Severe pain 5 weeks post op reverse shoulder replacement

What do your surgeon and his team have to say?

in 2023 I had 3 surgeries in 6 weeks for my reverse total shoulder replacement. I kept dislocating the shoulder, unknowst to me 'til I went back after 1 week for xray. Doc tried using thicker spacer between socket and ball, then went to larger ball, which seemed to end dislocation. Then in 2024 it was discovered that I had a fungal infection in the shoulder. That took 6 months of vorcanzole. Then Nov 2024, I dislocated while reaching across my chest to get a sheet of paper. While in ER, I reached out for my cokes and the shoulder relocated on its own.

Then in April 2025, I was having pain in the shoulder, went to the doc who prescribed a cortisone
shot. No relief. 3 months later, another shot, no relief.
So, by end of July I was in agony 80% of the time, could not use my right arm.
While on a Vking riverboat cruise from Paris to Normandy ; I was able to handle the trip with OxyContin, for the most part. Getting in and out of the airplane seats and reaching for the seat belt to my right brought tears to my eyes.
When we got home I was referred me to an orthopedic clinic in Orlando.
We were there 20 minutes when the doc showed us the xray...1 broken screw (say about a number titanium) and the ball assembly loose. The cause of all the pain.
2 weekslater, Nov 20, the doc pulled out the shoulder replacement items, put in a ceramic, porous ball spacer saturated with antibacterial and sewed me back up.
He cultured the joint fluid and found no bacterial infection, but I still had a fungal infection.
So, more antifungal meds.
March 20 the doc put in all new components....!
May 1 I /26 start rehab for 4 to 6 weeks.
Although many go well ; it can quite a trialled

Wow! You’ve been through a lot.

I forgot to mention that I’ve had 1 sets of x-rays since my surgery, both showing everything is I. It’s proper place.

I’m waiting on a call to schedule a visit with my surgeon. 🤞🙏

See reply sorry.

@marcief X-rays might not be the right kind of diagnostic tool if the hardware is OK and there is no infection. I had severe pain. My surgeon ruled out infection and took x-rays every time I complained but all showed ok to him. He simply refused to discuss my obvious soft tissue and nerve complications since the RSA. If your issue is similar, you need someone who will listen to you, order some soft tissue diagnostics and take it from there.
I am finally (11 months from surgery) getting some help by a chiropractor who uses cranio-sacral technique and kinesiology. My chronic cervicogenic nerve pain had spread to trigeminal nerves because of muscle spasm since surgery. The brachial plexus was also aggravated during the RSA surgery: probably the traction during the procedure, findings I researched in the literature show nerve pain happens to 21% women but usually resolves within 6 months. Unfortunately mine didn't, likely because I had pre-existing cervical (neck) nerve pain. My new practitioner is helping with that after only two sessions. I went for MRI yesterday to investigate vascular compression of trigeminal nerves. The Trigeminal neuralgia is part of my central nervous system's reaction to the severe pain and bilateral trapezius spasm I experienced for the first 3 months.
Now? At 11 months I still can't sleep on the RSA side. My function and nerve pain has started to improve with the new chiro doctor's help and I'm still hoping the pain in the shoulder will reduce. It is about the same as before surgery. Let us know how your surgeon visit goes? Good luck with it all.

@debhunter oh my goodness! I’m so sorry this happened to you! I had OT this afternoon and was to,Le my flexion is good, but it’s not without a lot of pain.

I’m waiting to hear from scheduling for an appointment with my surgeon and I’m going to make sure we discuss possible soft tissue issues.

EDIT: that a should be *2* sets of x-rays.