MultiCare Orthopedics & Sports Medicine<\/a>. \u201cPeople tell me, \u2018I didn\u2019t even know you could replace a shoulder.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\nAlthough not as well-known as hip\u00a0or\u00a0knee replacement\u00a0\u2014\u00a0which most people are familiar with through friends or family members who have had one\u00a0\u2014\u00a0shoulder replacement is equally transformative.<\/p>\n
Why consider a shoulder\u00a0replacement?<\/h2>\n
The shoulder is an incredibly complex joint that gives the arms immense range of motion and function. It allows you to reach, lift, throw, carry, comb your\u00a0hair\u00a0or grab something from a high shelf.<\/p>\n
But when\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0experiencing pain in the shoulder joint from arthritis,\u00a0a\u00a0rotator cuff tear or a fracture, simple movements can become difficult or impossible.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor many people, the tipping point is sleep,\u201d Dr. Van Dyke\u00a0says. \u201cThey come in to see me because they\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0sleep. They\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0find a comfortable position to sleep in, and it starts affecting every part of their life.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shoulder replacement can relieve that pain and restore lost motion \u2014 sometimes even when\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been years since\u00a0a person could\u00a0lift their arm overhead.<\/p>\n
When other options\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0help your shoulder pain<\/h2>\n
In many cases, physical therapy (PT) or other nonsurgical treatments come first.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk through the anatomy of what\u2019s happening in the shoulder, talk about their specific goals and go through their treatment options,\u201d\u00a0Dr. Van Dyke\u00a0explains. \u201cPT might be the best option for them and might get them to the result they\u2019re looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n
But if nonsurgical methods\u00a0haven\u2019t\u00a0helped,\u00a0or if the tissue in the shoulder is too damaged or not suitable to be repaired, shoulder replacement surgery\u00a0may be worth considering.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just for people with completely nonfunctioning shoulders,\u201d he adds. \u201cEven patients with ongoing pain or limited strength may benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n
How shoulder replacement works<\/h2>\n
Shoulder replacement involves removing the damaged parts of the shoulder joint and replacing them with artificial components. Unlike hip and knee replacement, shoulder replacement often needs to account for soft tissue, especially the rotator cuff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some cases, we can adjust the mechanics of the\u00a0joint\u00a0so you don\u2019t need every muscle functioning the way it used to,\u201d Dr. Van Dyke says. \u201cThat\u2019s what\u2019s so exciting \u2014 being able to restore motion and function even when the anatomy isn\u2019t repairable.\u201d<\/p>\n
What\u00a0shoulder surgery\u00a0recovery looks like<\/h2>\n
Shoulder replacement surgery is typically followed by a few months of recovery and physical therapy.<\/p>\n
In the first six weeks, expect to focus on gentle movement and protection of the joint.\u00a0You\u2019ll\u00a0wear a sling and begin basic exercises to\u00a0maintain\u00a0mobility.<\/p>\n
After six weeks,\u00a0you\u2019ll\u00a0work on restoring range of motion and building strength. It can take a few more months for strength to be fully restored.<\/p>\n
Compared to knee replacement, shoulder replacement surgery\u00a0generally involves\u00a0less post-operative pain and a slower, more gradual rehabilitation process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe give patients very specific instructions on exercises they need to do, but it\u2019s typically not as aggressive or\u00a0rehab-intensive\u00a0as recovering from a knee replacement,\u201d Dr. Van Dyke\u00a0explains.<\/p>\n
Life-changing results<\/h2>\n
While most shoulder replacements are done in midlife to retirement age, Dr. Van Dyke says he sees a wide age range.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn younger patients, we often try repair-focused surgeries because the tissue is more responsive,\u201d he says. \u201cBut as we age, that healing potential decreases, and that\u2019s when replacement becomes a better option.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dr. Van Dyke recalls a patient who\u00a0hadn\u2019t\u00a0been able to raise his arm above his head for some time.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was very distraught about it; he felt like he didn\u2019t know what to do,\u201d Dr. Van Dyke says. \u201cWe talked through his options, and he decided to move forward with replacement surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Dr. Van Dyke saw him at a follow-up appointment a few months later, the man raised his arm effortlessly\u00a0over\u00a0his head and had tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said to me, \u2018I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d ever be able to do that again,\u2019\u201d Dr. Van Dyke recalls. \u201cI\u00a0love\u00a0when I can see patients improve. It\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0get old.\u201d<\/p>\n
You\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0have to live with shoulder pain<\/h2>\n
If your shoulder pain is interfering with sleep, daily activities or the ability to care for yourself,\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0assume you have to live with it. Discuss your symptoms with your doctor or other health care provider.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, some people accept they have a bum\u00a0shoulder\u00a0and they\u2019ll never reach overhead again,\u201d Dr. Van Dyke adds. \u201cBut with the right approach, we can get that motion and their quality of life back.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0dealing with persistent shoulder pain\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0affecting your sleep and daily activities, you might be surprised to learn that shoulder replacement could be an option for you. \u201cI hear it all the time,\u201d says\u00a0Rufus Van Dyke IV, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with\u00a0MultiCare Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. \u201cPeople tell me, \u2018I didn\u2019t even know you could replace a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":451,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-orthopedics"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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