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Shoulder replacement: Post-surgery suggestions

Joint Replacements | Last Active: Feb 17, 2023 | Replies (32)

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@dtwo

Hello all - it has been six months since I fractured my shoulder in a fall and had partial replacement surgery. I guess I am reaching out to vent/share because I feel totally alone on this. I'm 58 and never had a broken bone prior to this. I tried to sleep in a recliner/couch for the first four months and was lucky to get more than two hours consecutive sleep. Once I got out of the sling I gradually weaned myself back to the bed but still only 2-3 hours max sleep even with Ambien. The biggest thing is it was my left shoulder, the side that I slept on for over 40 years!
I went to PT for approx. 25 visits and have about 105 degrees of mobility with my arm straight out. I still have significant pain and swelling on top of my collar bone when I try to use my arm to much.
I have been taking Norco 10.325 1/2 a pill every 12 hours and about the 9 hour mark it was almost unbearable. Everyone says I should not be having this much pain still, something must be wrong, get a second opinion, etc. I ran out of pain meds 4 days ago and have been taking Aleve with little effect. I feel like I could do much better with two pills a day, one every 12 hours. But I don't want to get addicted to the pain meds. I have a doctor appoint today but I don't know if they will give me another prescription.
I have read online that it takes as long as a year or more to recover from this type of surgery. So I don't understand why everyone is expecting me to be back to normal and pain free.
Thank you for reading and listening.

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Replies to "Hello all - it has been six months since I fractured my shoulder in a fall..."

@dtwo Thank you for posting this "disappointing" story. My goodness, you have suffered for six months. My experience with a reverse total shoulder replacement had a few wrinkles along the way but nothing like you have told. I had Dilaudid immediately after surgery and the first week I was home. I used the ice machine frequently and tried to stay in the stabilizer sling as much as possible. Sleeping wasn't the comfiest because of the rigidity of the sling.

So tell me, what is partial about the surgery? I have no medical background so I cannot read X-rays or scans. Who is "everyone" mentioned in line 7 of your post? Is it a constant burning pain, or a sharp sudden pain? Are you keeping a journal or at least writing down your experience to give to medical providers? That can be helpful.

What did your surgeon tell you when you relayed the information that you were still in pain 6 months after surgery? I will be adding you to my waiting list which means I am waiting to hear about your appointment. Be pain-free this evening. Chris