Is chronic shoulder pain disrupting your life? Shoulder replacement surgery might be your best option to restore shoulder movement and function. If conservative treatments have failed, let’s explore when is the right time to consider shoulder replacement surgery.
Signs & Symptoms for Shoulder Joint Replacement Surgery:
You might be a candidate for shoulder replacement in the following instances:
Persistent Shoulder Pain
Chronic shoulder pain that interferes with daily activities and rest is unmanageable with medication or other types of non-surgical treatments and disrupts sleep or routine tasks.
Limited Range of Motion
If you're unable to move your arm above your head or behind your back and conservative treatments like physical therapy haven't improved your range of motion.
Severe Arthritis
Shoulder osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis causes the cartilage in the shoulder to wear away, leading to bone-on-bone contact, pain, and stiffness.
Complex Fractures
Fractures that affect the head of the humerus (the ball-shaped top of the upper arm bone) or the glenoid (the socket of the shoulder joint) where the fracture fragments are displaced or if there is accompanying damage to the surrounding tissues.
Failed Previous Shoulder Surgery
If a previous shoulder surgery, such as a rotator cuff repair, hasn't been successful and you're still experiencing significant issues.
Ultimately, the decision to undergo shoulder replacement surgery is about improving your quality of life. Shoulder replacement surgery can be a long-term solution to regain mobility and reduce pain as most shoulder replacements last longer than 10 years.1 Consult with Dr. Daneca DiPaolo, an expert orthopedic surgeon experienced in shoulder replacement surgery, to determine if you may be a candidate.
Dr. Daneca DiPaolo is a highly-skilled, board-certified orthopedic surgeon located in Grenada, Mississippi. She offers the latest orthopedic techniques and provides quality, compassionate, state-of-the-art orthopedic care.
