@mlross4508 Good morning. My experience has taught me that this treatment, acupuncture, does not last for certain types of issues. Actually, my insurance company insisted that I try the following before they would approve my reverse shoulder surgery. (The first two surgeries, rotator repair, and cadaver grafts had not worked for what my surgeon called the Grand Canyon of holes.) 1. PT, he knew me well and although complying, said my pain was beyond his ability to have an impact with something that severe. Told me to come see him after surgery. 2. Pain pills. My local PCP gave me an RX even though he knew I was totally against opioids and would not take them. At least he could say he tried. 3. Acupuncture. The therapist was also a friend and she told me she could give me about 24 hours and then the pain would come rolling back.

I remember that my surgeon called the insurance company and sat on the floor with the phone for all the delays until he could get approval for the reverse. He kept saying, “ tried that”. So what was the problem? I was too young.

At this time, 2009, the reverse shoulder was new in the US. It was developed in France. Although approved here, the insurance companies were only approving it for folks 80 and older. Hopefully, any complications would not have time to show themselves before the person passed from other causes and would save them $$$.

He got approval for me at 68.......perhaps the youngest ever at that time. Together we watched a video of the surgery. Insurance insisted that an engineer from the company be present during the surgery. It was like being a special guest at a party when they rolled me into the surgical room. And lo and behold, the party continued after recovery.

The anesthesiologist showed up in my room. The surgeon came after his daughters swim meet and sat with me until he was nodding off in the chair. A nurse was at my side until I slept, without Ambien.

One more fact about this surgeon......he would do no more than two surgeries a day. He felt that he wanted to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for his patients. I honor everything he stood for. He has been an amazing resource for me and I ended up referring several other folks who had fallen down a mountain or something else just as risky. They are all climbing again. May you all find resources that free you from suffering. Chris

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