Success stories: Reverse shoulder replacement surgery

Very likely your shoulder structure will continue to deteriorate and arthritic pain will increase with time. How fast this happens is very individual, and hard to predict, maybe you will be lucky and stay in a holding pattern. Your doctor can give his input, but the decision should be yours, don't be hurried until you feel you want it.

When my doctor said I was a good candidate for a RTSR, I was hoping to hold off for another year. But after a few months, the cortisone shots quit helping. I developed constant dull shoulder pain day and night, limited range of movement, sometimes even picking up a coffee cup caused me difficulty. Then I had a day with so much shoulder pain I had to ice it every time I sat down. That day finally made me decide to have the surgery, because I did not want to see that much pain in my future. I am very happy with the results of my reverse TSR, have good range of motion and no pain.

Greetings @wolfie59 and welcome to Connect. As you have already experienced, there are quite a few folks who can help you understand your options about Reverse Shoulder surgery. I actually had three surgeries........and the .first was an attempt to repair the rotator cuff. My surgeon called it "The Grand Canyon of Holes" and of course it didn't work. Even before that surgery, my insurance company made me try Opioids, PT, and Acupuncture before they would even approve the first surgery.

The second attempt was a cadaver graft and I think the outcome was even worse. Finally, my surgeon chatted with the insurance company. He actually sat on the floor and pulled out all the stops to get approval for the reverse. He got it.

Then he called me to come down the mountain to sit and watch a video of the surgery with him. The reverse is a surgery that was initiated and developed in France and only came to the University of Washington until it proved to be successful here in the US. One of the reasons my surgery approval was such a battle was because, at 70, I wasn't old enough. They didn't want me to have post-surgery issues and complaints which would then necessitate greater coverage.

The bottom line.....the surgery went well and the recovery with an ice machine and PT left me pain-free even today and I will be 80 tomorrow.

Is there any other kind of information that you feel would be helpful?

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

Hello! Had a reverse shoulder replacement in the begging of Dec. still having pain top of shoulder, hard to sleep and wake up hurting. Not sure whats going on.!Last year had my right shoulder replaced it went smooth was out of PT early! Pain under arm,raise lymph nodes, pain on top of shoulder, Take muscle relaxant to sleep try not to use very often. Any ideas on pain of left shoulder its been 6 months!!

Wow! You are lucky. I had shoulder replacement and then the reverse replacement 15 years ago. I remember hurting a lot for a month and then it began to ease up a little. But it still hurt quite a bit for another 6 months Maybe it took so long to heal because I had had such a tough time after the accident . I had no collarbone and they did several bone grafts in that area. My shoulder kept dislocating and they tried surgery to repair it. Together I had surgery on my shoulder 4 times before the reverse replacement. But now it rarely hurts at all and I'm glad I had such excellent care from my doctors in Georgia!!.

Good evening and thank you for your positive message about the results of your reverse shoulder replacement (RSR). My medical diary has a very similar chapter. Multiple surgeries (3) to try and repair a shoulder injury and dislocation that happened when I fell down a mountain.
The reverse replacement has given me a pain-free shoulder. Although I look a little funny trying to eat an ice cream cone with my right hand...... I can do my Yoga stretches without moaning and groaning from discomfort. I too am impressed with both the obvious surgical experience and the empathic care I received from my surgeon and his "team".

May you continue to have happiness and the causes of happiness.
chris

Hello to you @mom69. It is regretful that your left shoulder replacement is still giving you pain and interrupting your sleep. If nothing else, you know you need the sleep. Since you had your right shoulder replaced the year before, you certainly learned about ice machines and the necessity to use ice at least 3 or 4 times a day. I'm wondering, how do you sleep? Do you have a supportive wedge or another pillow that can support your shoulder better? Have you tried putting on a shirt or sweater without putting you arms into the sleeves.. Sometimes that seems to hold the shoulder closer to your body so it stays "out of trouble".

If you use a muscle relaxant is that for the muscles and tissue around the surgery? What about the bone material? Does that need some attention? I'm wondering if you have ever used either medical cannabis tincture or topical? My pain from orthopedic surgery (2 of those this year) and Small Fiber Neuropathy is controlled by medical cannabis. It takes a while to find the right products and dosages. Yet once you do....relief is just a few minutes away for most levels of pain.

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

Hi, I have end-stage arthritis and a torn rotator cuff in my dominant (right) shoulder. I need a reverse shoulder replacement. I am 68 1/2 years old. My second opinion surgeon said it would be ideal for me to wait until I reach age 70. The surgeon I am seeing said he doesn't see a big issue here. My fear is that I will live to an advanced age, and will have to have a second surgery on the shoulder--that is the argument for waiting as long as possible.
Does anyone have thoughts on this? Not looking for a medical opinion as much as how to interpret the different opinions for two competent surgeons, both of whom I trust.

Try ponchos or beach coverups.

Welcome @sandradibble. So happy to see your post on Connect. As you will realize, we are folks who believe that by sharing our experiences, we just might be able to help others. Knowledge from everywhere rolls in and out......you will meet some very supportive folks.

So let's review what you are looking for.......and that appears to be about timing for a RSR on your right shoulder. Your second opinion clinician feels you should wait about 18 months until you are 70 so you won't need a second surgery as you grow older.

I will share this with you.......I had my first and only reverse shoulder replacement when I was 68 and I am now 80. I should tell you that the reverse was my third surgery on my dominant shoulder. The attempt at repairing the rotator cuff failed. My surgeon called it the grand canyon of holes. My second surgery was a failed attempt at using cadaver material. And at the time, the idea of the reverse was just arriving in the US from France. Only the Univ. of Washington was performing that surgery. It was a pretty big deal then and getting insurance to cover it was a huge challenge that my surgeon took on personally. The insurance companies did not want folks who were too old and who might need some repair work done.

So the party began in the surgery room, complete with engineers from the manufacturer and other curious onlookers. The surgery went well......my surgeon came to my room in the evening to make sure I was o.k. and would be able to sleep. The recovery with PT was interesting because there wasn't any regimen yet. My PT and my surgeon would review my progress and decide what was next.

Here's the bottom line Sandra......my shoulder continues to be strong and healthy. In fact, since then I have had another fall and am just starting to discuss a second reverse on the left side. The rotator cuff repair has begun to falter.

I hope this helps you choose the option that will be best for you. And I will be right here along with others on Connect who have had this surgery. We all can share some "tips and tricks" for pre and post-surgery suggestions that just might be helpful.

Do you have help at home? One of my best friends just drove up, came into the house, and jumped in the bed with me. The next day she had me out walking the puppy dogs.

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

Good morning Chris, thank you telling me of your experience. It really helps to hear from someone who has had the surgery. Your surgeon sounds wonderful and caring. And I bet your positive attitude really helped.
No, I do not have help at home, and wonder how long I might need help once I do this. So that is the other big factor. I am pretty independent, and don't want to ask--but I'm guessing I'll need some assistance.
Sandra