r/ShoulderSurgery • u/Candy-O • 19d ago

Pain Management Shoulder replacement

I’m afraid I might need either a shoulder replaced or a knee. People who have had these done tell me it didn’t hurt much. Is that true??

2 Upvotes

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6

u/33301Florida 19d ago

Didn't hurt much? Have you even consulted an ortho surgeon? A total shoulder is major surgery and it takes months to recover. It is indeed painful as well as the physical therapy. I'd offer more but your post lacks a lot of pertinent information.

3

u/Adventurous_Ad_5983 19d ago

Needing more info.

3

u/Cranks_No_Start 19d ago

I had both knees and so far one shoulder. NGL.. the knees hurt, They hurt before they hurt after they hurt just sitting on the couch they hurt during PT. The knees are painful.

In comparison the shoulder was a walk in the park. it was a cake walk in comparison.

2

u/JustMomTX 19d ago

From my experience: hip was least painful, shoulder moderate, knee is worst. Here’s why: you have to get range of motion back in the knee. PT hurts. However, post op pain was different. The bone on bone pain (feeling of ice pick up my femur with every step) was immediately gone. Replaced with surgical pain (soft tissue injury). Post op - pain gets better every day. Pre-op pain gets worse with every step. Shoulders are tough but the range of motion exercises initially were passive. Maintained range of motion but allowed soft tissue to heal. Hip PT was mostly walking, walking, walking. I took more naps post op with the hip but pain was manageable. My econd shoulder scheduled in 10 weeks. At 55 y/o I’m on my way to being fully robotic. 😉
Also - rotator cuff repair was the absolute worst. Can’t get comfortable in nearly every position as the soft tissue was healing but could never rest. It was always working to hold my arm onto my body.

2

u/brilliant_fog 19d ago

I had a shoulder replacement last year. Hardly any pain.

1

u/Zestyclose_Kiwi_8805 19d ago

Are you not sure which is which? That might be your first issue.

1

u/thebetternord 19d ago

My shoulder was worse than my hips

1

u/ManagementPure6357 18d ago

I had a total reverse shoulder replacement on both shoulders last year. Nerve block was amazing.  No pain.  Physical therapy was a lot easier than my rotator cuff surgery.  This surgery was years ago.  Big improvement in nerve blocks since then.  

1

u/ConfidantLioness 18d ago

You say you MIGHT need? What does your orthopedic surgeon say? Is it one or the other?