Reverse shoulder replacement: Set back with pain: Disheartened

three and a half weeks ago

Welcome to our Mayo Connect community. I'm sorry you are having a setback after surgery. What causes it can be a mystery, but most of us experience it at some point - anything from tweaking it with a wrong move, to nerve pain that is a part of healing, to changing barometric pressure causing pain, to a virus attacking ...

If it does not resolve in a day or two, or if there is any redness/warmth at the incision site, it is time to call the doctor. Have you let the surgeon know?
Sue

no, i just thought because the weather turned super cold and im not sleeping, its so dissappointing!

But it will get better! after 3 weeks, your body is just beginning to heal. As you feel better and try to do more each day, sometimes the body rebels and says "No, back off!" We always think we will be the exception and heal instantly, but...
Hang in there!
Sue

3 1/2 weeks way early. Cryocuff machine was my lifesaver and sleeping in recliner as instructed for 8 weeks. Assume you have started therapy. Hopefully you have a one on one same therapist each time. I found that two days therapy in a row was too much so always staggered days. It took 3 1/2 months before I could drive. It’s the hardest of the joint replacements. I was in therapy for a year. My surgeon would take X-rays at every visit to make sure hardware was good. My total knee was a breeze in comparison. Your therapist if a good one will be your lifeline. I used to bring a pillow in car for my arm.
Hang in there. It’s a long long journey. Invest in theraband pulleys which I still do daily since my reverse total shoulder in 2019. We have to work hard as I continue to date my pulleys therabands and weights daily. So early yet for you.
Slow recovery process but worth it in the end. Keep the faith! Recovery is not a sprint but a marathon, one day at a time.

I had a shoulder revision from a standard to a reverse shoulder on 11/9/2022. The stem was stuck and surgeon had to break my arm in 2 places to get it out. I have been having extreme nerve pain since beginning 2 weeks ago. Help! Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Hi @bionicwoman (love the username), I moved your message about nerve pain from a shoulder revision to this existing discussion:
- Reverse shoulder replacement: Set back with pain: Disheartened: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/set-back-with-pain/

I did this so you can easily connect with others like @harasguido @sueinmn @dmk and others.

Having to get your arm broken in 2 places sounds awful. Have you talked to the surgeon about the nerve pain?

Yes I have let the surgeon know about the nerve pain. He ordered steroids which helped some, but not enough. I am getting worse pain now, but he's been out of the country this week. Had blood work done today, to check for infection.

Just wondering how limited your movement is after TSR? What can you do\not do compared to before?

From my experience once surgeon did his thing and monitored me with X-rays before every visit and things were good my therapist was my go to for all issues. He was able to address nerve issues as well, his credentials outstanding.
Surgeon said it’s okay to cross my legs if I want. I have been able to do stairs have two flights stairs. Did almost 4 mile walk this past summer without issue. Having said all that recently had some ortho surgery on hand had to remain quiet still for two weeks which did not allow me to continue my daily exercise regimen for both my RTS and TKR. No pain in knee but got stiff so I took one day at a time am working my way to where I was before, so far it’s working. These joint replacements require a lot of maintenance in my experience. I can kneel on my knee too. It’s a lifetime marathon. Best to all going through joint replacements.
Working to get strength back in RTS as well that’s going a little slower but am noticing progress