I have suffered from RD for 50 years and have had numerous surgeries over the years to replace finger joints, ankles, knees and hips. Currently having a problem with my left shoulder. Some 20 ears ago the bisect ruptured and over the last 6 months more tendon damage has occurred rendering me unable to lift the arm. The surgeon recommends the above surgery as the only option for treatment as the joint is completely destroyed.
Has anyone undergone this procedure? Any advice would be valued. I am very anxious about more surgery as I am now 73 and seem to have spent half my life waiting to undergo surgery or recovering from it as I have other medical conditions as well. What was your experience of the recovery period and outcome? Please help me to decide whether to undergo this surgery or to tolerate further disability, already have severe mobility issues. Use a wheelchair/mobility scooter and now struggle to get dressed, style my hair and lift any weight.
Thanks for reading this. Look forward to your input.
Regards Pam
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Pam-51
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Hi, Pam. I had reverse shoulder surgery two years ago (aged 67), and was very apprehensive about it, but the outcome has been amazing. Before I couldn't really do anything with that arm (my right one!) due to a ruptured rotator cuff and wear and tear of the joint. The recovery to full use was slow, but I could use that hand more than I expected from early on and I can do almost everything now. I can't put that arm very far behind me, just enough to fasten my bra if I pull the shoulder straps up afterwards, but I can do pretty much everything else, and I have no pain in it now! Like you, I was reluctant to undergo such a big op, but I'm so glad I did. Of course everyone's experiences differ, but I wish you well if you decide to go ahead.
Thanks for your positive feedback. I think I need to go ahead with the op as my range of movement is so limited. Your advice on post op recovery would be invaluable.
What clothing did you find best to wear for ease of dressing? How did you manage to shower? How long were you in hospital? Thank you again.
Hi Pam, I was only in hospital for two nights, and I had bought some button-up nighties, blouses and pull-on trousers, which made life easier. I am lucky because although I'm right handed I'm OK with my left one. I'd practised tooth-brushing and hair brushing with my left hand because by the time I had the op my right arm was fairly useless. I had a waterproof dressing on, so it was OK to shower. That wasn't the easiest thing, but just about doable. The first few weeks after the op were difficult, but I did find ways to do things, and although your arm will be in a sling, you can use your hand a little bit, and take the sling off for exercising and showering. When I look back at how little movement I had before the op, and how much pain I was in, I'm so glad I had it done!
Hi Pam, I had a reverse shoulder replacement on Monday. My glenohumeral joint was totally destroyed. I was dx. in 1971 as a 6 year old. I've put off shoulder surgery for over 20 years but had an elbow replacement 12 weeks ago on the same side as my shoulder replacement.
I've got some exercises to do but the surgeon didn't want me to do some of the 'pendulum' ones until after 6 weeks. After then I will be referred to physio at my local hospital for deltoid training. It is more painful than the elbow replacement and I can't do more than 20 degrees external rotation for 6 weeks. Lifting is the same as elbows, limited to a cup of tea, again for 6 weeks then no more than 5lbs due to elbow replacement.
The decision to have an elbow replacement was easy, it was unbearably painful and semi dislocating every 2-3 days. I wanted the right elbow replacing next but the orthopedic nurse talked me into having a shoulder done beforehand. Hopefully the pain will reduce over the next week or so and, after 3 weeks I can take the sling off indoors but advised to wear it for 6 weeks when out and about.
I had reduced movement before surgery so I don't expect to regain any more than what I had pre-surgery, but hope the pain will be gone.
Thanks for your positive feedback. Thinking I need to go ahead with the surgery as my range of movement is so limited and I have had so much pain over the years. Any advice on your post op recovery would be invaluable.
Any advice on best clothing to wear for ease of dressing? How are you managing to shower? How long were you in hospital?
I hope your recovery is uneventful and that you have a successful outcome.
Hi Pam, I stayed in hospital for one night. It was in a 40 bed, 3 theatre Surgical Hub for orthopedic surgery, intended to cut the waiting lists. Everything was very pared back, go in at 7am, go to a changing room outside the theatre, get gown on, go into anaesthetist's room, the staff stand around checking your details, then you walk into the theatre and get on the table yourself. I had a nerve block for both operations which lasted almost a day but other than that I was only given paracetamol. I asked to take my own codeine and they said no as it wasn't written in my notes! I was in pain, the block had worn off and nobody was doing anything about it so I took my own - they never locked them away.
I am not allowed to shower until the dressing is removed and wound healing checked, after 8 days. They use dissolving stitches. They suggested using baby wipes to 'wash' and keep dressing as easy as possible, no bra, baggy clothes, button or zip up tops etc. The sling has to be worn for 3 weeks day and night apart from washing, dressing and light exercising, but 6 weeks outside in social spaces. Lifting is very limited to a cup of tea and the real physio will start after 6 weeks at my local community hospital. Although the physios gave me a sheet of exercises for shoulder surgery, the surgeon didn't want me to do any of the 'pendulum' exercises until 6 weeks.
Sleeping on my back is difficult but codeine at night helps to make me sleepy. I hope recovery will be similar to my elbow, a big improvement after 4 weeks and able to drive, but we'll see.
I wrote to DVLA to report my elbow replacement (as I've done with all other surgeries) and they sent an 8 page form to complete, to check my fitness to drive with my doctors. I've wrote again yesterday to report my shoulder surgery but hope they don't send another form!
It might be an idea to get yourself on the list as there might be a long wait. I don't think I could manage alone after surgery, it helps to have someone do the cooking, shopping, cleaning etc.
hello Pam, I had my first L reverse shoulder replacement in 2019, I had been in really severe pain and couldn’t do much with my arm. Recovery was fairly slow but it has been truly amazing. I’m in no pain now and I have much more movement in my arm. I’m getting my R shoulder replacement in March this year.
Initially after the op you are very limited in movement as I had to wear an immobiliser sling but that comes off fairly quickly. Also I think protocols have changed and they now get you to exercise very gently immediately after surgery, which is fine.
As someone else has said, we all are different and like you I have had a great deal of surgery in the past. I think it gets harder as we get older. I wish you well if you do decide to have your operation done. I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Take care.
Thank you so much for your positive response to my post. I think I will be going ahead with te surgery as my range of movement is so limited and I have had so much pain in the joint over the years.
Practically, what clothing did you find to be best in the post op period for ease of dressing and how did you manage showering? Seeing the surgeon who will do the op on 11th. March as the surgeon I have seen has recommended a Mr Niel Kang Addenbrooke’s who has more experience in this procedure.
I wish you good luck for your op in March. Hopefully I will not be far behind you!
Hello again, I made a mistake the first time by buying a few blouses as in my thinking it would be easier to get on. I was wrong. My upper arm was swollen which meant the blouse arms were too tight.
I ended up buying some very loose fitting t-shirts and loose fitting trousers which are easy to pull on and off with one hand. I bought a wrap to keep warm too. Showering was a bit of trial and error. I have a seat in my shower, a long handled shower scrunchie but I also had wipes which let me clean myself without showering. I think I bought them on Amazon but I think Boots chemist also have them. You can also buy no wash hair caps to “wash” your hair. These are just a few of the things I tried. If I think of any others I’ll send them.
I also wish you all the best with your operation. Take care.
I had a shoulder resurfaced. Not the same, but with similar worries. I knew I would only get 50% of normal movement back after the surgery, but it was well worth it to get rid of the pain,
If it can reduce pain and discomfort, I think it's a good thing. Relieving pain has benefits that help you in many ways: improving sleep, reducing stress, and reducing the load on your immune system. However, do not do anything you are not happy about. You are the expert on you.
I do feel for you Pam-51, as I have been having trouble with ruptured tendons in both shoulders and fingers for many years - RD diagnosed in 1967 - and I’m now 89. My left shoulder is by far the worst, I can hardly move it and it’s very painful. About 10 years ago I was seen by a “shoulder man” who was not prepared to operate on it, saying it would make little or no difference to the use or the pain, and the risk of infection had also to be considered. The right shoulder, although also ruptured, is not so painful and has more movement.
Having said that, I have heard that some RD patients have had successful shoulder surgery, but it does depend on the amount of damage already done. And it is important to realise that in spite surgery on RD joints, you still have the disease! And it can still nibble at you! I had my left hand operated on in 1984 - a lovely job; my hand was in a permanent fist - I couldn’t open it, and the fingers were leaning sideways. After the op the fingers were straight, the knuckles were replaced and the tendons were shortened (tied in knots, was the surgeon‘s expression!), so the fingers didn’t droop. Now many years later, I can still use the hand reasonably well, and the fingers are also reasonably straight. But the characteristic sideways drift of the fingers has gradually returned, as has a slight droopiness. Was it worth it? Most certainly! My right hand is also affected but the fingers have never drifted so badly. But the thumbs on both hands are no longer supported by the tendons so are pretty useless.
I needn’t describe the difficulties of faulty hands! You will know about that. But it has made me realise that thumbs have been a very important evolutionary feature of the human species!
Anyway, you should be guided by the advice of your surgeon about your shoulder, but make sure you get all the bad as well as the good news explained. Also, techniques have improved enormously in all surgery - but RD is not like OA and will always be there. That is why drugs are favoured over surgery these days.
Thanks for your reply to my post. Have had some very positive responses and am getting together questions for another appointment with a surgeon who specialises in this procedure recommended by the shoulder surgeon I saw last week. Thinking now I will go ahead with the surgery, will let everyone know my final decision.
I’m glad to hear that you are having a second opinion. It’s wise not to leave the whole question of a shoulder replacement too long as eventually the damage becomes such that the surgery may become impossible. My shoulder had been so badly damaged over many years that the tendon was no longer clinging to the bone - in fact it was non existent.
I have had a shoulder replacement five years ago and no pain since. The hardest part was sleeping sitting up for a month on a triangular pillow afterwards. Best thing I have done. Good luck 🤞🏻
Thanks for your positive feedback. Am seeing another surgeon who specialises in the reverse shoulder replacement early March so have time to make my decision and think of all the questions I need to ask.
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