Shoulder replacement

Options
kazamcleod
kazamcleod Member Posts: 4
edited 10:30AM in Surgery - Pre and Post

Can I ask anyone out there if they have had shoulder replacement. I'm worried and would like to know what the success rate was, and how long was recovery please.

Tagged:

Comments

  • Chris_R
    Chris_R Moderator Posts: 868

    Hi @kazamcleod

    Welcome to the online community,great you are posting and asking questions.You dont say wether you have been offered a shoulder replacement but it is good to find out from others how they got on.

    Everyone here is friendly and will try to help you in any way with your enquiery,i myself have not gone through that operation but some have.

    Take care keep on chatting on this post and an answer will be forthcoming i am sure.

    Yours Christine

    Need more help? - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • kazamcleod
    kazamcleod Member Posts: 4

    Hi Christine, I have been offered a shoulder replacement, but very anxious about this. I would welcome anyone's experience of this surgery. Many thanks. Karen

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,972

    I'm going to 'call' @lindalegs for you she had hers done and I think @frogmorton 's daughter had hers one when she was 19. Someone else did too I think @crinkly.

    Hope they can give you some reassurance.

    Ellen.

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,439

    Oooh a new category. Good idea 💡

    @kazamcleod my daughter did indeed have her right shoulder replaced at the age of 19 following on from cancer treatment damage. Her shoulder had completely collapsed and hung by her side. She could hardly move it to wash properly so that was down to me. The pain she was in was incredible. You will no doubt understand that.

    We began the process by having some pre-op physio. She actually saw a children's physio not sure why but she was very encouraging - the stronger your muscles and tendons are pre-op the better and quicker you will recover.

    Unfortunately she was having seizures (also as a result of chemo) so the biggest fear was that she might damage her socket before it was properly healed.That didn't happen - phew! She also had a really supportive arm brace thingy.

    She went down in the morning and was given a nerve block in her shoulder as well as the anaesthetic so when she woke up her arm was still 'dead'. No bad thing I think. I think it took 8-12 hours to wear off then she started on regular pain killers and physio recommenced.

    Already the grinding bone pain was eased, but obviously the post operation pain was there. I would have to say it took maybe 6 weeks for her to feel more confident using it. A lot of the post op pain seemed to be in her back (under shoulder blade)s and neck area possibly tension? Instinct to protect the injured area? A gentle massage with some MSN gel really helped with that as did a warm microwaved wheat-bag.

    She worked hard at her physio and the consultant (who was only after pain relief from his surgery) was so very pleased with her she has FULL range of movement. She can put her arm right over her head and now only gets occasional twinges if she overdoes things. I don't know your age, nor how long you have been struggling, so you might not get quite such a great outcome. The downside for Lucy is she will probably face a few revisions in her lifetime.

    Best of luck

    Toni x

  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,400

    Hi @kazamcleod, (Thanks @Ellen)

    It's very scary having to face surgery and I think the majority of us here on VA know what you're going through. I think the best way to look at it is that you're being offered a chance to end the awful pain of being bone-on-bone, therefore making your life much more comfortable. I had a reverse total shoulder replacement a few years ago and don't regret having it done. I did put an extensive post on this website of my surgery and recovery and have put a link below in case you have time to look through it.

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/53015/total-reverse-shoulder-replacement-from-a-rheumatoid-s-viewpoint

    If you need to know anything further please just let me know and I will try to help the best I can.

    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • kazamcleod
    kazamcleod Member Posts: 4

    Thank you everyone for your support. A little more on me, I'm 63 live alone, and had arthritis now in my shoulders and right knee for ten years. I manage the pain and i am fortunate to still be very active, so I need to be 100% on this decision, if this is the worst it gets pain wise, I can manage, but of course that's the answer none of us has. Karen

Categories