Shoulder replacement…..

[rmlovett1]

After many years of fighting the issue, (in ‘88 during my college baseball days, I had rotator cuff surgery) still working out daily for 25+ yrs, adjusting workouts around the pain, intermittent flare ups in pain, and recently…numbness in fingers while driving, eating, sleeping, etc….
I finally decided to see the Doc. 1 MRI and 1 nerve conduction test later….
I’ve been told to see a neurologist for full blown neuropathy evaluation, and my shoulder has many issues, all rotator cuff muscles are torn, pulled back tendons, and biceps tendon is in half also.
So Doc said… irreparable. Get the neuropathy in check, then decide if you can live with your shoulder as is until it no longer functions for normal daily activities, or get it replaced. I’ll be 54 next month, am in physically fit condition, take no medications, etc….
Wife said do it now while recovery will be relatively short/easy vs waiting till I’m over 60/70 (god willing)

Anyone that has had this done? Or any advice?

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Richris1

After many years of fighting the issue, (in ‘88 during my college baseball days, I had rotator cuff surgery) still working out daily for 25+ yrs, adjusting workouts around the pain, intermittent flare ups in pain, and recently…numbness in fingers while driving, eating, sleeping, etc….
I finally decided to see the Doc. 1 MRI and 1 nerve conduction test later….
I’ve been told to see a neurologist for full blown neuropathy evaluation, and my shoulder has many issues, all rotator cuff muscles are torn, pulled back tendons, and biceps tendon is in half also.
So Doc said… irreparable. Get the neuropathy in check, then decide if you can live with your shoulder as is until it no longer functions for normal daily activities, or get it replaced. I’ll be 54 next month, am in physically fit condition, take no medications, etc….
Wife said do it now while recovery will be relatively short/easy vs waiting till I’m over 60/70 (god willing)

Anyone that has had this done? Or any advice?

Not shoulder replacement but partial knee replacement for one knee and another which may very well need to be done. With regards to the knee I was told to wait until I no longer could because the replacement would never be as good as the real one.

Have to wonder if this advice would be the same with a shoulder or not?

[superdog]

Good luck brother. My guess is this is in my future as well. Have similar issues with my left shoulder.

I am wishing you a speedy recovery.

[JasoninDenver]

I have had three shoulder surgeries and now spend 25% of my strength workout focusing on shoulder stabilization.

I am confused about your doctor’s recommendation for a full joint replacement when it is the connective tissue is all shot. I always thought joint replacement is for arthritic bone degeneration. Is the doc seeing bone on bone damage that he thinks would make repairing the tendons and ligaments moot without a new joint?

[JasoninDenver]

Oh, when you do have the surgery, make damn sure you have one of these (or something similar) waiting for you at home.

https://mycoldtherapy.com/products/b...RoCuW0QAvD_BwE


My first two surgeries had me on hydrocodone for two weeks. For the last one I was given a similar unit and was able to drop the narcotics after three days. It made the recovery much more tolerable as well.

[sportsdoc]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

I have had three shoulder surgeries and now spend 25% of my strength workout focusing on shoulder stabilization.

I am confused about your doctor’s recommendation for a full joint replacement when it is the connective tissue is all shot. I always thought joint replacement is for arthritic bone degeneration. Is the doc seeing bone on bone damage that he thinks would make repairing the tendons and ligaments moot without a new joint?

When a rotator cuff is irreparable, a reverse shoulder replacement is indicated essentially converting the deltoid into your new rotator cuff. One thing OP you can bring up with your surgeon is an SCR- superior capsular reconstruction. Both of these procedures requiring well functioning nerves so that’s the caveat


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[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Not shoulder replacement but partial knee replacement for one knee and another which may very well need to be done. With regards to the knee I was told to wait until I no longer could because the replacement would never be as good as the real one.

Have to wonder if this advice would be the same with a shoulder or not?

Maybe that advice is prudent in some cases….my wife had knee replacement and has suffered ever since, but in my case the “real one” is pretty screwed and painful. How’s your partially replaced knee now?

Originally Posted by superdog

Good luck brother. My guess is this is in my future as well. Have similar issues with my left shoulder.
I am wishing you a speedy recovery.

Thank you Seth. I’ll keep you posted. Seen some good things on what they’re doing today with reverse shoulder replacement. Seems to be a simple solution if your issues fit the criteria vs the old way.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Richris1

Maybe that advice is prudent in some cases….my wife had knee replacement and has suffered ever since, but in my case the “real one” is pretty screwed and painful. How’s your partially replaced knee now?


Thank you Seth. I’ll keep you posted. Seen some good things on what they’re doing today with reverse shoulder replacement. Seems to be a simple solution if your issues fit the criteria vs the old way.

I had mine done about mid August this year and it was only a partial so it’s my understanding that can make it easier. I was walking 5 miles a day about the third or fourth week. I am still doing so and can still feel a bit of dull pain but it’s nothing like the bone on bone that started preventing me from walking a block prior to surgery.

The therapist said I was killing it. I was pretty religious about doing the exercises. At this point I think most of the swelling is gone but still have numbness on the right side of the knee which can last for a good while as so can the swelling. I’m 62 now and he said I’m probably at a good age for this sort of thing given folks in their early 40s tend to have more difficulty healing due to the scar tissue they build up and I am young and active enough that my strength helped me a good bit. It is better if the rest of your body to include the good leg can be leaned on a bit until the weak one has healed and you rebuild strength.

I got rid of my walker a little after 2 weeks. I was driving a little bit after 2 weeks and mowing the yard at about 5 weeks. Both were a task but doable partially because of swelling and lack of ability to flex my knee.

The most difficult tasks were sitting and standing especially with lower seats and taking a shower with a shower chair which was the worst. At 6’3” those tasks can be more difficult due to the length of my legs.

Overall I am extremely happy even if some tasks are still harder to do such as getting up and down a ladder and mowing on uneven ground takes a bit more care.

[DJ TT 2002]

I would schedule an evaluation with a shoulder specialist at the
Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.
I would then follow their advice.

Over the years I have referred multiple case there.
Everybody, patient or personal friend, has thanked me profusely for getting them to HSS

[RW16610]

No advice to give here, but wishing you all the best with a speedy recovery once you do get the procedure done, Richard.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by RW16610

No advice to give here, but wishing you all the best with a speedy recovery once you do get the procedure done, Richard.

+1 Richard, hope you get it sorted out, think the recommendation given above on visiting NYC and getting a second opinion is what would do before deciding.


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[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by DJ TT 2002

I would schedule an evaluation with a shoulder specialist at the
Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC.
I would then follow their advice.

Over the years I have referred multiple case there.
Everybody, patient or personal friend, has thanked me profusely for getting them to HSS

Thank you.

Originally Posted by RW16610

No advice to give here, but wishing you all the best with a speedy recovery once you do get the procedure done, Richard.

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I'd listen to your wife, if it was up to me.

I haven't had any replacement surgeries, but I know from experience that healing from major injuries doesn't get better with age.

Originally Posted by fskywalker

+1 Richard, hope you get it sorted out, think the recommendation given above on visiting NYC and getting a second opinion is what would do before deciding.


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Thanks gentlemen.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Richris1

After many years of fighting the issue, (in ‘88 during my college baseball days, I had rotator cuff surgery) still working out daily for 25+ yrs, adjusting workouts around the pain, intermittent flare ups in pain, and recently…numbness in fingers while driving, eating, sleeping, etc….
I finally decided to see the Doc. 1 MRI and 1 nerve conduction test later….
I’ve been told to see a neurologist for full blown neuropathy evaluation, and my shoulder has many issues, all rotator cuff muscles are torn, pulled back tendons, and biceps tendon is in half also.
So Doc said… irreparable. Get the neuropathy in check, then decide if you can live with your shoulder as is until it no longer functions for normal daily activities, or get it replaced. I’ll be 54 next month, am in physically fit condition, take no medications, etc….
Wife said do it now while recovery will be relatively short/easy vs waiting till I’m over 60/70 (god willing)

Anyone that has had this done? Or any advice?

I'd listen to your wife, if it was up to me.

I haven't had any replacement surgeries, but I know from experience that healing from major injuries doesn't get better with age.

[daveo5]

My sister recently had a shoulder replacement, she’s 75. After one night in the hospital she went home. Immediately began physical therapy at a facility, several times a week. Now she’s getting ready for a 25 day ocean cruise.


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[brandrea]

Man Richard, I wish you all the very best in this procedure … sounds like it’ll take some time to rehab afterwards, but hopefully it’s worth it for a better quality of life.

Keep us posted.

Now, depending which shoulder they work on, perhaps you can’t wear any of your watch collection … in which case I’d be happy to wear them for you

[1st amg]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Man Richard, I wish you all the very best in this procedure … sounds like it’ll take some time to rehab afterwards, but hopefully it’s worth it for a better quality of life.

Keep us posted.

Now, depending which shoulder they work on, perhaps you can’t wear any of your watch collection … in which case I’d be happy to wear them for you

Exactly this....and the same goes for the cars at home, if you need them driven, I will even wash them after! Seriously, I hope some of these recommendations will pan out. I am especially intrigued about the HSS in New York.

[rmlovett1]

Originally Posted by sportsdoc

When a rotator cuff is irreparable, a reverse shoulder replacement is indicated essentially converting the deltoid into your new rotator cuff. One thing OP you can bring up with your surgeon is an SCR- superior capsular reconstruction. Both of these procedures requiring well functioning nerves so that’s the caveat
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Appreciate that, thank you. That’s the one thing he said I need to get straightened out first….seeing the neurologist concerning the findings in the nerve test (tingling/numbness in the hand/fingers)

Originally Posted by daveo5

My sister recently had a shoulder replacement, she’s 75. After one night in the hospital she went home. Immediately began physical therapy at a facility, several times a week. Now she’s getting ready for a 25 day ocean cruise.


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Good to hear, thank you

Originally Posted by brandrea

Man Richard, I wish you all the very best in this procedure … sounds like it’ll take some time to rehab afterwards, but hopefully it’s worth it for a better quality of life.

Keep us posted.

Now, depending which shoulder they work on, perhaps you can’t wear any of your watch collection … in which case I’d be happy to wear them for you

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Exactly this....and the same goes for the cars at home, if you need them driven, I will even wash them after! Seriously, I hope some of these recommendations will pan out. I am especially intrigued about the HSS in New York.

Appreciate the thoughts gentleman!
As for the watch and car care….I will struggle through those tasks and will it to happen
But….if all else fails.….I know I have my backups on call !

[BumbleB]

Have you explored stemcell injections? I know it’s really successful for knees (regenerate cartilage) but not sure if it works for shoulder as well.

Best of luck!


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