Shoulder Replacement NDR

M

milburn

Member
I was wondering if anyone here could help... My wife fell in Sept 2012, dislocated and shattered her shoulder, the end of the humerus. It tore the soft tissue away from the bone but the little pieces of bone were still attatched to the ligaments and such. They reattached those back in place during the surgery... In January they manipulated her shoulder to get the range of motion back. The main problem now is she is having trouble getting her strength to move her arm. She says the pain is terrible and can not move it very far, probably less than 20%. The Dr. says it will come and the pain is why she can't move it. They say the only way to really see if something is not right he would have to go back in and look. Therapist seems to think something else is going on with it Have a Dr. appointment this coming Fri. I have looked online and it looks like what the dr. is saying is right on, but others do not agree. I do not have a problem with getting a second opinion, I am not sure, if it would be different, who to believe then.... She can not go on with the little movement she has. I appreciate any help I can get here.......
 
Get a second opinion--and a third if necessary. I went through this after a car accident with an ankle injury. I ended up following the course suggested by my first doctor, but would always have second guessed it if I didn't get other opinions before I made my decision.
 
Get at least a second opinion, and for it, go to an orthopedic specialty center in a larger hospital, if available. I know of lots of information on replacement knees and hips, none on replacement shoulder joints. My wife is an RN who has an orthopedic specialty certification. She daily cares for replaced hips and knees, but I do not recall that she has ever cared for a replacement shoulder joint. As an emergency medical technician, I do not recall ever hearing of a replacement of a shoulder joint. Not saying they do not exist, just that I have never seen or heard of one.

The best is none to good when it comes to a medical issue like the full use of an arm or leg.

Do all the research you can on the internet to find what your options are and where the best work is being done. If replacement is not an option, find the best surgeons in the country who do repair or reconstruction of shoulder joints, and get their review of the case. I would think the longer if goes on, the less your options in terms of reconsturciton of the existing bone and chips.

My prayers and meditations will be with you and your wife.

Mike
 
For the record, there is complete shoulder replacement surgery. My lovely partner Bridget has had it done twice in the past 20 years.
Gary
 
No doubt on the second opinion. Thanks for the info. Gary, was that on the same shoulder and what was the rehab time... Did she get most of her range of motion back????? That lady must be a tuff lady. I had both knees done at the same time but Faye seems to be having more trouble, and it is a more complicated joint. Thanks again........
 
She's as tough an Irish woman as you'll ever run into. It was the same shoulder, and we had to go to Boston to have it done. It had to be a "reverse" installation; she has no rotator cuff left, and her bones are in tough shape due to osteonecrosis. She got a lot of range of motion back, but can't really reach back over her head. Its tough rehab, some months. I had a rotator cuff 95% torn through, that surgery to repair it was rough...months of EXTREMELY painful rehab. All so I can keep on casting fly rods! I had a hip replaced last year and was walking without a cane 5 days after surgery. Same guy did my shoulder and hip. and he did Bridget's shoulder the first time. But he didn't have the equipment/staff her in smalltown Vermont to do the reverse installation. By reverse I mean the ball is now on her shoulder and the socket is on her humerus. Man, you oughta see the screws that show up on xray!
Gary
 
I have never seen them do a shoulder replacement that was not a reversal. Ankles and shoulders are the most painful surgeries. Shoulders even more than ankles.
 
Check at the Cleveland Clinic, probably the best place in your state for a second opinion on pretty much any and all medical problems.

Yes, shoulders can be replaced...but...have it done IF it needs to be done by someone who does dozens a year, not only 2 in his life.
 
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