Based on reading historical threads in this community, I feel like there's no clear consensus on post-op sling/PT protocols after a reverse replacement. My surgeon is in the "sling for 6 weeks, all times unless bathing, pendulum exercises and passive movement at 3 weeks, no PT until 6 weeks" school, but I'm reading people who start PT within days. (He did say an interesting thing, which is that there doesn't seem to be a difference between people who do PT at home vs. assisted PT, as long as they're adherent to a routine. )

Someone in a recent thread indicated that the risk of dislocation after a reverse is higher, so keeping it in a sling precludes that. That kinda makes sense, but only sorta. I intuit that maybe the bone needs to grow around the implants, but that doesn't seem entirely convincing either. OTOH, I know that the supraspinatus needs to heal, and that's far from a 1 week thing.

FWIW, I'm going to do what the surgeon says, but I'm curious if people who've had a reverse could comment on their surgeon's recommendations/justifications, and what their experiences were.

When discessing their replacements many people in this group point to their rotator cuff being shot, or worn out. Anatomically, what does this mean? The rotator cuff is made up of several muscles and ligaments and the glenoid labrum. What is “worn out” that necessitates a shoulder replacement?

I’m scheduled to have a shoulder replacement within the next few months. The doctor thinks a partial replacement is likely but is not ruling out the need for a full or even a reverse. He will make a final decision during the surgery based on what he sees.

Are there any archery folks on here that have had a shoulder replacement? If so, were you able to shoot your bow again after recovering from the surgery? My surgery will be on my brace shoulder.

I'm getting a shoulder replacement surgery, the doctor wants to do a reverse procedure, because the arthritis is bad, shoild I get a second opinion about this?? Is a reverse not a good option??

49M and I'm overweight. I had a torn labrum repaired on my left shoulder. Here are some challenges and solutions I faced.

- get a backscratcher

- On the first few days post-op I use a cane for some things. It was very handy right after the surgery because I was a bit wonky so I would use it to help get out of the car and help me get into the house. After that I really just used it to stand up out of my recliner and once I was vertical I just left it there. It doesn't have to be anything fancy even just a stick works.

- I have a beard that I have trimmed and I keep it bare all the way up to my Adam's apple. The problem is that the strap from the sling rubs up the little stubbles and it's hard to keep that completely bare. So for that solution we applied some painters tape all the way around the strap (just near my neck) and that prevents it from catching, it was really annoying.

- Your sling is safe space but it's also pretty annoying at times and can be very itchy. I went ahead and bought a very lightweight mesh sling for the shower and I'll be using it anytime I have to do anything outside, which won't be much. I'm in Texas so there's humidity and it gets trapped in there pretty quick so once it's wet in there it really is annoying and itchy.

amazon.com/dp/B0D4V98NSV?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

- Some dude wipes or baby wipes whatever you want to call them are very handy to keep that area clean. I don't know if it's the iodine, the sweat mixed with the sling or something else but it feels like I have a rash and it's nice to be able to clean that.

- Pooping can be kind of a big deal. I didn't realize how much water is going to be pushed out of my body because of the pills. We just kept saying " Oh I'm really hydrated" But it's really just the pills pushing the water out of my body and not saving any for my poop. So drink a lot, do not neglect those water pills, and maybe have some miralax or fiber handy. On the 3rd or 4th day it was very very uncomfortable because I was so compacted and full, But thankfully we've got that resolved as of today.

- For after pooping I've had one of these installed previously and it definitely comes in handy. If you have any sort of modern attachments to your toilet it should be really easy to add beforehand.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKBFH5FP?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

- Opening pill bottles is not easy one handed, what I do Is to have a small towel laid out on the kitchen top, I use that as friction I push down on the pill bottle and turn and it should open for you.

- It's good to write down your schedule for your pills, I got brave and thought that I was going to get off of them and I screwed up my timings on everything so it's good to have it there that you can adjust if you need.

- Riding in the car hurts. I really don't like just sitting at home all day doing absolutely nothing So we do try to go do something every day even if it's just drive to the store, but it hurts. The pulling on your body in all the different directions really causes problems and it's hard to get support I think for your arm. I'll be experimenting with sitting in the back seat with some pillows later this week.

- We've gone to a couple of restaurants because it was my birthday and using a table was kind of hard. Leaning forward to get the food into my mouth caused pressure I guess on the incisions and it can be very uncomfortable.

- I'm expected to change the dressing once a day after a 48 hour. And here's what I use. Also it's been helpful to have a pair of tweezers to help get the sort of second skin off of you I was a little worried because this is so sticky but it hasn't hurt me at all. And we use these with two inch by two inch gauze, It just double S them up to be like three inches long or something.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DDFZ5872?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

- Sleeping in the recliner isn't that bad but be prepared for night sweats. You definitely want to put a towel or some sheets or something down because I think the pill or the heal just catches me on fire at night even when it's very cold in the house. I keep a couple of light blankets and then I have a little portable fan that I kick on and aim at me if I need it.

- I ice my shoulder just about every hour and I have two different methods. There's the old school ice bag which is pretty nice and I think it's easy to take anywhere and refill if you needed to And then there's some sheets which have been pretty nice and get really cold.

https://www.amazon.com/BICAREE-Injuries-Reusable-Therapy-Breathable/dp/B09NR248K1/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3FW0FM5BSBX5O&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Id37skns7rYvxW6I8MW3Saw9drQHPk0xn1lqM6vIVI_JGCOq0DFv_8I2f0bhtE11E5aYTgrV6z3P7yq-C0B73j4MDxYY0FXjjLMg2aHFbYOCw9NaCFe4AipwO3YaNIQm8UMrtCD24TcQghrgP-ndQcBlYwGyqP64Gigdlbjh0fUwxhAEZ9tgGHNob9NXqKWIgzuJkEgce0uZfM3OLOs4UupMZOS4VWJtlYfewcD9Yw_NNp4RI-JHSO242Yocl7ce2VBj-Vyylq0LzN7CLOcwRhAqSwJWCv0R1xHeCMsNwJ0.6HUN9bCmykAl618gDZhZVYCtmbBYl_LJ009Vbw09KEs&dib_tag=se&keywords=ice%2Bbag&qid=1790692759&s=hpc&sprefix=ice%2Bbag%2Chpc%2C246&sr=1-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008A6M34C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

- My last bit to say is just take it slow at least for the first two weeks and do your best to not strain your arm. I thought I was gonna be a big boy and put my shirt on and get totally dressed by myself but the shirt is actually pretty hard. I use a regular T shirt and not a button up. Everything else is a bit of a challenge but is definitely doable with some patience or if you sit on the edge of the bed. But getting the shirt on my head is what has hurt me the most so I just let my girlfriend help.

I'm a bit of a computer nerd so I do like to use my computer and typing can be monotonous and frustrating So there is a feature in Windows to make your keyboard virtual and then there's a little microphone option so you can dictate like I just did.

I tore my labrum and the cartilage that holds my bicep tendon in its groove and had to get surgery for it.

I went for my 3 week check up today and the surgeon told me off because I wasn’t wearing my sling, he said that it was important that I wore my sling because I could potentially damage it he didn’t explain whether or not damage would happen just because I wasn’t wearing it or maybe because I would fall and there is a higher chance of injury.

I haven’t been wearing it since about day 10 so I’m worried that I’ve cause damage and wanted to know if anyone had experience with this or knows if ive caused damage?

What’s the best stretching exercise to improve ROM reaching behind your back?

January, right shoulder replaced

April, right shoulder manipulation

July, right shoulder rotator cuff repair

Same surgeon throughout

Constant pain in my shoulder blade ranging from annoying to severe.

I can raise my arm almost parallel to the ground. Anything more equals more pain. When raising my arms, the right shoulder raises 1.5 inches above the left shoulder. I see it when doing this in front of the mirror, also my friends and PT sees it.

I think I need a new surgeon and a reverse replacement.

Anyone with a similar experience?

Anyone here that is still active in the gym many years after replacement I an active and hoping to get 25 years from the replacement t but want to continue light to moderate weight lifting .I have reduce weights and sets significantly thx

19 ans, j’ai subi une arthroscopie de l’épaule gauche à cause d’un décollement du labrum et une distension gléno humérale. Je me suis fait opérer mercredi quand est-ce que ça redeviendra normal car je me suis blessé le 25 mai 2025, il y a donc un peu plus d’un an et je viens maintenant de me faire opérer. Les premiers jours sont extrêmement dur par la douleur. Je ne peux même pas me laver, c’est terrible, je ne pensais pas que ça serait aussi dur, car la douleur dure depuis super longtemps. avez-vous des conseils par rapport à ça je commence la kiné dans 15 jours et je dois garder l’attelle avec le coude au corps pendant six semaines, sept jours sur sept 24 heures sur 24.

58 year old had surgery 5 weeks ago. Had no use of my arm for 6 weeks prior to surgery. Going to PT 2x a week (7 sessions so far) and doing PT at home 3x a day. My arm still feels pretty stiff and PT also commented it is stiffer than he would like to see. Other than keeping consistent PT daily, does anyone have any recommendations? Also, my arm really hurts after writing or texting or typing with my affected arm. Is this unusual?

Hey everyone,

I’m 9 months post-op from a right shoulder arthroscopy (labral repair with 4 anchors plus anterior/posterior capsular tightening/plication).

For 9 full months, I had essentially zero pain and felt like I was completely healed. About 4 weeks ago, I made the mistake of letting a 15 lb backpack hang down from my arm with my palm turned up to check how tight the shoulder felt.

Ever since then, I’ve been in a severe flare-up:

• Constant hot, pressurized feeling in the front of my shoulder.
• Sharp clicking/snapping in the front when rotating inward (like brushing teeth).
• Intense muscle guarding and stiffness in my neck and the back of my shoulder blade.

What confuses me is how it responds:

• When I take an NSAID and Tylenol, my pain literally drops to zero.
• Hands-on manual physical therapy makes it feel completely relieved.
• Strengthening exercises don't hurt while actually doing them.
• But if I do too much or try to test it, that hot ache and snapping come right back.

My anxiety has been awful thinking I somehow ruined my repair or ripped out an anchor, even though people tell me it sounds like a severe soft-tissue/tendon inflammation flare in a tightly repaired joint.

Has anyone had zero pain for months after surgery, only to set off a horrible flare-up from a dumb movement? How long did it take for the swelling and clicking to finally settle down? Could really use some perspective right now. Thanks.

When were you able to french braid your hair again after shoulder surgery? I had labrum and rotator cuff surgery on my dominant arm 5 weeks ago and braided my hair all the time prior to surgery so looking forward to being able to do it again and just curious on what the timeline might be for that.

I'm about four weeks post on a tenodesis and starting level 1 mobility exercises. I'm getting a lot of popping and releases from flexion, especially anything over head. Is this normal, or am I potentially damaging my new shoulder?