A shoulder replacement surgery is performed on patients who have severe shoulder arthritis, and have failed nonoperative treatments for this problem. However, a total shoulder replacement, replacing both the ball and the socket of the joint, required the rotator cuff to be working. Patients who have chronic rotator cuff tears tend to have problems with a total shoulder replacement.
A newer procedure called a reverse shoulder replacement has been developed for these specific patients who have shoulder arthritis in association with chronic rotator cuff tears. It is called a reverse shoulder replacement because the ball and socket are reversed; the ball is placed on the shoulder blade and the socket is placed on the top of the arm bone. This reverse technique allows better function with there is a non-functioning rotator cuff.
My daughter is 21 years old and had a total reverse shoulder replacement last week. So far so good. This procedure is usually done on older folks, so her case will be special. Any advice?
I am thinking about having a Reverse Shoulder Replacement. I have had 8 previous surgeries and am 30 years old. I’d like to know how any young person who has this has done. My issues are rare as well as the original injury so I know not to expect too much. Any information would be great.
My husband is scheduled for reverse shoulder replacement on 2/17/09. He is 50 with a prior failure of a HemiArthoplasty. We are just trying to get rid of some of pain because right now it is so bad. How is the 21 old doing. Did it reduce the pain.
My daughter who was 21 when the surgery was done has had problems due to the fact that the right arm with the replacement is almost 4 inches longer than the left. Apparently, these come in “standard” sizes, but these are usually for men. This has caused nerve damaage from stretching muscles, tendons, nerves in this area. You can now see the replacement through her skin b/c the muscle mass is gone. My opinion: this type of surgery should be a last resort.
I had a total shoulder replacemen done May 5 last year. It did not work so the dr hat to do the reversal last week. At first he said everything woulb be back close to norm. Then when he came in after surgery he told me that my shoulder was in wore shape than he thought it would be. Now he tells me that I have to quit work and get on disability because he don’t think the shoulder will hold up to any kind of truma. He did say that this was a last resort surgery and that normally they don’t do this unless you are sixty plus years old. I am only 49. Just hope I qualify for disability. Have been in construction work for 28 years.
Lineman, I hope you qualify for disability. My daughter is still in quite a lot of pain, and the doctors seem to think she will be on pain killers the rest of her life. Naturally, she is worried about addiction to prescription medication. Perhaps the FDA needs to “relook” at this type of surgery and limit its use to those it was originally intended to be used on.
Liz, what happened with your husband? My daughter is now 24 and will be in pain the rest of her life. Painkillers now do her little good when her arm “freezes up” or there is a weather change. Cold really affects her terribly. We are still looking for answers. The statue of limitations is over, or we would be seeking compensation.
I have had 4 rotator tendon repair surgeries (severed tendons, not just tears) but am still in pain when I use my arm for most everything. No pain if I don’t move it. My surgeon said last time I saw him that if my shoulder didn’t improve in next 3 months, that I would mostly likely be looking at reverse shoulder joint replacement. I am 67 yrs old and before this last surgery was still competing in sports, such as tennis, beach volleyball, golf & bowling. I’m not ready to give up playing these sports yet….but from everything I’ve read on internet, it sounds like I would be very limitied as to just doing normal activities not to mention anything athletic.
Can any of you offer me info on athletics after reverse shoulder joint replacement?
Though my doctor has told me I have no choice but the reverse shoulder replacement, at age 50 I have yet to hear anything great about it. I will stick with the discomfort and limited movement I have until some happy customers beging blogging on their positive experiences.
I am 45 years old and have both left and right Reverse shoulder impants. My best advise is, make sure your PT person is confident in helping you. I had one person be too agressive and caused my total shoulder to fail within a years time. I travel 1.5 hours each way for PT. This person worked on my right shoulder and did a super job, so he will be the only person to touch my left shoulder. 3 hours of travel is worth having a working arm.
Underwent athroplasty 3 years ago then fell and implant came loose. Iam sick all the time and exhausted from infections and from having to go bavk on pain killers . Having Total Reverse surgery soon . Rotator cuff Athropathy and arthritis in shoulder . age 53-must do this now before Deltoid degenerates .
I had a total shoulder replacement, and then a revision both lasting a total of about 16 years. My rotator cuff was so badly damaged that the only choice I had was the total reversal. SInce the glenoid was eroded, bone was needed from my hip and placed into the glenoid to make it stronger. The hip pain was brutal for about 4-5 months. The shoulder was in a sling for 6 weeks when it was discovered that the glenoid implant moved. Back into the hospital 4 months later to have the glenoid restrengthened by use of a ring around the hip transplant bone as it moved upward. The second reversal is now in a position where the glenoid is out of position again. I am at my wits end. I have a great surgeon, but I am just devastated. Anyone have any ideas as what to do next? I should never had the shoulder messed with in the first place. My life has been a real “bummer ” the last few years. I am 66 and active. Cannot raise the arm above my shoulder height and never with it straight. Am I doomed??