Shoulder replacement.

ashleycatie10 · ‎09-20-2011

Has anyone had one of these?I need a new one,and what to expect.

nagrom · ‎07-03-2010

I am 9 months post surgery. For me it was the best thing. My surgeon really prepared me what to expect. He gave me a folder of everything that would happen from checking in to the hospital to after surgery norms. Before your visit to the surgeon write down all your questions. To do so you will feel more confident before and afterwards.

For me I was in the hospital one night and discharged the next day. When I awoke my arm was in a sling. Under the sling was the surgical dressings and circulating pump that helps with the inflammation and pain control. You will leave the hospital with the pump and it will be your best friend for the next several weeks. The pump is connected to a cooler with water and ice in it and attached to an electrical outlet. Also the first five days I had a pain pump attached so that I could hit the button and get pain meds every thirty minutes or as needed. Before your surgery the doctor should have set up an appointment with his office and physical therapy. You will see your surgeon within one week of the surgery and start PT the same time. The first eight weeks there is a routine guideline for what movements you do in physical therapy. The most important thing I can't stress enough is that ice and pain meds should be taken and used even before you think you really need them. Pain levels are controlled before hand and the ice machine helps especially before and after exercises. I did everything the doctors and therapists told me to do. I already had an over the door pulley and stretch bands as well as a cane for my exercises. The first month you really do not move your arm much at all. No driving the car for about a month or more. The sling will be on for much of that time. I hope this link works as it outlines the physical therapy for the first eight weeks.

southeasternorthopedics.com/documents/Physical%20Therapy

For me I had a failed arthroscopic shoulder surgery and three months later I had a total shoulder replacement. They did cut the bicep muscle and attach it to a different location plus the rotator cuff tendon was cut in two. I do not know if they normally do this but they did for me. It is imperative to follow their directions so that these heal properly. Recovery can take between six months and two years for this surgery. Mine did not take that long as I was released from the surgeons care at four months post op. Another thing that helped was when I still had the surgical dressing on and could not get it wet the doctor recommended Glad Press N Seal to ensure the dressing stayed dry. Down the road when the incision is no longer oozing physical therapy recommended using vitamin E oil or cream to have the smallest and flattest scar line. IT WORKS!

Now I am like a kid in a candy store. I can reach things and do things I haven't been able to in six years. However, the bionic shoulder will never be the same as your other shoulder. Doctors aim for 90% level of movement. I do not have the pain anymore and can do so much.

ASK your doctor for the automatic pain pump as this may not be the norm in your area. After five days of use I had to send it back via Fed X and the doctor gave me the completed pack with the address and envelope already filled out. Fed X came to my house and the doctor arranged that too so I never had to call anyone.

ashleycatie10 · ‎09-20-2011

Thank you sooo much it means a lot to me for your response.

nagrom · ‎07-03-2010

Good luck with your surgery and recovery. I know you will do fine. Oh another thing I used a cheap plastic chair in the shower so I could reach things easier especially when your arm is in a sling or you are instructed to be immobile. My balance was affected by the sling especially in the shower. Maybe someone could help you in the first weeks. Before my surgery I was told not many shoulder replacements are done anymore as arthroscopic surgery fixes over 90% of the people. I did not know anyone that had this done. My surgeon specializes in shoulder replacement surgeries and performs a lot of them every year. My primary care doctor recommended that the surgeon should do lots of them compared to one that does less than 50 a year. I guess it's the theory that practice makes perfect. It made sense to me. Please post how you are doing.

ashleycatie10 · ‎09-20-2011

Thank you I will my date for surgery is July 30th.

hckynut · ‎03-10-2010

On 6/21/2014 ashleycatie10 said: Has anyone had one of these?I need a new one,and what to expect.

I have not had this done but a good friend of mine had his replaced last summer. He moved to Arizona a few years ago but he came back to our city to have this surgery done. He played in my adult hockey league for many decades and he knew the Orthopaedic Surgeons that also play in my league.

One of them specializes in shoulders/hips and knee replacements so he had him do the surgery. He was a brick laying and owned his own masonry company before he retired to Arizona and turned the company over to his oldest son. He told me it was the shoulder he used to throw most of the weight of the 12" blocks that were a lot of his work for years.

He was here for 6 weeks and he was going to Physical Therapy 3 times weekly for 3 months. After that he was doing the exercises at home as he still owned his home her in our city. Told me after 4 weeks he was getting a pretty good range of motion in his shoulder, but still had a ways to go to reach as good as it will get. He was 67 years old when he had this surgery done.

About all I can tell you about this.

hckynut(john)