Has anyone had a reverse shoulder replacement?

I am working in the UK,....
Outstanding post. Probably the most honest evaluation of joint surgery I've heard. My take-aways:
the main benefit will be the pain relief.
There is a risk of making things worse, you will likely trade some of your mobility and not be guaranteed your strength.
If you don't have pain you have the risk of being dissatisfied that your painless joint has been replaced with an imitation joint often that is a bit clunkier/warmer/more swollen than it was before
 
I am working in the UK, I have not examined you, I cannot provide medical advice over the internet. I will use at times vague wording mainly because we cannot be sure which person will be the 85% that are happy, the 10% that are less happy or the 5% that are worse following their surgery. I think the system is different in the US in that here we would err on the side of caution due to not having as much capacity and also not being able to run from our complications as easily.

I have been putting in shoulder replacements for the past 6 months as part of my training. I take about 1h30 mins from the patient being positioned until I am ready to move the patient off the table, anaesthetic time is variable. My trainer who is doing most of the replacements in this region can perform it in around an hour which is the general standard here. The risks I consent for include: pain, bleeding, infection, damage to nerves and tendons, stiffness, swelling, dislocation, reoperation, implant failure due to loosening or wear, revision, fracture, clots in the legs and or lungs, heart attacks, strokes, amputation and death. We usually keep patients in for a day or two following the surgery for optimising analgesia and ensuring they are safe to be returned home.

The amount of strength and mobility following this surgery cannot be guaranteed, the main benefit will be the pain relief. If you don't have pain you have the risk of being dissatisfied that your painless joint has been replaced with an imitation joint often that is a bit clunkier/warmer/more swollen than it was before. Most of the patients take 1yr to reach the full potential of the shoulder, usually it takes about 8-12 weeks for people to start driving again and tackle most household chores. Most of the time we are doing these replacements for cuff arthropathy - people that have torn the cuff, the shoulder joint has worn and now they are struggling to cope with their pain/immobility. The often given advice is to expect to be satisfied with doing activities at the waist level, it is quite likely you will be able to do things up to the level of the shoulder, don't bank on doing things above your head, internally rotating the shoulder to reach between your shoulder blades is usually lost but most don't have that to begin with. We advise against loading the shoulder such as using it to push down when rising from a chair or using it to carry out DIY. I'd be quite taken hesitant if you wanted to push your ST1300 around with it.

Infected joint replacements are fairly uncommon but when it does happen it is a pretty big nightmare that can lead to many more operations, many months on antibiotics and the possibility of a constant smouldering infection that never truly goes away. Infection can be from the surgery itself or many years later if bacteria reach it through the blood from a chest infection, water infection or other seemingly inconsequential illness or minor injury. The other thing I haven't seen mentioned much is that the implant will wear out or loosen in time leading to failure, current data suggests implant survival is 10-15 years. There is no current revision option for a reverse shoulder replacement that I'm aware of, once the joint is worn that will be it in terms of operative management.

From my small experience and from what you have described I can't imagine you would be guaranteed to improve much with a shoulder replacement. There is a risk of making things worse, you will likely trade some of your mobility and not be guaranteed your strength. If you leave the shoulder as is the worst outcome will be gradual onset of arthritis in the shoulder which will bring pain and a reduction of movement. The treatment for that would be a reverse TSR.

Thank you Mr. Ibby.
Like SMSW responded, this is the most concise overview I've seen. I really appreciate your time and input.
It reinforced my decision to have the procedure. The final decider was who should perform it? Talked to two surgical nurses at the hospital where I'll be going, asking them their opinions of the ortho doctors there who perform shoulder replacements. One of the two had a replacement several months ago, and both . . . recommended the doctor I have! So, adding this to your input and all the feedback from those on the site who've had this procedure and more . . . I'm going forward. Surgery is set for end of October.

Wish you great success in your training and practice afterwards!

Thank you all.
Shuey

PS: No horses in the stable currently to push around. Hi hopes for a new mustang in the future (no . . . not the auto).
 
Well I'm 69 and recovering from shoulder surgery as I write this. My rotator cuff tendons were completely detached as was one bicep tendon and a tendon to the shoulder blade? was partially detached. They put anchors with sutures in them into the bone and then reattached the rotator cuff.
I have a little rotator cuff twinge now and then if I'm not careful.

Uh, I'm good.
 
Going for an X- Ray and an Unltrasound tommororw on my right shoulder.

Here is what my doctor told them to do on the requistion:

Right Shoulder U/S ? right long head of biceps partial tear mild supraspinatus pain on direct palpation subscapulararis dyysfunction

Can anyone make heads or tails on what he is asking them to do. I thought an MRI would be better, but this is what the doctor wants to do.
 
You
Going for an X- Ray and an Unltrasound tommororw on my right shoulder.

Here is what my doctor told them to do on the requistion:

Right Shoulder U/S ? right long head of biceps partial tear mild supraspinatus pain on direct palpation subscapulararis dyysfunction

Can anyone make heads or tails on what he is asking them to do. I thought an MRI would be better, but this is what the doctor wants to do.
You have a bicep tear that causes some pain on movement. ;)
Not a doctor but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express one night ...
 
Going for an X- Ray and an Unltrasound tommororw on my right shoulder.

Here is what my doctor told them to do on the requistion:

Right Shoulder U/S ? right long head of biceps partial tear mild supraspinatus pain on direct palpation subscapulararis dyysfunction

Can anyone make heads or tails on what he is asking them to do. I thought an MRI would be better, but this is what the doctor wants to do.
You have pain when the doc presses (palpates) on the super spinach muscle (as well as movement Phil mentioned). The ultrasound is the gold standard - it shows the muscles and ligaments and tears in them. I watched the tech do mine and asked her what they showed.

You can google shoulder muscles or rotator cuff muscles and see a picture online of how the muscles overlay the shoulder bones. Muscles contract and that shortening pulls the bones in the direction of the muscle. Think of a muscle as a rubber band that moves when told to do so. Muscles basically contract from their extended length - they don't react like a rubber band (you can stretch a rubber band to several times it's resting size). Opposing muscles (those working opposite each other) contract to give two way movement.
 
My wife has had a time with her shoulder. Wrecked the rotator, had that repaired. Fell again, wrecked the repair and ended up with a reverse shoulder replacement. THAT got infected, which only surfaced a year later (a bacteria similar to acne?). Second reverse shoulder replacement....that seems to be holding, though she has limited use. I ascribe the limited use to the refusal to go through as much physio as they ordered...but what do I know. Nice side, all that only cost me about $45 for parking at the hospitals during surgeries.
 
You have pain when the doc presses (palpates) on the super spinach muscle (as well as movement Phil mentioned). The ultrasound is the gold standard - it shows the muscles and ligaments and tears in them. I watched the tech do mine and asked her what they showed.
You can google shoulder muscles or rotator cuff muscles and see a picture online of how the muscles overlay the shoulder bones. Muscles contract and that shortening pulls the bones in the direction of the muscle. Think of a muscle as a rubber band that moves when told to do so. Muscles basically contract from their extended length - they don't react like a rubber band (you can stretch a rubber band to several times it's resting size). Opposing muscles (those working opposite each other) contract to give two way movement.
I did google and watched a few you tubes, but it all looks greek to me!
Will try to watch the ultrasound when I get it done and see if they can point out the tear to me.
The pain is like when I try to thread my belt through the loops behind my back with my right hand.
Also the lift off test failed when I try to lift my right palm off my back.
Learned these tests off of you tube.
 
I did google and watched a few you tubes, but it all looks greek to me!
Yup, I usually have to read the description two or three times, looking up every unfamiliar or technical word. And/or watch the video a few times. For your ultrasound the screen will show white dots and lines creating patterns on a black background. It is difficult to understand what you are seeing the first time. Don't be afraid to ask questions...like, 'Can you point to the two sides of the tear?'
 
A bit late into the thread but I had an RSR in November due to additional shoulder damage from a crash in '24. Recommended to have the RSR as the additional 1 cm the deltoid muscles get from the longer humerus can allow the arm to raise above the shoulder, due to added length, even if there is a rotator cuff problem. Knowing many guys with cuff issues and resulting loss of movement it was a given I would take the RSR.
Post op a few weeks of "how to" physio and all been great to date. Multi 12 hour saddle days are no longer a pain :).
Still trying to build up the deltoids etc but it's a long job, I think mainly because I am lazy! Was advised take a course of antibiotics if I have any dental work, other than cleaning, to avoid possible infection. So far teh joint has stood up to exercise and shop work just fine, including pushing, lifting etc.. Not sure I will now do much log splitting / post pounding though!
Bottom line is that even without the range of movement benefit the joint change has been superb due to the pain relief, which was nearly a constant issue pre op.
 
I had both of mine done in 2023/2024 (regular not a reverse) and I still struggle with regaining my upper body strength.
Range of movement is fine and the severe pain is gone.
I do lift weights 3 times a week consistently but I cannot seem to regain where I was before the surgery.
Probably because I'm getting older - but it ain't for lack of trying! ;)
 
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