Shoulder Replacement

Thanks for your response. I have not been given a choice yet, but wanted to be prepared for that eventuality.
I have read pros and cons of both methods.

Can’t imagine choices as a nurse and someone who had a reverse total shoulder the surgeon should know what you need ?

I believe that in some situations either one would work. It seems to me after limited research that rTSA is used in the majority of cases today.
I am concerned due to the limited amount of long term studies of rTSA patients. I also think that I would prefer the better ROM after aTSA, and I wonder if changing the muscle group that moves the shoulder is preferable.
I like that recovery is easier with rTSA and that the necessity of revision surgery is less frequent.
I’m just beginning my research. My surgery is scheduled for the end on November, 2022.

I’ve not heard of having a choice before why would anyone opt for a reverse total shoulder if a regular total shoulder would work. I think I would just get second opinion. My surgeon said Rts is the most difficult to recover from with TS then a TKR next hardest to recover from with hip replacement being the easiest recovery. I also might add that a good physical therapist is as important as having a good surgeon. PT before therapy is a great tool to hep recover faster. My TKR was some much easier to recover from than my RTS below is X-ray of RTS
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

My limited research indicates that rTSA is sometimes recommended when there is no rotator cuff damage but there is severe arthritis. Do surgeons ever offer both options and explain the differences?

I had previous rotator cuff surgery with a tendon removed before, didn’t last long tears and arthritis caused me to have to have a reverse total shoulder years later when I could not stand pain anymore and went to physician but was unable to fix my subacromial joint which has moderate arthritis. I have no rotator cuff now all began with a bowling injury i did not take care of.

My doctor did give me a choice of regular or reverse. He said my rotator cuff muscles were borderline damaged, and though he could do still a regular now, he could not guarantee how long they would hold, and at some point it when they gave out he would have to do a reverse anyway. So rather than have to go through surgery twice in a few years time, I opted for the reverse, which is what he recommended.

I am 85 years old and my doctor advised me to have a reverse shoulder replacement on the left side. But also the right side is about the same, although the range of motion is better. After the left shoulder replacement he wants to do the right side as well. (Also reverse replacement). Is there anyone who had both shoulders replaced? How was the experience?

Thanks for the response.
Was your surgery completed? If so, how was pain management after surgery and how was the rehab? Does the shoulder feel differently using the deltoid muscle? Are you satisfied with your ROM? What was the best way for you to sleep for the first few weeks?
I’m 73 and generally in good health although I do have osteoporosis.
I’m scheduled for surgery at the end of November. The surgeon said that he would make a recommendation regarding type of procedure after a Cat scan. He said that he doubted that the cuff was damaged but said that reverse might be the way to go.
Most surgeons seem to lean towards reverse even though the procedure has only been used for 20 years and there are few long term studies of outcomes compared to aTSA.

@tfarizona
My reverse TSR surgery was done last October, I felt very little surgical pain, just an overall ache in the shoulder area afterwards. Went home before noon the next day. Used only prescription strength tylenol and naproxen, never needed the tramadol or oxycodone that were prescribed, don't like how they make me nauseous and pain was not that bad. I had an flexible ice pack sent home with me from the hospital and I iced the shoulder constantly. Sleeping comfortably was the only real problem for the first month, because you are limited to being on your back or on your non-surgical side. They fitted me with an immobilizer ("sling thing") at the hospital, which you wear even when sleeping. It's a wide velcro waistband that has a velcro strap that keeps your elbow rigid at your waist, and a removable wrist strap that velcro's onto the front of your stomach. I thought it was great, because you could easily disconnect the wrist strap to prop your elbow on a table for using a computer keyboard or some other hand activity. I was able to do way more than I had expected, and rarely needed any help from my husband for anything. For sleeping, I had a bed wedge under my back and extra pillows around to prop anything that needed adjusting. I used the recliner during the day, but needed the extra bed space at night. Within a day or two, after all the hospital narcotics got out of my system, I felt good enough to do anything that didn't involve the use of my right arm, which had to stay in the immobilizer.

Before my PT started I did the three types of directional pendulum arm dangle exercises that they showed me in the hospital. I did more reps than called for. Started PT at two week out, went very well, by 8-10 weeks I had regained nearly full mobility without pain. I continued at home with band stretch exercises for some weeks after PT was over. My vertical stretch was nearly the same as my other arm. The only difference I could tell, is that small quick rotational movement such as soaping your torso in the shower continues to be slower and more awkward with that arm. At the 9 months point, I was pleased that my surgery was a total success, no arthritis pain, good range of movement, and I think an easier recovery than both my knee replacements.

However, I have now hit a bump. Perhaps because of overuse??? I had been doing a lot of gardening, lifting, carrying heavy pots and water, pulling hoses etc and within just the last three weeks I have had episodes where if I drop or move my shoulder inward quickly, I get a pain that almost feels as if it gets out of joint. I have to shrug the shoulder and use my other arm to move my elbow around to where I can get the pain to stop. We had been out of town on a Canadian fishing trip the last week, so will have to see about a Dr appointment shortly. At times the pain feels much like when you get a really bad leg cramp, and I can feel the tight "hurt line" running down the back of my arm from shoulder to elbow. Once, I got it to stop by just pressing on that line for a bit, but that does not work every time. Kind of mysterious, but I will have it checked out soon. Nothing like it in the first 9 months after surgery.