Shoulder replacement

halfpint1 · ‎03-10-2010

My son got hurt at work a few years ago. He had to retire. He has really been hurting and will go back to see the doctor. Have you or anyone had this operation done also? He said ball and socket. If so how are you getting along after the operation?

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

My sister was scheduled for shoulder replacement. Two days before she was to have surgery, she chickened out and cancelled.

She needs a walker to get around and was scared that she would not be able to walk at all. She needs strength to hold on. In talking with other doctor's, they said she made a good choice. It takes about a year to recuperate.

My cousin is scheduled for shoulder replacement surgery this month. She needs a left shoulder replacement and both hips replaced. She is getting the shoulder done first, because she too wants to be able to walk around after hip surgery and feels she will need her arm strength. She is only 67 years old ( looks to be 50) and is falling apart. She is hoping to get her hips done next year when the shoulder has fully healed.

I have spoken to several medical people about this surgery. They said it was effective, but takes forever to heal and requires a lot of PT.

Twoaces · ‎05-02-2011

I have two good friends who have both had replacements, and with great success. First, a friend had her left shoulder done at about age 68, then the right shoulder a year later. She is back to doing most everything within a few months.This was about four years ago. The other friend is a man, around 75 years of age when one shoulder was replaced about two years ago. He, too, is back to normal, playing golf and enjoying life. Both are extremely happy with the results of their procedure. Just make sure to have an excellent surgeon! Best of luck!

halfpint1 · ‎03-10-2010

I meant to say he already had an operation but is in pain.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

My understanding is that shoulder replacements from trauma, rather than arthritis, are more difficult to rehab from. Your son will need to be consistent with his PT.

i have one from a fall ten years ago and one from a year ago. Both were due to falls. My range of motion is limited with both arms and are still painful to a degree with certain activities.

Good luck to your son.

MoJoV · ‎10-01-2010

@halfpint1 My husband had complete shoulder replacement surgery about 18 months ago. It was very painful for 6 weeks or so. He did about 3 months of PT. But now he has full mobility of that shoulder and is doing great. I hope your son does well.

Trees are the lungs of the Earth

lbwshop · ‎08-23-2010

I have a close female friend who had a shoulder replacement at age 70. She threw a stick and felt her shoulder snap--no pain at first. Her orthopedic doc said that she would have better results from a replacement than from rotor cuff repair. She said athat the post-op pain was less than the pre-op pain. She healed well, did her PT, and is doing well. Good luck.

HiLo · ‎03-10-2010

@Carmie wrote:
My sister was scheduled for shoulder replacement. Two days before she was to have surgery, she chickened out and cancelled.

She needs a walker to get around and was scared that she would not be able to walk at all. She needs strength to hold on. In talking with other doctor's, they said she made a good choice. It takes about a year to recuperate.

My cousin is scheduled for shoulder replacement surgery this month. She needs a left shoulder replacement and both hips replaced. She is getting the shoulder done first, because she too wants to be able to walk around after hip surgery and feels she will need her arm strength. She is only 67 years old ( looks to be 50) and is falling apart. She is hoping to get her hips done next year when the shoulder has fully healed.

I have spoken to several medical people about this surgery. They said it was effective, but takes forever to heal and requires a lot of PT.

So true about the healing time. My brother in law had to have it done twice, because the first one didn't work. It took a lot of time,,some pain and PT but it did eventually heal. He was in his late 70's at the time so I do believe that a younger individual would find the whole proceedure less difficult.

HiLo · ‎03-10-2010

@Carmie wrote:
My sister was scheduled for shoulder replacement. Two days before she was to have surgery, she chickened out and cancelled.

She needs a walker to get around and was scared that she would not be able to walk at all. She needs strength to hold on. In talking with other doctor's, they said she made a good choice. It takes about a year to recuperate.

My cousin is scheduled for shoulder replacement surgery this month. She needs a left shoulder replacement and both hips replaced. She is getting the shoulder done first, because she too wants to be able to walk around after hip surgery and feels she will need her arm strength. She is only 67 years old ( looks to be 50) and is falling apart. She is hoping to get her hips done next year when the shoulder has fully healed.

I have spoken to several medical people about this surgery. They said it was effective, but takes forever to heal and requires a lot of PT.

So true about the healing time. My brother in law had to have it done twice, because the first one didn't work. It took a lot of time,,some pain and PT but it did eventually heal. He was in his late 70's at the time so I do believe that a younger individual would find the whole proceedure less difficult. The hip replacement surgeries are much easier than they used to be. My best to your cousin and kudos to you Carmie, for caring so much about her.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

Hi @halfpint1,

A very close friend of mine had a total shoulder replacement several years ago. I think he was about 75 when he had this done. He was a brick layer, who started his own masonry company years later in his career. His injury was caused by overuse of many years of lifting heavy blocks.

His surgery and recovery, according to what he has told me, were uneventful. But as with any type of joint surgery, rehab at times is painful. His main consistant comments to me are "I wish I had done it sooner"!

Yesterday, while ice skating, I got talking with a guy maybe in his early 60's(just a guess), who was struggling to stay upright, but he declined my help. Shortly after I saw him down on the ice, trying to get up. I offered to help him, but when I started to assist him, he said something about his shoulder.

When I got him back up on his skates, he told me that his right his shoulder had been replaced. I apologized and told him if he needed my help again, I would do it on his left side. He did, and twice more I helped him get back up on his skate blades. One thing he was not, was fearful of falling.

That's about the extent of my knowledge of shoulder replacement, other than a good doctor friend of mine that does shoulder replacements, but primarily hip and knee repair/replacement. I have talked with him extensively about the hip and knees, because they seem to be a much more common type of repair or replacement.

I hope all goes well with your son. Pass on your optimism to him, it makes .BIG, BIG difference.

ETA: Just read your update. Not many major surgeriies and recoveries that do not involve pain. If there is, I missed out with my many surgeries and rehabs. Tell him to "hang in there", it will get better. Again: Optimism and Patience

hckynut

hckynut(john)