Shoulder Bone-on-bone surgery alternative for seniors

Can you share info on the clinics that may offer these services?

fractured left shoulder 5 yrs. ago. Dr. would not operate due to age. Do shoulders exercises etc. all I can do.
Still cannot raise the left arm and will always have the pain that goes with it.

Good advice dmk, especially for shoulder replacement. I've been through knee and hip replacement, and had my left shoulder replaced 2 months ago.

All of these surgeries stopped a lot of pain, especially my shoulder. I am finding that recovery/rehab for my shoulder will take a lot longer than for my knees and hip.

I've got my range of motion back (I had the surgery almost 8 weeks ago) and am now starting work on strength with my PT. This last stage is just gonna take time and I need to be careful and not do anything stupid (that's an elevated danger for me........). I'm 70 y/o and very fit, in the gym every day, so the surgery presented a challenge and an opportunity.

I still find icing, especially after doing rehab exercises, to be terrific at providing some relief. I also reassure myself that any pain/stiffness/discomfort I get from rehab is NOTHING like the pain and weakness I had before surgery.

Thanks for the reminder!

Joe

@erluke65 sounds like you are doing well in your recovery. I’m glad it is a positive outcome. What inflammatory did your Dr. prescribe? Any side effects? Keeping inflammation down is key to some pain. TIA

I do exercises every day plus ice which keeps the shoulder a little more relaxed! ( Tripped over the cat bed and landed on the base of the office chair. Just a trip not a fall. )

Nothing I can do but keep exercising the left shoulder. I know I must keep moving the left shoulder or it will freeze on
me. Keeping the pain down as much as possible.

@catartist
I HAD REVERSE SHOULDER SURGERY TWO YEARS AGO AT 75. FANTASTIC. PAIN MEDS FOR 4 WEEKS AND REHAB AT HOME. I CAN GO AS HIGH AS THE CEILING AND HAVE TOTAL RANGE OF MOTION. WILL BE DOING NEXT SHOULDER THIS YEAR. GREAT SUCCESS. ICNING AS DIRECTED AND ALL EXERCISES.

@erluke65
Since my last post on Jan 24, I had my second shoulder operated on 8 August 2025. Tomorrow, 18 November, will be my last Physical Therapy session. I have an estimated 95 % range of motion on both shoulders. My surgeon explained that with "Reverse Shoulder replacement" no-one will get back to 100%. However, I will gladly trade that 5% for the quick recovery and the lack of pain from the surgery. BTW: On my second shoulder, I did rent the "NICE therapy recovery" machine. In addition to recommending reverse shoulder surgery, I strongly recommend the NICE therapy recovery machine!!!!!
I fully realize everyone is different and surgeon techniques are different. My advice, research the surgeons in your area that provide shoulder replacement surgeries. Get several opinions!
Good Luck with your shoulder recovery.

@annshrader I realize this comment is a bit old but I'm looking at this subject after postponing it for a year. You make some wonderful ideals that don't necessarily agree with insurance. I've been around some 90+ yo relatives over the last decade. My 90+ uncle was denied a colonoscopy after a history of polyps and now my 96yo mother just had prescriptions pulled by her cardiologist because he was "concerned about her falling." She's the picture of health who still drives, attends PT and weekly hairdresser appts. The system doesn't like exceptions. I wish she wouldn't drive but I'd have to sue her and most likely lose. It's an unpleasant journey watching people you've known since birth wear out. I'm no spring chicken with a long list of surgeries and limitations. I see what's right in front of me. It's like, what's next? Nothing wrong with being nice Ann. This reminds me of my In-laws passing in their middle 90's. It was a long difficult process as my father in law had one cancer treatment after another. My wife was so selfless, being there for years. If I'm ever in his position I'd like to move on. Sorry, this is a difficult, mostly no win story and there are so many caretakers living it day after day. God bless them.

Wow Barbara, and here I thought I was pretty tough.

You take first place! Good for you for doing the bilateral TKR. My brother did that. I did them separately, in 2023 about 4 months apart. This year I had my right hip replaced in March and an anatomical TSR about 3 months ago. I just finished PT for the shoulder.

I'm amazed you had RTS replacements within 7 months. I have a friend at the gym with an irreparable RC and he simply won't get the rTSR. No matter what he says about not being in pain, I think the tough guy is actually afraid of the procedure. And there are exercises he simply can't do, like an incline push up and a complete bicep curl. In the meantime, his RC is getting worse and the joint capsule is filling with scar tissue and fat. Eventually his shoulder will freeze, and then he'll be lucky if he can get a rTSR scheduled within 4 months.

And you are spot on as far as pain relief, which is almost immediate following surgery. If I could one thing differently, I would have had all my replacements done at least 6 months earlier, and spared myself a lot of pain.

Because let's face it, when you have an irreparable RC tear(s) and/or crippling, bone-on-bone arthritis in a shoulder, knee, or hip, the time to do the replacement is when you first feel the pain, and there are no other good options.

Anyway Barbara, thanks so much. You are very courageous and my hero!

What is the physical side effect you're having with your knee? I'm curious because 12 years isn't that long ago.

Anyway, your message of bravery totally made my day. Good for you Barbara!

Joe