Total Reverse Shoulder Replacement from a Rheumatoid’s Viewpoint

@Mike1

Have you been wearing a frock again Mike?

@Ellen

Thank you Ellen. It just shows how important it is to keep exercising no matter how hard or boring!

Hope you and yours have a lovely Christmas too.

@crinkly1 @crinkly I think I'm seeing double!

Thank you Crinkly. You're right it is a wonderful feeling to realise that the exercises are well worth it because the do work!

Happy Christmas to you and yours 😘

@frogmorton

I am now 3 months post op so I thought it time to revisit and update this thread. This progress information will be of interest to those who are having the procedure.

As progress is so slow sticking to doing my exercises twice daily takes a lot of self discipline. I feel if I allow myself to slip I would gradually stop doing them so I stick to the regime, which does get pretty boring!

I was concerned that when using my arm the elbow drifts out and if I pull it back to my body I can’t do the task as my arm is too weak! I spoke to my physio and was told that both the drifting elbow and the weakness are a very common problem with the reverse procedure. Some patients can overcome it but others can’t so I must keep doing what I am and we will see if I can improve the strength and therefore ability.

On working with steadily getting more upright and strengthening the arm muscles I’ve progressed from exercising flat on the bed, to one pillow and now two under my head. A notch up is only slight but it makes exercises so much more difficult and you feel like you’re back at square one again! I have some way to go yet as Mr Legs still has to cut my food up because I can't use my knife when sitting down unless it’s really soft like scrambled egg …..which as you know doesn’t need cutting up but I have to start somewhere!

After struggling with trying to hover type I’ve adapted and have rolled up socks on the desktop under my arm and a stylus ….….but at least I’m doing it! It is easier to type on my iPad which is at an angle, then I don’t need the socks but still support my arm with the table top.

This week I lifted my arm, when standing, to shoulder height unassisted. I did cheat because I swung it up there but I did hold it for all of five seconds before I lowered it slowly! The physio was really surprised that I'm able to sleep on my shoulder which I started doing not long after my sling came off. I was told that some patients haven't even tried to lay on their arm a year down the line. This just reiterates how different we all are and we all find our own level.

On the inevitable days when I feel disheartened with my incremental progress I refer to a post surgery mental brag list and remind myself I couldn’t even move my arm unassisted after the op.

I shall update again in April when I will be 6 months down the line …unless I get Covid!

@frogmorton

Hi Toni, thanks for the continued interest and encouragement!

I don't plan on getting the virus but who knows what the virus is planning! We do our best and only go out for a walk just the two of us and for exercise. We don't mix at all and even the grocery delivery person doesn't cross the threshold!

I do intend to come on the forum more often now that typing is getting easier so I'll see you around no doubt!

Six  month post op update.

Ever since I started exercising my new shoulder I experience a clicking when my arm is raised to a certain point and some days of late the click is more of a clunk! On clunking days I halve the amount of movements and am more gentle with myself. Neither the click nor clunk hurt and I was told it will probably settle down with time and use. I am to contact the hospital if the clunking gets worse.

 With many tasks I can say that I am almost back to normal but some things still defeat me.

 ·        I can use my knife when I eat but it is awkward as my elbow drifts away from my body and the more pressure I need on my knife the further up my elbow goes. This is because the wrong muscle is stronger than the muscle I should be using and overrides it no matter how hard I try to do it correctly.

·        Forward reaching is hard. For example - if I need to use both hands on a saucepan on the back burner, one to stir and one to hold the pan, I have to pull the pan towards me in order for me to do the necessary task. I can reach things by extending my arm but if I want to keep my elbow down I have to help my right hand with my left.

·        I have done my first painting but had to stand up to apply wet paint on a wet background, then sit to put on detail when it’s dry.

·        I still have to use a stylus to type and a rolled up sock under my elbow.

I have noticed I assist my right hand a lot, sometimes without realising, but this is just adapting and moving on to do the things I want to do. I can manage to do all the tasks I used to even if ,with some movements, my hand is supported by a table top, worktop or other hand. It is a small price to pay for getting rid of the pain and the jerky movement as was pre op.

After all my bold statements of not giving up, reading this you might think I have but, no, I am still doing exercises twice daily, not the variety I used to, as my physio says there’s no need, just one repeated movement till my muscle feels tired. Progress is still happening but it is very slow and so I shall not update this thread again till I have reached a year post op or if the clunking gets worse and I have to ask my surgeon’s team for their help.

I will finish by saying that having had a TRSR it has taken away all the pain and I can even sleep on my operated shoulder with no problem apart from a little waking stiffness in the morning but hey-oh I am a rheumatoid!