PT problem after reverse shoulder replacement

@dmk
Thank you for sharing the journey. I wish you continue healing .

@mreece2035

My surgeon thought it was too risky. He said if there was any more damage to the shoulder, there would be no way to repair it. He did repair the biceps that was also torn when I fell.
My repaired arm is about 2 inches longer than the other arm. But no one notices.
I did physical therapy with the first surgery - the total shoulder replacement. I it was likely helpful but very painful.
I’ve done exercises daily myself and have very good forward range of motion. I am regaining strength.
I also had combined carpel tunnel release, CMC arthroplasty, and deQuervain’s repair in early September as it was already scheduled and I had met my insurance OOPs for the year. And I have done my own PT on it also. I’m very disciplined and both surgeons are extremely pleased with my progress. They have both released me unless I have any problems.
Considering what I’ve been through, I think I have healed well. I’ve always been active and healthy.
All of this too shall pass. I am at peace with all of it.
Thank you for asking.
Have you had TSR or RSR?

@dmk
How far past your surgery did this become a problem. I am year out- 4 months out, I had an episode of locking up, and I continue to do so with varying degrees fron a click, to bending over in discomfort to get my arm functional again. My surgeon has had no good responses to this. At my year follow up , I jumped up and down (over the phone) to get a xray done, which showed nothing. My surgeon is fairly done, and is doesn't seem like there is widespread experience with it. Thank you so much for sharing that - if nothing else having some idea of a cause. When it happens, i feel it in different difeerent spots from the top of the bicep, to mid arm in the bicep, to mid arm tricep. Was tours similar?
Thanks again, Bruce 71 yr old, formerly active.

Yes that sounds similar. It takes finding the right surgeon for diagnosis locking for me started end 2021 and I also been complaining of a slight impingement feeling. I had military surgeon and am followed yearly with X-rays for my RTS & TKR. Also I have been with my same awesome physical therapist who tried to keep pain controlled since 2019. Anyhow the surgeon who was following me kept seeing me taped up and sent me to an outside ortho surgeon with more experience with RTS who diagnosed the conjoint tendonitis, gave me the offer of a one time injection which I took and was awesome but as predicted it only lasted 3 months and 2 weeks. I’d asked him couldn’t he release the tendon surgically. He said there was an experimental surgery that was being done for the last few years but he had never done it. So I was then sent to another military surgeon for yet another opinion and he felt comfortable doing the release of the conjoint tendon even though he had never done it before. So he did the surgery to release the tendon and also cut off some of my clavicle again as it had been done back in 2007 but grew back. So far I do not feel the impingement anymore, am still with my physical therapist and arm so far surgery was in Aug no locking anymore. My measurements have been the best ever. I just need to learn and accept my limitations. Little bits cleaning at a time only lifting 2lbs now. When I had CMC surgery I haven’t got back all my strength but told not to lift more than 5lbs ever since my original RTS. TYPE IN CONJOINT TENDONITIS POST RTS and read about it

@dmk @reversed
Ah. Same problems here. Surgeon disinterested.
Try this article on release of the conjoint tendon: < https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10426463/ >
My reverse shoulder replacement was done 23 May 2025 because of arthritis and a reinjury to the rotator cuff that could not be repaired. Since surgery I have severe pain, far worse than before. I faithfully did my exercises as instructed, but they resulted in torn anterior deltoid, adding to my misery. By 4 months after surgery I had reduced the pain by avoiding the rehab exercises and I could drive. But there’s ongoing muscular pain in deltoids and severe pain in rhomboids, greatly restricted RoM, pain deep inside joint, hurts driving, can't pull pants up, can't lie on the operated side. I could go on. I am so upset and so weary of all the pain, which I expected would be reduced compared to before surgery, when I rehabilitated. Heat packs on the shoulder whenever I am sitting are essential.
I found out about conjoint tendonopathy months ago. I got a new physio, she understands and is doing her best. While I have rehabilitated the torn muscle, I can't go back to my active life due to poor shoulder function. Pain is preventing normal RSR rehab exercises and I can't do strength training.
I am in regional Australia. RSR itself is new here and conjoint tendon release is not done here at all. I used to be a strong active outdoor adventurer, now at age 69 it is suddenly over.

My PT trainer said the shoulder riding up in a "shrug" is a stronger muscle compensating for a muscle that needs strengthening. I have to stand looking at a mirror and conscioiusly use a shoulder muscle to hold my repaired side down while flexing my back muscles until this shrugging tendency stops. It is work in PT and exhausting, but must not stop rehab.

My shoulder surgery was October 15. Full shoulder replacement. Doing PT two days a week.