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Say no to reverse shoulder replacement

Posted by koneil @koneil, Mar 11 11:28am

Is anyone else regreting their decision to have a reverse total shoulder replacement?
I am about 9 months post surgery. The pain in my right shoulder has not been relieved. In fact it's much worse than prior to my surgery. I'm also very weak in my right shoulder. The doctor has sent me to PT ever since my surgery. According to my physical therapist , I have a severe deficit in the mobility and strength for my right arm. I have exercised my arm almost every day since my surgery. Does this get any better? It's definitely changed my way of life, driving and cleaning up my house is painful. I vacuumed my house, and I was sore for three days. I hope there are some insights on how to proceed with my recovery.

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hsminc | @hsminc | Jun 4 6:17pm
In reply to @tamkai "It was done by a well known orthopedic surgeon with very good reviews and years of..." + (show)
@tamkai

It was done by a well known orthopedic surgeon with very good reviews and years of joint surgeries. I live in Nebraska. Mayo Clinic in Rochester would be the ultimate place.

It sounds like you did have a wonderful result. To have 'full function' is amazing - I've never heard anyone say that was their result. Maybe part of the difference was all of my tendons/ligaments/ rotator cuff were damaged or torn completely from my fall.
Do you know what brand of prosthesis was used?

It is amazing that you didn't have PT for any of your replacements. I definitely needed it for my bilateral knee replacements.
Glad you are doing so well.

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If I am reading the operative notes correctly, the brand name may have been Stryket.
I know the surgeon used a special CT planning station. That was not covered by my BCBS insurance.

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kar50 | @kar50 | Jun 5 10:31am

I am sorry you are experiencing this. I have put off any kind of shoulder repair or surgery due to concerns such as you are having.
I'm looking into PRP and hyaleronic injections as possible resources.
I wish you luck and improvement.

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tom1536 | @tom1536 | Jun 6 5:13am

I'm sorry you're experiencing prolonged post surgery pain. I had a reverse revision of my left shoulder and within 4 months I was able to play golf again. There must be something else at work in your case.

Unfortunately, I experienced a failure of the revision three and a half years later, owing to C.acnes bacterial infection. I'm in the process now of IV antibiotics and will need another surgery in about 6 weeks. I hope you don't have an infection. Has you doctor ruled it bbn out?

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2 replies
prestol | @prestol | Jun 6 11:21am

I am two and a half weeks post rTSR surgery, and so far so good. After the first three days pain has been manageable on Tylenol only. I started PT after one week, and it is invaluable. I do five home exercises twice a day and my range of motion is already improved. And, I am using the sling for “comfort” only, which is not much at this point. Please don’t be put off by anxiety about complications, which are not typical. If your arthritis pain and joint damage is bad enough, you should get the surgery!

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1 reply
koneil | @koneil | Jun 6 1:06pm
In reply to @tom1536 "I'm sorry you're experiencing prolonged post surgery pain. I had a reverse revision of my left..." + (show)
@tom1536

I'm sorry you're experiencing prolonged post surgery pain. I had a reverse revision of my left shoulder and within 4 months I was able to play golf again. There must be something else at work in your case.

Unfortunately, I experienced a failure of the revision three and a half years later, owing to C.acnes bacterial infection. I'm in the process now of IV antibiotics and will need another surgery in about 6 weeks. I hope you don't have an infection. Has you doctor ruled it bbn out?

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Great that its working out for you! I guess Im just a a number. All the other people I asked for input on the replacement, and that was recieved last month. Good luck with your recovery.

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koneil | @koneil | Jun 6 1:10pm
In reply to @tom1536 "I'm sorry you're experiencing prolonged post surgery pain. I had a reverse revision of my left..." + (show)
@tom1536

I'm sorry you're experiencing prolonged post surgery pain. I had a reverse revision of my left shoulder and within 4 months I was able to play golf again. There must be something else at work in your case.

Unfortunately, I experienced a failure of the revision three and a half years later, owing to C.acnes bacterial infection. I'm in the process now of IV antibiotics and will need another surgery in about 6 weeks. I hope you don't have an infection. Has you doctor ruled it bbn out?

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An infection can develope with or without antibiotics. Once again I was
not offered an food or drink.
I'm glad your recovery is going well
koneil

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ddsack | @ddsack | Jun 7 8:27am
In reply to @prestol "I am two and a half weeks post rTSR surgery, and so far so good. After..." + (show)
@prestol

I am two and a half weeks post rTSR surgery, and so far so good. After the first three days pain has been manageable on Tylenol only. I started PT after one week, and it is invaluable. I do five home exercises twice a day and my range of motion is already improved. And, I am using the sling for “comfort” only, which is not much at this point. Please don’t be put off by anxiety about complications, which are not typical. If your arthritis pain and joint damage is bad enough, you should get the surgery!

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@prestol, it is so good to hear you are doing so well and had a positive outcome. Thanks for reporting back about your surgery.

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bionicwoman | @bionicwoman | 6 days ago
In reply to @koneil "Thank you for the reply,blitheone. Mine initially came from a fall out of a helicopter (..." + (show)
@koneil

Thank you for the reply,blitheone. Mine initially came from a fall out of a helicopter ( it wasn't like black hawk down).
So mine was a traumatic injury.
I had rotator cuff surgery along with many others.The rotator cuff was completed then revised. Then disappeared. I was in pain and my orthopedic doctor discussed the reverse shoulder replacement. I lived a couple if years with a bad shoulder, and I finally agreed to have the RTSR September of 24. As my last entry stated, it has not improved my life. I'm. still of the opinion that this surgery was not for me.
Ive accepted that I will never have a painless shoulder.
Once again, thank you for your reply.

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You might have your nerves in your shoulder/arm checked out. I was in so much pain after my RTS I couldn't see straight let alone move my arm. After I got a EMG did they find a pinched nerve in my axilla. After surgery to get the nerve untrapted, it was a game changer. I could actually use my arm and shoulder again.

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