r/ShoulderSurgery

She has already had rotator cuff surgery a few times so we kinda know what to expect, but I was wondering if there were little things that might get overlooked that make things easier for her, that people didn't think about pre surgery. Thanks!

Hi guys

I need advice regarding my shoulder dislocation.

My shoulder dislocated for the first time in 2022, and after that I was admitted to the Accident Ward, and doctors relocated my shoulder properly. After that, my shoulder dislocated a second time in like 2024. The first time and the second time, doctors said to do exercise and attend the clinic, but I couldn't do it properly. After years without any proper exercise or clinic, my shoulder dislocated a third time in April 2026. This time, I was able to relocate my shoulder by myself, and I didn't do any exercises either. For the fourth time, my shoulder dislocated the day before, and I wasn't able to relocate it by myself. This time, I felt more pain, so I was admitted to the accident ward, and the doctors relocated it properly. So I need advice on how I can prevent future dislocation, and has anyone faced this? Please be kind enough to drop a message because now I am a little bit scared about what will happen in the future, and how I will know if I need surgery or not? If I do surgery, will it prevent future dislocation? Also, I hope to go to the gym as well, so guys don't hesitate to share your opinions and thoughts about my situation. I would love to hear from youra side.

Had a Total Reverse replacement on my non dominant arm at the end of May. Compared to having my knees replaced this has been a total cakewalk. I do have a little...more discomfort than pain mid arm where they hammer the implant into the bone and have a little pain in the elbow but all of this is pretty normal. Still even with the limitations of movement....really can't easily reach the center of my back...but I couldn't do that before.

I need to start the strengthening portion on my own at home but was given no restrictions. I will start on that and also start prepping the other arm so i can get it done in the spring. After both knees and a shoulder almost back to back I have some much needed projects around the house to attend to and some bike riding to get in before it turns to Winter. Im looking forward to Spring for the 2nd one.

The short story is that I was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer 4 years ago. Now in remission. Leading up to my diagnosis and through treatment I was on a lot of steroids that have caused 50% of the humoral head in my left (non-dominant) shoulder to die and collapse. I’ll be going in November for a partial replacement. What should I expect post-surgery, both short and long term? What are my realistic limitations after I recover and finish PT?

My doc said I can get another cortisone shot or I can get shoulder arthroscopic bicep tenodesis and distal clavicle excision for my torn labrum and AC joint arthritis. Not big on another shot, since it won't last and you're limited in how often you can get them. But I keep seeing horror stories about these surgeries and how people just aren't the same after them.

Is it worth it? How bad is the recovery? Am I better off just doing PT, even though so far that doesn't seem to be helping either. Any guidance/insight appreciated.

Has anyone had success transitioning to PT at home rather than going in for formal PT after week 8? I am at the 8 week mark and have been going to PT twice a week since 4 weeks post-op and I find the physical therapists to be so generic and time wasting as they just give me lectures and do a couple of minutes of exercises each time. I am very diligent about following all rules with weight limits and only doing the week appropriate exercises at home for homework and think I can do this on my own. I plugged all information (including type of surgery) into AI and get a very similar outline for a program as I currently get from my actual PT. Just curious how needed they actually are and if others feel this way.

I am considering having my shoulder replaced using a doctor in Phoenix who has been doing Subscapularis (rotator cuff) Sparing Shoulder Replacement. With this procedure the recovery time for the first 3 months is supposed to be much faster since they don’t have to cut the rotator cuff.

It’s a very new procedure and I wanted to see if anyone else has had this or was considering this over traditional shoulder surgery? Thanks.

I’m in Australia (Sydney) and have been diagnosed by two different surgeons as needing a reverse shoulder replacement on my non-dominant arm. I have quotes from them both and they differ by around $10K. Surgeon A envisages sending me home the day after surgery, all being well. Obviously there is the option for extra days if needed, but surgeon B is budgeting for four days in hospital as normal.

I’m struggling to understand the disparity. How long have people here been in hospital for this surgery?

Greetings. I had full shoulder replacement 13 days ago. I was told I could not schedule PT until after my first follow up visit (in a week) but was able to convince them to place the order yesterday. My first PT session is not until the 8th of September, 5 weeks and 5 days after my surgery.

I am doing pendulum swings, but it is my understanding that PT should start well before the 6 weeks mark. I don't want to wing this, but should I start looking into possibly learning PT before my appointment? It seems that my hospital does what is best for their scheduling, not my recovery. I am feeling pretty good at 13 days.

Greetings.

So I had full shoulder replacement 13 days ago and am progressing well. My friend keeps asking me when I want to go to the club (he wants to go 3 weeks and 2 days after the surgery) and I keep telling him no.

I explained to him that all the tendons/ligiments/muscles were severed and re-attached and need time to heal, but God bless him he keeps asking. I finally texted "use your brain." He texted back that he was insulted and I should be grateful that he wants to hang out with me. I texted back that yes I was grateful, but that going clubbing would be way to risky at 3 weeks....probably still risky at the 12 week mark.

He texted back "get well" but I am sure still feels insulted. I am 64 and he is 59. I do enjoy the date night with the wife but don't think it is wise for someone in my condition.

Should I just ignore the exchange, or should I make more concilliatory overtures to him?

Greetings. After 4 days of Hell (multimodal pain management did NOT work for me,..I have a story of some very uncaring health pros that is beyond the scope of this post) I started feeling a lot better. I started pendulum exercises the day after surgery and moving my arm up and down with no weight. Also squeezed the ball they gave me.

By day 9 I was feeling very little pain (stopped all opioids 2 days before) but was still in my sling 24/7 and only doing pendulum exercises. On day 10 I got more aggressive with PT exercises, spent a few hours out of my sling and did some light housework (like dishes). I used my non operative hand to raise my operated hand up to shoulder height.

I experienced enough lingering pain (a pretty good amount) that I took a Vicodin last night. Today I am doing the same PT exercises and light housework. My wife flew out of town with my son on day 6 so I am doing everything myself, like bathing and cooking every day.

I definitely am experiencing some pain, but my question is, am I doing to much, or is moderate pain a healthy part of the healing process at this point? I have no problem pushing myself at this point, as long as it is good (not bad) form recovery. All the PT videos I see have patients doing the more aggressive exercises, but they only say they are for "weeks 0 through 6." They are not specific. Are we to get more aggressive week 2, or wait a bit later?

I play the guitar semi-professionally. Osteoarthritis in my right shoulder (right-handed player so this is my pick hand) has gotten exponentially worse since the beginning of the year, after decades of just being occasionally annoying. (It may be a coincidence but it went dramatically downhill after a cortisone shot in January wore off in March. First time I've had one.) The latest evaluation showed that the cartilage is gone, and the doctor said I'm a candidate for a replacement. He said when I want to do it, he'll do a more detailed evaluation including MRI to determine if it will be anatomical or reverse.

What does recovery look like? I need to figure out how long I be unable to perform. The doctor and PA have given some scenarios but I want to hear from actual guitarists who have been through it.

Hi all! For those of you who have had a shoulder surgery, and now have decreased range of motion following the surgery… How much has it impacted your life? What can’t you do anymore?

I’m considering a capsular tightening surgery due to instability caused by a traumatic dislocation 7 years ago in my right shoulder (loose capsule visualized on MRI and mechanical instability in assessments but only a few subluxations per year, not continuing to dislocate). Because I am mildly hyper mobile the surgeon stated she usually tightens it a little bit more than the average person because it is more likely that I will stretch with time.

Right now I have full range of motion with pain… and I expect decreased range of motion with less pain after surgery.

For those of you who have decreased shoulder range of motion, was it worth it? What can’t you do? Is your pain less?

Thank you. I’m so scared for this surgery! But 7 years of pain and instability has been disabling to say the least!

This is my first post to any of the forums dealing with shoulder pain/shoulder replacement surgery.

I am 69 years young, do not use tobacco/nicotine, 5'8" 180lbs, retired, right-hand dominant and remain very active, walking 3-5 miles 3 times a week and 3 days a week in the gym with program developed specifically for me by Exercise Physiologist. Unfortunately, I have severe DJD of my LEFT shoulder with half of the cartilage absent in the glenoid fossa, with bone on bone humeral head against the fleonoid fossa. Fortunately, my rotator cuff remains intact. I have had formal PT which I continue as part of my gym program; I have had two injections into the left shoulder and two into the left biceps tendon area, a total of four steroid injections each 3-6 months apart, within the past two years. The most recent injections gave no relief whatsoever.

I have seen Dr. Matthew Williiams of Lafayette LA. I did research, and he did a total shoulder fellowship at UT Health Sciences Center, and a second 'reverse total shoulder' fellowship in France. He specializes in shoulder replacement surgery, and recently completed the first robotic shoulder replacement in Louisiana. Dr. Williams explained that my 'bone on bone' was 'end-stage' osteoarthritis due to an injury years ago, or just bad luck and degenerative dissolution of the cartilage. I am looking at having the surgery sometime in January or early February, as some previously scheduled travels/obligations cannot be postponed or delayed. 

I plan to continue my exercise regimen up until the time of surgery, especially working on shoulder support muscles and upper back/arm muscles.

Specifically, are there any members of these subreddits that are active in either freshwater or saltwater fly fishing? If so, how was your casting before and subsequently after the TSA? How long in weeks/months after the TSA were you able to return fully to an active fly fishing schedule?

Any and all information is appreciated.

I just chose a laz-z-boy for post op rear reverse shoulder replacement. They are (as of 8/10/26) running a Labor Day sale of 30% (more on selected floor models.). I’m 5’1” and the “Pinnacle Power Wall Recliner w headrest and lumbar” in fabric is a very good fit.

Hi all!
I’ve (35f) had a horrible chronic injury for 8 years and finally a doctor is offering me a treatment! My shoulder was traumatically dislocated 7 years ago and it’s been unstable and in incredible pain since.

I’ve gotten a few opinions and both surgeons agree I have instability and anterior capsular laxity (on MRI). They both agreed plication of the anterior capsule will likely help my stability and pain.

I can’t find many patient testimonies online which really help to give me confidence so I’m hoping to find some here. Anyone have a similar surgery?

I also want to know that I am naturally hypermobile, but my other shoulder is just fine. And I understand it may stretch out again so that’s a risk I’m willing to take, but I’m most concerned about stiffness and the pain that may be associated with being overly tightened… any experiences with this?

Edit: i’ve done several rounds of physical therapy over and over, it causes so much pain that I’ve consistently been unable to progress. So at this point, I have failed out of conservative treatments.