I had my long awaited shoulder replacement nearly two weeks ago & have another week to go with my arm being held firmly in its sling. The op was not nearly as bad as people had led me to believe. I was told it was a major op & was expecting a lot of pain after it & that I would be laid out flat and feeling very ill on the day I had it.
However when I was taken back to the ward I was sitting up & didn’t feel too bad at all. Much to my surprise, only about an hour after getting back to the ward I was bought a cup of tea & some biscuits which has never happened so quickly after an op before. I was only in hospital for two days which was amazing I had a drain attached to me for the two days
It has been quite uncomfortable but pain wise not too bad at all. It is more a case of how to position myself in bed that is difficult. I am very tired & could sleep all the time but don’t sleep well at nights because of how to lay comfortably. I do have an adjustable bed & have the top end up quite a lot.
Next week I will have the dressings & sling taken off, see the surgeon & start physio which I imagine will be painful.
To anyone waiting for this op, I would say not to worry about it & to take it easy afterwards.
How wonderful for you. A bit of advice. Do as much physio as you possibly can as soon as you can. Take pain relief to help you get through the exercises. I broke my shoulder in June and could barely move it for weeks. Still having to travel to physio every week. I’m convinced I would be better had I started sooner. Well done though. Nice to hear about a good outcome and helpful to friends that need this surgery in the future.
I will certainly try my best Esmereld. Lots of people have told me how important it is to do that. It was offputting that when I was having physio last year he kept moaning at me & saying that I wasn’t doing my exercises when I was doing exactly what I was told. I kept telling him that it was getting worse & one week he pulled my arm & made me cry out with pain & from then on things got much worse. It has made me wary of physiotherapists now.
Gosh lucky you, how times have changed. I had mine in 2002 under a general. I was in hospital for 10 days, in a cage type contraption for 4 weeks, and in terrible pain. I still have very little movement in that shoulder
That sounds very different to my experience Maggsie. Mine was also done under a general. I am sorry you don't have much movement in your shoulder after going through all that. Do you think it would be worth seeing an orthopeadic surgeon about it again?
Things have changed dramatically in the last twenty years or so. When I had my gall bladder out in 1999, although it was by keyhole, I was in hospital for five days and couldn't get out of bed at all for 48 hours. Yet a friend of mine is having hers out soon and it will be done as day surgery.
I do see the shoulder guy every 12 months because I have had a partial replacement in the other shoulder. It gets xray ed every time and we're keeping an eye on it. Don't really want to have another replacement until absolutely necessary. I have other more pressing problems 😁
That was a very reassuring post. My RA is having a great time with both my shoulders so I was very relieved to read your experience. Very best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Thankyou for your update on your surgery, hope all goes well for you, and a speedy recovery. As I wrote a few days ago about seeing my surgeon, I saw him today 28/11/19
I had my x ray and started to have a chat with him in the clinic, he confirmed that the arthritis was not good in the joint but suggested we wait a further six months before we make a decision about surgery as I am too young at 67. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That sounds a bit silly to me a I am 68 & was told “you are still of the right age to have this operation”. Unless it depends on how bad the joint is as the surgeon said he was surprised I could move it at all.
I hope that in one way or another that you get some relief from the pain (which I know only too well can be very bad ) & I wish you a lovely Christmas. Xxx
Hello, sorry I am a bit late joining you. I had a complete reverse shoulder replacement in July. It has been extremely successful. I have more movement than before the op and i don’t have the pain I used to have. The only good bit of advise I can give is make sure you do your exercises regularly and keep doing them after you finish seeing the physiotherapist. As for sleeping I spent the first few months propped up with pillows and using a v pillow which aren’t too expensive but an absolute godsend. I am now back to sleeping on my sides which is wonderful.
I wish you all the best and hope you keep improving daily.
Hi holly I been reading comments about shoulder replacement And seen your post glad u doing ok , I am on the waiting list for a total reverse shoulder replacement At mo I have very limited movement it has took me a long time to decide to have it done and I’m still a bit unsure now Have you any advice for me of things like special bras and pillows ect I’m a 72 female , did you have general or the nerve block anatheasthic
Hi Tobymax35 - I've only just read your post and you may have already had the operation by now. I'm the same age as you and I had the total reverse shoulder replacement at the beginning of June (I'd had the other one done 2 years ago). I was told that a nerve block on its own isn't suitable so I'm sure you'll have a general. I wouldn't worry about a special bra as pain from the scar is minimal and only temporary, or don't wear a bra at all! I haven't had any special pillows either. I really would recommend the operation: already I have greater movement and it's only slightly painful when I do some of the exercises, which I keep forgetting to do but I know how important they are. Let us know how you get on.
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UPDATE ON HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY 
Knee replacement 
Knee replacement done yesterday.
