When to get a shoulder replacement?

Hello, I've had shoulder replacement in both shoulders, 1 year apart. I had great results, I can do whatever I did before the surgery with barely any pain. I have been doing exercise in the pool 3 times a week this winter. I think Physio was very important to my success. Dr's had told me 6 months to a year and they were pretty much right on. The initial pain after the surgery is really not bad at all, less pain than before the surgery that's for sure. I am known to recovery well and fast after my surgeries, one artificial hip and one resurfaced hip and two shoulder replacements due to arthritis. The recovery is really not that bad if I had to, I would do it again! Good luck

@julesolo
I’ve had multiple shoulder surgeries 50 years ago and doctors have wanted to replace both with artificial joints for decades because of advanced arthritis and deformities. I told them its not going to happen as long as I can tolerate the pain. I’ll keep my original parts even if they don't work like they used too. Who's to say new ones will work any better?
Take care,
Jake

Thank you so much for an informative response. Very helpful - my biggest concern is the recovery period - I am very active on a daily basis and worry about about an extended period of inactivity.

It is hard to generalize, because everyone's surgical experiences, possible complications etc. vary, so will recovery times. I had a reverse TSR and was back to full use and full vertical reach by the 4 month evaluation. Getting rid of the constant nagging arthritic pain was wonderful and I would do it again.

Hi Jake,
Have never had a shoulder surgery, but was advised by three surgeons about six years ago to have back surgery for my constant sciatica down the left leg. Could not walk without pain, and had to stop every 100 yards or so to stretch! Bought an inversion table on the recommendation of a friend. 4 1/2 minutes a day at 80 degrees - it took most of the sharp pain away after a week, and three months later, could walk forever. It's been six years now without any pain.
My shoulder is different - I have constant mild to moderate arthritic pain in the joint. It does not stop me playing my sports - squash, pickleball and golf at the moment - and I have a very good range of motion, so no major rotator cuff damage.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to have a good nights sleep, probably the same for you? That might be my main motivator as things progress pain wise.
Julian

Hi DD,

Yup, the nagging arthritic pain is my main issue, as it affects my sleep. That will be my main motivator for surgery.
May I ask why you had a reverse instead of a regular? Did you have rotator cuff damage and limited range of motion?

Julian

Hi Julian,
Along with the arthritic pain, I lost my ability to raise my right arm high enough for daily tasks like shampooing, combing, using a hair dryer, and could no longer safely carry a cast iron pan or pot of coffee with my right hand alone. A couple of years earlier, I developed a mysterious frozen shoulder - without pain - and with PT got back about 80% of my range of motion. But this time the narrow range of motion was accompanied by that constant nagging arthritic ache. When I had an episode of more intense pain over several days, I decided to opt for the surgery, which my ortho doctor had prescribed for me for bone on bone about a year earlier. I had MRI and CT scans to determine the condition of surrounding tissues, and my rotator cuff was borderline frayed. Dr said I might still have a traditional TSR but he could not guarantee long term good results with that rotator cuff. Since I did not want to go through surgery twice, I agreed with him that a reverse was the better option. Reverse recovery is also faster by a few weeks, because you don't have to wait for the rotator cuff muscles to heal (parts are removed) so you can start PT earlier.
You mentioned the sports you like, and I'm not sure how getting back to quick arm movements and the aim needed for forehand tennis and pickle ball will work without the rotator cuff. Hopefully someone else who has had a successful reverse can speak to that. Personally, I feel I have the range of motion, but not the final quick "pop" needed for good aim, but then again I do not play, so don't know if that could improve with other training.
If you still have a good range of motion and enjoy these kinds of sports, I would hold off on surgery as long as you can, even with a regular TSR you will need many months to fully heal the rotator cuff muscles.

Hi DD,

Wow - I could not have asked for a more comprehensive and clear answer.

I have a full range of motion (at the moment), the main issue is the arthritis. You have given me the information I need for my next discussion with my ortho surgeon. Am going to try PT first to see if strengthening the surrounding muscles will help ease the pain. Nevertheless, I don't want to go past the point of no return with my bone structure that might prevent an optimum surgery result.

Julian

Hello Julian,

My husband had shoulder repair 11/25/24 and is still in quite a bit of pain/discomfort and the doctor told him 6 months to a year for total recovery. He had two fairly good size tears & a cyst. He's 66 and very physical, but more with at-home construction/landscape projects rather than sport functions. The pain prior to surgery got to the point he couldn't do the projects he wanted to do without a lot of pain, so after trying PT at the recommendation of the doctor (& I'm sure insurance) he had the surgery. His has not been a good recovery and the pain much worse that he envisioned. Sleeping has been awful for him and for the first 12 weeks he slept sitting up or slightly reclined with 6 pillows around/under him. Post surgery PT (6 weeks after) was pretty uncomfortable & after 4 weeks of that, the therapist told him he should not be in the amount of pain he was experiencing and before he came back again, he needed to go back to the surgeon for re-evaluation. Doctor ordered an MRI with contrast only to find there were two more smaller tears and osteoarthritis with didn't show up on the first MRI (without contrast). Not sure why they didn't do the first MRI with contrast since it obviously gave better information. Doctor said he didn't feel that doing another surgery would be beneficial but when we questioned him about the osteoarthritis as well, he said he could do a reverse shoulder replacement but although they have had much success with that procedure, my husband would only be able to lift 5 lbs for the rest of his life! Obviously, my husband was not happy to hear that. Regular shoulder replacement didn't seem to be an option due to the multiple tears in the rotator cuff. So, doctor suggested that he go back to PT but with a different facility that his other patients have had good results with. So, that it what he is doing at this time. The therapist did ask my husband if he'd considered getting a second opinion. We decided he would give 8 weeks of PT a try to see if there was any improvement, but if not, he will seek a second opinion.
My husband said he wished he'd never gotten the surgery and dealt with the pain longer. Eventually he knows he would have needed the surgery, but it would have been after all the "projects" were done. (If there is such a thing as ever being done with projects.)
Doctor said as far as paint and recovery goes with surgeries, shoulders are worst, then knees, then back. I've had both knees replaced (has some trouble/setback with my left one) but after seeing what my husband is going through, I'd 100% agree with his comment. My husband has had two back surgeries and said they were mild compared to what he's experiencing now. A full year or longer will be his recovery time.
Best wishes to you.

Hi Jayne,

Thank you for taking so much time to write a comprehensive response. I am so sorry that your husband is not having a good result. Most of the research I have done seems to indicate that the vast majority of patients are absolutely delighted with the result once they have healed.
As my issue is arthritis and not rotator cuff damage (minor, but not significant) I am a candidate for the regular replacement rather than the reverse. I would definitely get a second opinion and MRI or Scan to find out what the underlying issue is with your husband. It doesn't sound right, and the surgeon might be covering up for something.
Good luck, and thanks again.
Julian