make a U-turn because my intolerance was a major factor in the issues surrounding my recovery from the transplant surgery.

And now...here is the surprise. I have two nurse friends who watched me struggle. They asked, "what do you do in the middle of the night when the pain keeps you awake?. I responded.....”I just sit on the edge of the bed and cry.”

Immediately, I was introduced to medical cannabis. Slowly, with their guidance, and knowledge, folks in the dispensaries helped me make choices about more than just freedom from pain. That was several years ago and I am still walking the same pain relief path. The options have increased and the quality of the products has risen consistently. If you are interested in more information about managing your pain in this manner, please just reply with a positive message and I will do whatever I can to help you.

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