Would like others experience on Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement

Figured out statistically, of course, but thnx for clarifying "stats". That one was puzzling - even for an English major. 🧐

Aloha @hamilton50, still on the Big Island, over 20 years. The problem with the neighbor islands is that many major medical procedures must be done on Oahu. It gets a little more difficult with time, but I guess it's the same in rural communities across the mainland. I enjoy the laid back pace of life here, after the dog eat dog environment I found in the big city. Thanks for sharing your experience on Kauai.

Aloha, mahalo and be well . . .

I had one in my 80's. Mine was absolutely necessary. I get the feeling that your surgeon is pushing for this. My operation went very smoothly though it caused 80% nerve damage in my hand! I spent 6 weeks in a rehabilitation hospital & then had out-patient physical therapy. Recovered a lot of nerve issues in my hand thoughI still cannot close it all the way. If you opt for the surgery, make sure your doctor tells you what you should not do after recovery. Recently, I carried groceries that were much too heavy so now I have some pain (surgery was 2 or 3 yrs, ago. Also, I did not keep up with PT at home & think I should have.

I had it done in 2022 at age 73. Surgery went well, with only one day of pain post-surgery, though my surgeon said that was not the norm. I couldn’t get physical therapy because Medicare only allowed PT on one limb at a time, and I had a hip replaced three weeks later. Even so, by using the arm normally, I achieved almost complete range of motion. It looks really crazy on an x-ray!

Surgery was on nondominant hand. Arm was in sling for 6 weeks, then able to drive as long as not taking any pain meds. Able to do small tasks with hand, cooking would be limited. We did a lot of Door Dash.

Thank you!

I am not a cheerleader. I am going on one year and a half of misery. My arm's nerve was damaged. before the surgery, I think. In any case, I have a tight shoulder sac that "bugs" me every minute I am awake. I can't get treated; the answer is I have a badly damaged or missing axillary nerve--thus lack of full rotation and stiffness. Very small abduction.

I am not a fan, but you may have an entirely different experience. I wish you the best. There is growing evidence that there are more hiccups with this type of surgery than the stats would have you believe. So I will hopefully not break any more bones and be spared another surgery. Yours will come off just fine, I am the statistic.

@ppat4pr I am 84, and seriously considering RTS surgery! Is that what you had that caused nerve damage?

I am new to this group. I am 74, very active, and very discouraged. For many years I have had mild bilateral shoulder pain. When it finally drove me to the doctor, I had xrays:
* 2/29/2024, left shoulder, Moderate hypertrophic degeneration of the left acromioclavicular joint consistent with osteoarthritis. Mild left glenohumeral joint degenerative changes.
* 4/10/2024, right shoulder, Mild acromioclavicular and glenohumeral joint degenerative changes.
* 7/24/2025, following a fall, left shoulder, There is mild glenohumeral and mild to moderate acromioclavicular osteoarthritis. The soft tissues are unremarkable.
I actually have a very good pain tolerance, (I have severe degenerative arthritis in my L knee and I don't even do shots for it) so I was surprised that this was causing me trouble. Nonetheless, I went ahead and had shots in both shoulders at 6 - 8 month intervals which relieved my pain.
Then, 12/19/25, I was heaving some groceries up the stairs and felt my shoulder pop and had immediate, sharp pain. I realized I had done something stupid, and treated with heat and ice. I saw my PCP on 12/30. Even though I had been having difficulty with moving my arm in certain conditions, it was not bad at the time I saw him, and I felt he just wrote it off as complainful. Also, I have always had great range of motion, and that was unaffected. But even though I tried to be careful and continue to let the joint heal, I ending up causing more very painful pops, at increasingly frequent intervals. Finally after 2 1/2 months of increasing pain and decreasing mobility, I returned to my PCP, who thought if was probably just the arthritis, but upon seeing a lump on the front of my shoulder, finally decided to order an MRI.
I had the MRI today and these are the results: 1. Full-thickness tears of supraspinatus and infraspinatus. 2. Partial-thickness, bursal-sided tearing of teres minor. 3. Subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis. 4. Partial tear of the inferior glenohumeral ligament. 5. Severe acromioclavicular joint degenerative changes.
At this point, I am pretty sure I need an RSR, as my lifestyle is being seriously affected. I have a referral to my local orthopod, and am thinking of getting a second opinion from Mayo Clinic. I have a couple of questions, and I realize that folks here are no medical doctors. 1. Should I request an MRI of my other shoulder? 2. I probably can't have surgery before the end of April, as I have a road trip for a retreat in mid-April... how do I protect my shoulder from getting any worse while I wait? 3. More than 20 years ago I was told that I have degenerative disc disease, but have had no xrays or MRI of my back since. I have suffered from low back pain for about 30 years. Should I push for someone to look at my back?
Thanks in advance for any input - especially about how I am going to get through the next 2 months.