1. < Joint Replacements

Shoulder Replacement: Still having pain

Posted by rascal1 @rascal1, Jul 15, 2019

I have recently had a total shoulder replacement and continue to have much pain eight weeks later. I wonder if anyone else is experiencing this with their standard shoulder replacement.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.

ltsally | @ltsally | May 10, 2022

Good luck and do let us know what the MRI reveals. Hoping for pain relief.

REPLY
momsys | @momsys | May 10, 2022
In reply to @elainepow1 "I had reverse shoulder replacement March 18th. It seems there is some type of problem because..." + (show)
@elainepow1

I had reverse shoulder replacement March 18th. It seems there is some type of problem because I am dealing with terrible pain and have not slept in weeks. I went back to my surgeon will be a week ago tomorrow. He saw something he did not like on the xray and ordered an MRI. I found out today that will be after Wednesday for scheduling. Gave me a script for Meloxicam and told me to take Tylenol in the afternoon. Nothing for pain. Ugh

No more PT until after the MRI.

Jump to this post

I had two reverse shoulder replacements last year…4 months apart. Seven weeks is not enough time to be out of pain. I went thru 7 months of physical therapy. My doctor moved out of state a week after my last surgery. I am seeing another orthopedic surgeon. I am still not out of pain. Turns out I have heterotopic ossification and notching in one shoulder and have been told I need another major surgery to correct this. The other shoulder has a fractured scapula from the surgery. So, that shoulder also hurts. Give it time to heal. If the pain is still there, An MRI should tell you if there is a problem. Best wishes for a smooth recovery. Just taking it day by day.

REPLY
2 replies
elainepow1 | @elainepow1 | May 11, 2022
In reply to @artscaping "Good afternoon @elainepow1. And I think this is still within the Welcome period so please let..." + (show)
@artscaping

Good afternoon @elainepow1. And I think this is still within the Welcome period so please let me tell you that I am glad to see you on Connect. One reason is that I am also a reverse shoulder replacement patient. My first one was 10 years ago and it appears that I will soon need to have the other one done.

I want to make sure that I have interpreted your words accurately. You have not slept in weeks. It has been about 7 weeks since your surgery. Do you mean you cannot sleep because of a high level of pain? That would certainly be frightening. You need sleep and rest to heal. And yet.... 7 weeks is not a long time to recover from this major surgery. Have you been taking the Tylenol as requested? Since Tylenol is a frequent post-surgery OTC medication for pain during recovery, I am wondering why it hasn't worked for you.

And secondly, I am wondering if you have started PT? Usually, you start with shoulder swirls, gently, gently. And the other follow-up that really helps is an ICE Machine, used as frequently as needed. Were you able to secure and use some form of ice therapy?

Are you living alone Elaine? I remember how meaningful it was to have my friend GiGi stop by every day or so to check on me. She is an RN and was quite helpful.....especially with reminders for good post-surgery care.

And I have a couple more questions.......are you wearing an immobilizer during the day and night? I know they can be cumbersome and yet.......for the protection of your shoulder, they work well. Sometimes at night.....you need to create a special sleeping arrangement with a wedge, a t-shirt put on without using the armholes to keep your arm against your body, or just sitting/leaning back in a recliner.

I hope you will get some answers this week from your surgeon. Would you please let me know the results of your visit. I am not a medical provider just a caring mentor who has been there. When you respond on Connect.....many, many people benefit from your experience.

I look forward to your response and to knowing the MRI findings.

May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris

Jump to this post

I had started PT; however my surgeon told me to refrain until after the MRI. Today is the 8th day of waiting for a MRI to be scheduled. I was directed to remove the immobilizer after 3 weeks. Yes, I use ice, several times a day. .When I lie on my back (only position possible) I have really bad pain under my shoulder blade. I am taking Meloxican for inflammation and Tylenol for pain, which does not seem to help. Yesterday I went to see my PCP and he gave my a prescription med for my pain, only for a few days.

REPLY
elainepow1 | @elainepow1 | May 11, 2022
In reply to @momsys "I had two reverse shoulder replacements last year…4 months apart. Seven weeks is not enough time..." + (show)
@momsys

I had two reverse shoulder replacements last year…4 months apart. Seven weeks is not enough time to be out of pain. I went thru 7 months of physical therapy. My doctor moved out of state a week after my last surgery. I am seeing another orthopedic surgeon. I am still not out of pain. Turns out I have heterotopic ossification and notching in one shoulder and have been told I need another major surgery to correct this. The other shoulder has a fractured scapula from the surgery. So, that shoulder also hurts. Give it time to heal. If the pain is still there, An MRI should tell you if there is a problem. Best wishes for a smooth recovery. Just taking it day by day.

Jump to this post

Thank you

REPLY
mack1946 | @mack1946 | Jul 22, 2022
In reply to @rascal1 "Yes, I discussed my pain with my doctor last week and he said it was rather..." + (show)
@rascal1

Yes, I discussed my pain with my doctor last week and he said it was rather unusual after a total shoulder replacement but everyone has a different tolerance for pain. He upped my tramadol and put me on Advil. Neither of which seem to help. When I go for physical therapy it hurts on my way there let alone while she is doing the exercises with me and the stretches.
I had the surgery on May 21 with some physical therapy in the hospital for three days. Then I went to an inpatient physical therapy facility where I had occupational therapy and physical therapy six days a week.
After three weeks I came home and had physical therapy here for three weeks. Now I’m going to outpatient physical therapy and I’m just not finding any improvement in pain.
I have quite a bit of improvement in motion and movement but the pain keeps me from activities I enjoy.
I’m wondering if anyone else has had this much pain for this long as I find it very discouraging.

Jump to this post

I got a reverse shoulder replacement about 4 years ago and I'm still in pain. I have great range of motion but there is pain. I went to a pain management doctor for a while and she suggested I go to a neurosurgeon. After an MRI shows some issues with C4/C5 and C6/C7 spacing being restricted he wants to open them up and install a plate over them to insure the spacing stays opened. He is saying he feels like there's possible pinched nerves causing the problem. I can't buy that. So I'm trying to make an informed decision on what direction to move in. Research, research and more research.

REPLY
mack1946 | @mack1946 | Jul 24, 2022
In reply to @ellerbracke "Noticed that you specifically addressed non-opioids pain medications. I’ve had 2 separate shoulder repair surgeries, 1..." + (show)
@ellerbracke

Noticed that you specifically addressed non-opioids pain medications. I’ve had 2 separate shoulder repair surgeries, 1 knee arthroscopic surgery, and one knee replacement on the same knee. Plus several dental implants with complications like fractured old tooth that had to be picked out piece-meal, another time infection of the jawbone. So I’ve been taking prescription opioids as needed in 5 instances (2 of the dental implants I did not bother to fill prescription). Mostly the opioids were extremely helpful in controlling pain, as long as taken on schedule and not “as needed” when pain came on. They are also super annoying bc of the constipation side effect. And I think the fear of automatic, unavoidable, prevalent, addiction is sooo overblown. Not sure if you have access to opioids, or if you cannot take them, and I am not familiar with Tramadol. However, Ibuprofen, Advil, or Tylenol do/did absolutely nothing for my post-surgical pain, or even everyday generic pain (Aleve for that).

Jump to this post

The opioid situation is certainly over blown. Government and addicts are responsible for that.

REPLY
mack1946 | @mack1946 | Jul 24, 2022
In reply to @lindzznth "I have discussed my ongoing pain and difficulties with my Dr. several times. With very little..." + (show)
@lindzznth

I have discussed my ongoing pain and difficulties with my Dr. several times. With very little support. They prescribed a prednisone 6-pack which I was able to refill, however after 2 of them, I'm still in severe pain and have very little use of my arm. It's been 4 months since surgery. I started PT, but have not been able to accomplish much because my arm gets so swollen and painful afterwards. It takes several days for it to calm down. That is, if I take Excedrin, which I'm not supposed to take because of my heart. I am very frustrated at this point and don't know where to turn for help with this.

Jump to this post

See a pain management doctor and have him/her burn the nerve going to that shoulder. I've had it done for my neck and it helps for about a year or so. You would be going in as an outpatient and leave the same day. Piece of cake. No recover time at all. Its done with needles. Ask about it.

REPLY
momsys | @momsys | Jul 25, 2022
In reply to @momsys "I had two reverse shoulder replacements last year…4 months apart. Seven weeks is not enough time..." + (show)
@momsys

I had two reverse shoulder replacements last year…4 months apart. Seven weeks is not enough time to be out of pain. I went thru 7 months of physical therapy. My doctor moved out of state a week after my last surgery. I am seeing another orthopedic surgeon. I am still not out of pain. Turns out I have heterotopic ossification and notching in one shoulder and have been told I need another major surgery to correct this. The other shoulder has a fractured scapula from the surgery. So, that shoulder also hurts. Give it time to heal. If the pain is still there, An MRI should tell you if there is a problem. Best wishes for a smooth recovery. Just taking it day by day.

Jump to this post

Scapula is healed. Going to physical therapy and doing well. Right shoulder needs a revision…but pain has subsided so I will wait to jump into another surgery. It has been over a year now. Pain is better and life is good.

REPLY
brichrdramav | @brichrdramav | Jun 9, 2023

I had reverse shoulder replacement going on 4 months ago, I am continuing outpatient therapy two days a week and my reach is at 45% I am told hopefully I will get 70% back, but a lot of the pain gone but still have days pain is terrible, mostly my muscles are the problems cannot reach behind yet. When in pain it is hard to get relief I am on Xarelto and there is limited over the counter that I can take, and doctor does not want give me prescription pain meds, so what do you do, suffer through this process

REPLY
dmk | @dmk | Jun 10, 2023

Cryocuff ice machine was my pain relief. It was awesome for that. I was in therapy for a year couldn’t drive til almost 4 months. It’s extremely hard work on our parts. If surgeon has done their part always tell your therapist issues you are having. Recovery is not a sprint but a marathon. My therapist had me using muscle stimulator did dry needling (not comfortable but results great) my RTS done in 2019 to date I still use pulleys daily, therabands and 5 lb weights. It’s a new normal not suppose to lift more than that because of AC joint that surgeon was unable to fix. Still do dry needling at least every three weeks and taping when pec and deltoid get upset cause of doing work for all the muscles lost but don’t regret doing it. I can reach for things etc no pain Best of luck

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.