r/ShoulderSurgery

Hello everyone . I am a 63 y o male who is not active due to other physical conditions. I am scheduled to have total reverse shoulder replacement surgery on 4/29/26. This is being done because the first rotator cuff surgery failed. Apparently the anchors didn’t hold and I had an injury to my bicep that the surgeon said he couldn’t repair (reattach) because the injury was too long ago. So now, I am looking at a second surgery but a total shoulder replacement with new ball and socket, tendon, muscle grafts and smoothing out arthritis-related bone problems. With the first surgery I had the nerve block which was nice as far as absence of pain but I didn’t like the full, swelling type of feeling it gave me. I guess my question is what will I likely experience in recovery that might be different from the first (same dominant side) rotator cuff repair. I understand that sleeping will probably be difficult, doing household tasks with my non-dominant arm, using several pillows etc.. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Hi all! My husband, 59, is scheduled for reverse replacement next week. He had a total knee replacement a year ago. His recovery from that was BRUTAL. We’ve been told this won’t be as bad. I know, depends on the person, etc. He’s ordered a bidet thingy for the commode, is currently out buying a recliner, and we have plenty of ice packs. What else? What is the surgeon, who sugar-coated the TKR before he did it, not telling us or warning us about? Thanks everyone!!

I am having clavicle surgery and I am on methadone. I will need more pain meds than that. What kind of meds work best for shoulder surgery pain ? What should I ask for if I get an option? I was on oxycodone 10mg for the first few months of the break using it infrequently. Please advise.

I had a very exciting snowmobile accident that almost completely tore my labrum "hanging by a ribbon" and beat the hell out of my rotator cuff but no tears there. Also caused a chondral defect and now have bone-on-bone advanced arthritis.

Surgery is in 2 weeks for a labrum repair including a bicep tenotomy.

Besides movies and tv, what got you through the recovery boredom? I'm hoping to play some stardew but I'm not sure how much you're actually allowed to use the immobilized arm's hand.

Recently went through bankart + remplissage on left shoulder with a hill sachs deformity. Been massaging my shoulder pretty deep since week 2 post op. At week 3 post op. Is it joever for me , did I mess up

I'm absolutely exhausted. Emotionally, mentally, and physically. I was injured at work December 7, 2024 by carrying a cryo cuff ice bucket for a patient who had shoulder surgery. I am employed as a nurse for the VA. I love my job. I don't know if I will be able to return to work in the same capacity, and if I do, I would not be surprised if I'm let go. i know the legally cannot use my injury against me for termination, but there are always loopholes (she's not compliant with CPR, she's not up to date on trainings, etc). I've seen it done to coworkers who were let go due not being current on CPR while on leave (our CPR is completed every 3 months). I've been out for 17 months. I had two surgeries in a 8 month time span (Surgery #1 was a bicep tenodesis, capsular release, SLAP repair, and debridement in April 2025. Surgery #2 was MUA, extensive debridement, with repairs to labrum and RTC due to fraying in December 2025). I am 3.5 months post-op from my second surgery, and I'm still in excruciating pain (7-9/10 on a daily basis. I think it's become my baseline now). PT has stated I should not have this amount of pain (it's a cap of pain on my shoulder. It's a sharp, searing pain, primarily on the front edge where the RTC tendons join the shoulder, and along my clavicle.....I'm not sure how to fully describe it). I can't sleep on my operated side (which is the side I *usually* sleep on). I can't lift my arms to brush my hair or teeth without pain. Taking a shower is challenging, but can be done, it just takes a while. Picking up a cup is painful. Wearing a bra? Pffft....forget about it. Putting dishes away into a cabinet that is eye level is excruciating. I have to rely on my husband for *so* much. He says he doesn't mind, but I do. I've always been extremely independent, and hate asking for help, especially with simple tasks. It's starting to take a toll on my wellbeing. I'm typically extremely independent, but I am no more. My husband and I have started going on walks to get us out of the house and get some type of exercise.

I'm currently waiting for a approval for a second (third) opinion to see if anything else can be done. Personally, I think I have a tear the MRI missed since contrast dye was not used (even if ordered, I can't have contrast due to a fish/seafood allergy). I know MRI's are deemed the *gold standard* but they can be wrong.

I'm just venting due to frustration, but if anyone has any ideas, I'm ready to hear them. 🙂

I am 44 days out of shoulder surgery after almost 6 months immobility, I have atrophy in my shoulder, arm and hand. I also have chronic tendinosis and a partial tear in my elbow tendon, and that surgery will come after my shoulder stabilizes. I returned to work part time this week and I am so exhausted. I can’t actively lift my arm yet. All the small movements, the light keyboarding, all the muscles in my hand, lower arm shoulder neck are just hurting from all these small movements. I am so exhausted tonight, I couldn’t move off the couch. They are telling me I’m going to be about nine months to a year of straight physical therapy to get out of this because of the atrophy, and then I have the elbow to focus on.

Long story short, I had a car accident. Immediate neck pain and debilitating shoulder pain. I can't lift things and barely raise my arm, constantly in pain. Doctors are back and forth on what the source is; the herniated discs or the shoulder itself. 2 years and a few MRIs all came back normal ( a little tendonitis and bursitis, but docs say doesn't explain my extreme pain). I just got results from my nerve study and emg and it all looks normal. Before I had the emg doctors were certain the herniated discs were pushing on the nerves and that I would need disc replacement to fix it and I was beyond ready after 2 years of this. But now that the nerve test aren't showing compression we're all confused. ANYONE DEALING WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE!???

Had the Mumford procedure four weeks ago along with some cleanup of bone spurs. First two weeks were fairly painless and now I have constant pain in my shoulder. I’m not lifting more than 5 pounds (intentionally) and I’m doing my physical therapy. Does anybody have any insights on this procedure and how long the pain lasts? I’m anxious to get back to a normal life.

I recently had a bankart + remplissage on my left shoulder 3 weeks ago. My physical therapist, 2 weeks post op, told me I should massage the shoulder even though my orthopaedic surgeon said I shouldn’t (I found out after). It’s swollen and it hurts a little. I’m planning on getting an mri this coming weekend. Am I screwed???? If ur reading this pls pls help me im terrified

I had surgery in December to remove a plate and screws from a full ac reconstruction the year before. The surgeon also repaired a cc ligament and ac joint capsule and did a debridement. It’s been 4 months and I’m not making any progress. My range of motion is really good, but I can’t take on any load without flaring up in pain at the top of my shoulder. It is so bad that I went back to see the surgeon. We took X-rays and he said everything is structural exactly as it should be. My physical therapist says the same thing and that my only issue is that the ball isn’t gliding up smoothly into the socket (a mechanical issue). He said once we strengthen the rotator cuff muscles, the mechanics should fix themselves. The problem is even the lightest bands or weights flare me up. I’ve had 4 surgeries on this shoulder in the past 4 years, and that’s a lot of trauma in a short period of time. I’ve been reading about potential nerve issues - something about my nervous system interpreting pain at very light load because it’s hypersensitive.

Anyone ever been through anything similar? I feel stuck and have no idea how to break out of the loop of minor PT, flare up, calm down, repeat.

Hey everyone, 3 weeks today post surgery, had hill sachs legion, 20% glenoid bone loss. Seems to be going pretty smoothly, progressing in pt. Hardest part seems to be mentally, seems like I dwell on a re dislocation episode, it’s so traumatic to think about haha. Just seeing if anyone has had positive experiences. Don’t really need any more negative stuff in my life. Sling for 6 weeks, had me start pt 3 days after surgery and been consistent twice a week since. Slow Progression every time.

I am a 30 year old male, have been diagnosed with slap tear in my left shoulder. I have read numerous posts and gotten opinions from different people

My question is, is it worth doing the surgery?

post surgery almost a week now I was given exercises to do at home. will physical therapy be increasing my range of motion I hope?? also don't ride electric unicycles.. lol

I know there might be a limited audience for this question but what the Hell. about 18 months ago I got an anatomical replacement of my left shoulder. Very happy the searing pain is gone but as a body builder I can't seem to get past the pain on certain movements. Didn't take me long to get back in the gym and start serious weight training but with chest and shoulders there's pain that isn't improving on incline presses and overhead presses. Less so on flat bench and almost none on decline. The most pain and some instability is all with my arms above midline. I'd be open to suggestions for improving the discomfort with exercises in those arcs of movement. TIA

I’m currently about 24 hours post op from my arthroscopic labrum surgery, I’m wondering if hitting the pen will help cope with the pain? Or if it will mess up my healing?

I had an anterior, lateral, and posterior labrum repair about 10 months ago. My surgeon said that my shoulder should be back to normal by 12 months but it still hurts from time to time. I can exercise moderately (lifting and normal calisthenics) but it's still sore on days when I'm not active. It's also painful to sleep on that side and I'm a side sleeper which sucks. My function is fairly normal and if I just have to live with the pain that's fine but I'd like to hear someone else's experience.

What has your recovery been like? Is anybody else experiencing similar symptoms this long after labrum surgery? I'd love to hear your experience with surgery recovery and sorry if I posted in the wrong area.