Total shoulder replacement

Hope your operations was a success, Daisy, and your recovery is straightforward.

Keep up with the physio!

I have a friend who has had both shoulders replaced. She had put up with pain in her shoulders for years but her doc wouldn't take her seriously. She went to a specialist and he was so angry she hadn't had it done before. Her arm actually fell out of it's socket. Anyway, I digress.

She has had both operated on with about a 6 week interval and in general, has been a big success. She still has a bit of a problem with the worst one, in that she can't raise her arm above shoulder height, and doesn't seem to have the strength she had but it doesn't seem to restrict her in any other way.

I'm sure yours will be a success Daisy and keep doing the exercises.

Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and reassurances.
I have no choice other than an operation as the pain is far too great to live with. So,have decided to gather up all my courage and quietly get on with it.
Being a grandmother helps as I live with my daughter and 11year old grandson. Obviously I've had to tell him all about it and wouldn't dream of appearing nervous in front of him!
Kindest regards everyone smile

Yes, had this done 2 years ago. By a year post-op , I had recovered movement very well, but cannot get back to full strength.
To keep good movement I do daily exercises, which are part of my routine anyway.
My range of movement is that I can raise to about 150 degrees, but very little strength beyond 90.
I can really only do sculling backstroke.
I can carry an ordinary shopping bag, but not one filled with potatoes!
I do have to be a bit careful, as twisting movements can cause a lot of pain, but on the whole, am delighted.
For a few weeks, I used a soft, pullover bra.
Please pm me with any specific questions.

Good luck!

Hope everything goes well Daisy

Good luck Daisynance123 I hope it all goes well. When I had one of my knees replaced there was a girl in the ward who had had almost everything replaced because of RA. I can't remember if she'd had a shoulder done, but all her surgery had been very successful, wrists and elbows, hips asnd other bits.

This surgery was really started in London in the late 60'2 but then it was very Heath Robinson. There are different types of replacements and one can also have a partial shoulder replacement.

It would be especially good for RA because it would remove pain but you would not have a great deal of movement- which you would not expect anyway.

It takes well over a year to gain full benefit because exercises have to start gradually.

Please, please only go and see an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in shoulders. Do not go to one who covers every joint in the body. Do your research carefully.

I too will be interested in this as I have chronic pain in both shoulders due to RA. please let me know how you get on . I have complete faith in today's surgeons. Progress has come on in leaps and bounds so I feel confident that you have nothing to worry about.

I am sorry Daisy, I had no idea that such surgery was done before I read your post so I googled it. Astoundingly this has been done since the 1950s so I expect the surgeons have it down to perfection now. I am sure your operation will be a huge success and very soon the worry about the surgery will be a distant memory. Good luck, do let us know how you are.