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Total left reverse shoulder replacement - please help!!

Posted , 37 users are following.

Lulublu31
Lulublu31

Hi there, I'm very new to this so please bare with me. My name is laura, I have just turned 32 yearsOld and just had operation number 17 on my left shoulder, the latest in the long line was a total reverse replacement on 25/05/13, I know some of you will be thinking its too soon to tell if it has worked or not but here are my concerns - ever since the surgery I have been in an awful lot of pain, to the point that walking is painful as my operated shoulder feels very loose and that its moving about, also my shoulder looks like it has dropped more every day, I am wearing the sling as I have been advised but its still feels very painful and loose. I have been put on very strong pain killers (dihydrocodine, oxynorm(immediate release), OxyContin(Slow release), paracetamol and ibuprofen, and after taking them I'm still in pain, and its obviously stopping me from sleeping,

My surgeon has told me that there is only about 5 people of my age that he knows of that has this op as they don't like doing it on "young people".

Has anyone had this operation, and is how and what I am feeling normal?

I look forward to any advice or comments,

Thank you in advance.

Laura

P.s I know this is going to sound a little strange, before leaving the hospital, I took a picture of the X-ray of my shoulder post op so I could show my son. I have been told (as previously said) that I had a Total reverse replacement, after looking for forums about shoulders I come across photos, and my replacement does not look like the photos I have seen online. If anyone knows anything about this and would be willing to take a look that would be amazing - just want to check I'm not going mad

0 likes, 97 replies

97 Replies

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  • cathie38426
    cathie38426 Lulublu31

    Posted

    Hoje are you doing now, a year later than your post?

    My husband has to have reverse shoulder prosthesis,

    and we know nothing about the outcome of others.

    Cathie

    • cathie38426
      cathie38426

      Posted

      I mean How are you doing?

      Cathie

    • Misty57
      Misty57 cathie38426

      Posted

      Cathie, where is your husband having the reverse?  Outcomes vary wildly depending on a number of factors.  There is not a lot of long term data, at least in the US.  It is a salvage, last ditch effort meant for only pain relief.  It is not intended to restore strength or much range of motion - maybe forward elevation only.

       

    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Misty57

      Posted

      We are in Portugal, and the surgeon is from Lisbon working

      in a specialist shoulder/elbow unit, and has has some training

      in France. It is a first shoulder operation for my husband, not a revision.

      Cathie

  • thechefshat
    thechefshat Lulublu31

    Posted

    Can you post the photo on this forum?

    Also, where do you live i.e. which town/city in which country?

    Thx, NICK

  • cathie38426
    cathie38426 Lulublu31

    Posted

    I have been reading through the posts, and there appears to be

    a lot of confusion between REVISION, when shoulder surgery goes wrong

    the first time, and REVERSE, shoulder replacement, which is not

    usually done before age 70, and is where the shoulder joint has

    arthritis, and the rotator cuff has shredded and no longer works.

    the latter has been performed in France and Europe for many years

    and latterly in USA and Canada.

    do you know which you had?

    Cathie

    • Misty57
      Misty57 cathie38426

      Posted

      Cathie, they are doing the reverse on younger and younger people these days.  Yes, it shoulde only be done on people 70 or older.  I had mine done at 57.  It was also a revision of a total shoulder replacement - and that was a revision of a partial replacment - a humeral head resurfacing.   In fact, as of 2013, more reverse replacements are being done than conventional replacements.
    • debbie36227
      debbie36227 Misty57

      Posted

      Misty, I wonder why so many young people getting total replacement surgery? What made them do that? I have rotator cuff tear surgery and frozen shoulder(adhesive capsulitis) surgery. Now I am still in lot of pain. I dong know how long the pain will go away.
    • cathie38426
      cathie38426 Misty57

      Posted

      I am surprised, you are so young,but as it is a 'last resort' operation you must

      have been very bad. The problem is probably when you have a

      revision followed by Reverse prosthesis, because there will be

      scar tissue.

      Where did you have yours done.. I mean which country?

      Cathie

    • Misty57
      Misty57 cathie38426

      Posted

      I am in the US.  I had 6 surgeries.  The 4th was a failed humeral head resurfacing, then a failed total shoulder replacement.  Believe me, I know it is a very big problem.
    • Ed101682
      Ed101682 Misty57

      Posted

      Hi Misty57  Im a 63 year old male who has total rotator cuff arithropy in his right dominat shoulder along with heavy duty arthiritis. In short my arm dont work at all much  I dont have alot of pain but the only thing that caan be done for me is a reverse shoulder replacement.

      of  course it doesnt restore strength and may not be successful  high rate of failure. Im Going to see a Top NY Shoulder Doc soon Dr David Dines who has done many and has even devised his own prostheies   Let me know what you guys are planning ok

    • Ed101682
      Ed101682 Misty57

      Posted

      Im a 63 year old male who has total rotator cuff arithropy in his right dominat shoulder along with heavy duty arthiritis. In short my arm dont work at all much  I dont have alot of pain but the only thing that caan be done for me is a reverse shoulder replacement.of  course it doesnt restore strength and may not be successful  high rate of failure. Im Going to see a Top NY Shoulder Doc soon Dr David Dines who has done many and has even devised his own prostheies   Let me know what you guys are planning ok
  • Sandijo
    Sandijo Lulublu31

    Posted

    I have had both shoulder with reverse replacement surgery, the keft one twice.  No problems at all with the right, now pain free unless I tree to sleep on my side.  The left one twice in 2015.  The first in Feb.; four months later it came out of joint.  It continued to come out of joint and in August he replaced it again.  This shoulder had popped out of joint all of my life.   I do not have the flexibility as before and it's tighter than the right.  The same as with the right I can't sleep on my side.  I have a strange pain in my tricep on this left which I don't know if it's coming from the replacement or not.  It's hard to get an appointment.  I believe in my doctor and my hospital.  I believe him to be the best.  UNC in North Carolina.  I was off pain medication within six weeks and do not return until one year. Oct. 16.  I am 73 years old.

     

  • muriel34224
    muriel34224 Lulublu31

    Posted

    I I had a total reverse shoulder replacement on May 2,2016 was only on pain meds for about 2 weeks. Also I have been able to drive since 2 weeks after the surgery I was in the hospital for 2 days then home.  I had  physical therapist at home for about 6 visits.  Then on to doing the exercises on my own until back to the doctor at 6 weeks.  Also had to wear immobilizer for the first 6 weeks except for showering and doing exercises.  Before surgery I was in terrible pain and was treated by a pain management dr for about 8 years. I had been on oxycodone and OxyContin before surgery but still was in extreme pain.  Since having the total reverse shoulder replacement I am pretty much pain free and now have been going to physical therapy for about 3 weeks and have gained a good amount of my range of motion back. I am 68 years old and live in Florida. I will be going back to the dr in 2 weeks then I have been told I will learn strengthening excercises and be released from physical therapy after 2 more visits at that time.  There are about 8 of us who have had the same surgery within days of each other by the same doctor.  I have been told he is one of the best in the U.S. All but 1 person are doing extremely well. The one who isn't had his done 3 times within a period of 11 months because the first 2 surgeries failed. The third time he changed doctors and so far he says this one is a success.   The reason I had mine done is I had no cartledge and a large tear in the rotator cuff but we do not know why it happened.  This was done on my left shoulder and now I know I will need the right one done also.   In 2004 I had a partial shoulder replacement done on my right shoulder, I did well with it but within 2 years I was in terrible pain again but decided not to do anything because I was afraid that it would not last for long.  After having the left one done I am now going to talk to my doctor about doing a total reverse shoulder replacement on my right shoulder.  I am in terrible pain and wake up from it.  I am no longer afraid to have my right shoulder done since having such good results with my left shoulder, I am just sorry I waited so long to have it done.  The doctor did say I should have had the surgery at least a year before I did because he said my shoulder was in really bad shape.  

    • rickybob
      rickybob muriel34224

      Posted

      hi     my wife is scheduled in florida where we have a home  Dr. frank cannon from ocala ortho group is going to do the reverse   much pain for her and im a little nervous especially when you read some of the negative outcomes   thanks for your positive comments    who is your Doc  that seems to have been so successfull??    thanks Rickybob
    • Misty57
      Misty57 rickybob

      Posted

      It is imperative that your wife's surgeon be specially trained in reverse replacement, and has done many of them.  Ask for his references.  When the reverse was first approved in 2004, surgeons were required to take a training course on how to do it since it is very technically demanding.  Now, any surgeon can do it if they want.  It must be done correctly the first time.  If she is over 70, her expectations of activity are probably not great, but if not, think twice.

       

    • muriel34224
      muriel34224 rickybob

      Posted

      My October name is Dr.Derek Cuff he has offices in Englewood and Venice.  He has done many total reverse shoulder replacements.  People have come from all over to see him. 
    • wendy40324
      wendy40324 muriel34224

      Posted

      Hi Muriel. My dad is in Naples and had reverse shoulder last year and has had nothing but agonizing pain since. He is having shortness of breath and chest pain. Despite being hospitalized and several trips to heart Dr and ER, it's not his heart. He has had several tests including blood separating and re-injecting to check for infection. Bone scan and indium scan but they show nothing. Can you tell me who you used for a Dr?

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