Shoulder surgery (Page 5): I suffered most of my life with limited motion and pain. I finically got my left shoulder replaced and have way more range of motion and strength. Work hard...

CurleyB Loc: MAITLAND FL

I suffered most of my life with limited motion and pain. I finically got my left shoulder replaced and have way more range of motion and strength. Work hard during your physical therapy (NO whining!) and you will be amazed how quickly you recover.

marquina Loc: Richmond, Virginia

foggypreacher wrote:

Hey Hogs,
Have any of you had shoulder surgery and still been able to take good photos? In two weeks I am having complete should replacement surgery on my right shoulder. Yep, the one that does most of the camera maneuvering. If you had the same, were you able to overcome the restrictions and still take good photos?

Thank you in advance for your help.

I highly recommend getting laser therapy as part of your rehab program. It'll help you heal faster, stronger prosthesis integration to the bone and with better tissue quality. I have been working with therapeutic lasers for about 20 years and I have seen the benefits in post-op situations and just plain osteoarthroses. Best of luck!

MoT Loc: Barrington, IL

In What Hospital are you having the operation. Make sure you do a google search for both the Dr. and Hospital. Make sure that they accept your health insurance so you don't get surprise bills.

I had rotator cuff surgery and was back at taking photos in short time. PE is a must. In the meantime work on editing images on the computer to stay with your photography. Good luck and quick healing.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

foggypreacher wrote:

Hey Hogs,
Have any of you had shoulder surgery and still been able to take good photos? In two weeks I am having complete should replacement surgery on my right shoulder. Yep, the one that does most of the camera maneuvering. If you had the same, were you able to overcome the restrictions and still take good photos?

Thank you in advance for your help.

My wife had the shoulder join replaced September 9th by an excellent surgeon out here in Colorado. He did such a good job she is back at her job typing away. Yes, she is weak in that arm and physical therapy kicks her ass. The only reason she uses her arm sling now is if she is out and about to make people avoid bumping into her. Accept for the weakness in her arm, she really has very little restrictions. Because of the surgey, she will not be able to reach directly over her head, but the missing over all pain is a blessing to her. If you have this same surgery (there are two types for shoulder replacement surgeries) and a good surgeon, you should be in fairly good shape in three weeks time.

aellman Loc: Boston MA

foggypreacher wrote:

Hey Hogs,
Have any of you had shoulder surgery and still been able to take good photos? In two weeks I am having complete should replacement surgery on my right shoulder. Yep, the one that does most of the camera maneuvering. If you had the same, were you able to overcome the restrictions and still take good photos?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Your physical or occupational therapist should be able to help you re-acquire the necessary skills.
Best of luck!

Bill_de Loc: US

foggypreacher wrote:

Hey Hogs,
Have any of you had shoulder surgery and still been able to take good photos? In two weeks I am having complete should replacement surgery on my right shoulder. Yep, the one that does most of the camera maneuvering. If you had the same, were you able to overcome the restrictions and still take good photos?

Thank you in advance for your help.

In part it depends on if you could take good pictures before.

Best of luck for a speedy recovery!

--

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Bill_de wrote:

In part it depends on if you could take good pictures before.

Best of luck for a speedy recovery!

--

Reminds me of the old joke.

"Doc, will I be able to drive 250 yards after my shoulder surgery?"

"Yes, you should be able to recover full functionality."

"Great, I can't hit over 150 now..."

Andy

JustJill Loc: Iowa

Gene51 wrote:

Similar experience - 75% tear of my left shoulder ... (show quote)

I had rotator cuff repair and biceps tenotomy in February and am still in recovery mode. I had 5 months off work. I still do not have all my ROM and strength. I am still doing strengthening exercises. The sign in my PT cubicle says it all: I am not saying it is going to be easy, I am saying it is going to be worth it.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

JustJill wrote:

I had rotator cuff repair and biceps tenotomy in February and am still in recovery mode. I had 5 months off work. I still do not have all my ROM and strength. I am still doing strengthening exercises. The sign in my PT cubicle says it all: I am not saying it is going to be easy, I am saying it is going to be worth it.

Prior to my wife's shoulder replacement, my wife had three of your surgeries between her two arms. The recoveries were very long for that kind of surgery. She will be having her other shoulder replaced early next year. If it wasn't for the way therapy is painful, she would actually consider having her other arm done this year. We are both 69 years old so this recovery time is not about being young. It is totally dependent the type of surgery and how good the surgeon is.

scooter1 Loc: Yacolt, Wa.

wdross wrote:

Prior to my wife's shoulder replacement, my wife had three of your surgeries between her two arms. The recoveries were very long for that kind of surgery. She will be having her other shoulder replaced early next year. If it wasn't for the way therapy is painful, she would actually consider having her other arm done this year. We are both 69 years old so this recovery time is not about being young. It is totally dependent the type of surgery and how good the surgeon is.

Very well put wdross. Take the avenues to check out the surgeon! Didn't do that on back surgery and have regretted that for 13 years. Good luck!

jayluber Loc: Phoenix, AZ

tonyparl wrote:

Had the surgery after a bad fall...all went well and was back to full rotation in about 4 weeks. Only residual is a loss of some strength which can return with physical therapy. Good luck!

You had full replacement surgery and back to full rotation in 4 weeks?????? That hard to believe.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

foggypreacher wrote:

Hey Hogs,
Have any of you had shoulder surgery and still been able to take good photos? In two weeks I am having complete shoulder replacement surgery on my right shoulder. Yep, the one that does most of the camera maneuvering. If you had the same, were you able to overcome the restrictions and still take good photos?
Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi, foggypreacher!

Writing as a retired Physician, not an Orthopedic Surgeon, I just did a little online research with respect to your question. I was not surprised to find that there are a few different surgical procedures that could all qualify as being a "complete shoulder replacement surgery" (as you wrote it.) Thus, while your collection here of anecdotes might be useful, keep in mind that many may not be applicable to the exact type of procedure you will undergo. Therefore, you might want to consult your Surgeon or Rehab Physical Therapist directly about this matter.

Below are a few references, at least one of which may prove enlightening.

https://shoulderarthritis.blogspot.com/2017/12/shoulder-range-of-motion-after-joint.html

https://www.uwhealth.org/files/uwhealth/docs/sportsmed/SM-38571_Shoulder_Arthroplasty.pdf

Recovery following Total Shoulder Replacement, 1:58 video, https://youtu.be/FlPLH1q2SnY

Good Luck!
lev29

suterjo Loc: Delaplane, VA

My wife had both shoulders done (one a reversal) and has no problem once the healing process was complete.

Joint replacement has come a long way so I don't think you need to worry. Do the rehab as you're told; don't slake off. And have it done by a surgeon who does lots and lots of shoulder replacements. Teaching hospitals are the best since they have the latest techniques and perform plenty of operations.

Good luck.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

jayluber wrote:

You had full replacement surgery and back to full rotation in 4 weeks?????? That hard to believe.

Depends on the type of replacement surgery. While not totally recovered, my wife is back in business as far as working. She is a travel agency owner and is typing 9 to 12 hours per day. Her arm is still weak but useable even for fairly long hours. It has only been three weeks. She has never recovered from any other surgeries like she has from this one. She is actually looking forward to having her other shoulder replaced because of the success of this surgery.

home brewer Loc: Fort Wayne, Indiana

I rotator cuff repair after falling down a hill in France. I pitched forward and protected the camera. That said the recovery was long. It took lots of PT. Now two years after the repair it still hurts; but I am lifting as much as I did before the fall. But I go to the gym 5 days a week.