[David Jones]

Last February I managed to make both shoulders sore when I broke down and loaded our trade show booth. Sore shoulders are fairly normal for me, so I didn't think much about it. Headed towards home after work a few days later, I reached over into the passenger seat to get something and felt something give up in my right shoulder. It's hard to describe the feeling, but I nearly drove off the freeway. I pulled over, the "pain" eased a little and I headed on home. No doubt I hurt something but I had a regular Dr's appt a few days later so I figured I start there. Probably cost a few days.... Dr. Adam's put me in for an MRI and first discussion about an orthopedic Dr was had. Immediately the insurance company turned the MRI down and said I needed an x-ray first. OK. It's their money, but more time killed. I had the xray and at the same time set up an appt with an orthopedic surgeon my mom and wife had seen in the past. Dr Young looked at the xray, which he confirmed was as insurance co waste of time and money and said the next step would be a shot, which he did immediately. I forget the time line, it's been so long ago, but the shot was also a waste. At my follow up, Dr. Young sent me for an MRI. At the MRI follow up, Dr. Young said nothing other than some swelling (along with the standard arthritis/tendonitis etc) showed up. We had a long discussion and we convinced each other that he needed to go look. A "scope" procedure was set up and I had that, I think back in April. Basically, my scope involved an operating room, 4 slits in the shoulder and a camera. Dr Young said immediately he saw the problem. When I reached over to the passenger seat I'd knocked a pretty large chunk of cartilage off of the head of the humerus bone. Why didn't the MRI show that? He nor the radiologist can explain that. Anyway....he cleaned up the mess as best as that procedure would allow and hoped scar tissue (he named it, but, well...) would help fill in for the cartilage. Nope. A few weeks later...at another follow up, a new plan was hatched. I was set up for surgery again, but this time it would be "real" surgery. (the scope seemed pretty real ) Dr Young had three choices, depending on the damage he found.

Put a metal cap over the area missing the cartilage.

Do the same but with some shoulder cartilage replacement, if needed.

Complete standard shoulder replacement.

He chose the least invasive and went with the metal cap. That required taking the shoulder apart and popping the head of the humerus bone out the front of the shoulder. Recovery would a months long process, since ligaments and bones were involved. Slowly I felt better and by October I decided I'd live. Then something happened. I didn't have another pain moment but at some point in November I noticed the skin in my underarm area dragging in places I'd never noticed. I guess that sounds weird, but I didn't have a pain moment, things just began to feel a bit weird and then the aching/hurting started ramping back up. My next follow up was in early January. I made it until mid December and decided something was amiss. Certain movement felt like I was plowing a trench through the shoulder with a metal cap. I'm sent for a "metal supressed" MRI at the December visit. The Thursday before Christmas Dr. Young calls and says that the sub scapulary (believe that's right) muscle group have torn off from where he put it with a mechanical fastener. "Didn't that hurt?" I noted the weird skin contact thing and he said if that timing was it, chances are that muscle group isn't going back, if that was the case, we had a problem. Let me consult with a few people, but this is going to take a while since we're in the Holidays now. "Hang in there." A couple of weeks ago Dr. Young's nurse called and said that after talking to a few Dr's, Dr Young felt like the best course was to turn me over to a shoulder specialist at UAB. IF the timing of the separation was what he's thinking, I'd need a special surgery called a reverse replacement, which wasn't in his Dr's bag. Welcome Dr. Ponce, Professor at UAB Birmingham. I have an appt with him on Jan 22nd.....after he gets back from a weeks vacation THIS WEEK.

[1965gp]

Man that’s sucks- I’m sorry. I’ve torn my shoulders a few times and have done everything to avoid surgery. Sounds like you are in this till the end now.

[Mr Anonymous]

I feel for you, definitely. I had rotator cuff surgery for each should done in my 30s. One 2006, one 2007. The doc noted severe damage, bone spurs, arthritis, etc. The left one was arthroscopic, the right one has a big-ass scar. I asked the doc about the right one. "Only thing holding your arm on was skin". 4 Ti pins later, we are good. Its been almost 15 years, I can throw a concrete block on the roof of the house should I ever need to. Hope not anyways. I'm back to bending down, picking up a bare engine block, and putting it in the back of the truck.

It was so hard to not "overdo it" during the recovery.

[ta6point6]

A lot of the stuff insurance companies make you do is a waste of time/money but they make the rules. In a lot of total joint replacement scenarios MD's have to show that they have given conservative treatment a chance like steroid shots and physical therapy for several months. Then insurance might authorize a MRI or CAT scan otherwise you pay out of pocket and if you have not met your deductible, you are paying anyway. Reverse shoulders are pretty common now a days, basically a total hip, similar joint motions. Good thing you are going to a specialist for the reverse shoulder. A lot of Orthopods are general Orthopedists but most have a sub specialty and that is what they mainly deal with upper or lower extremity injuries. Medicine like technology is advancing in leaps and bounds. Good luck with surgery

[1abagto]

In July June 2019 it was determined that I needed shoulder replacement surgery. The Dr said there were two types of surgery that could be done the reverse shoulder replacement surgery, and the "partial" shoulder replacement. I questioned him about the long term affects and which surgery would least impact my hobby of working on cars. I told him that I do not sit around, but am pretty active. the Dr then said we should do the "partial shoulder" surgery. They clean out the socket, and replace the ball. The Dr felt that this partial surgery would suit me better and hold up better because I am so active. I don't know your situation and if this is even an option. Best of luck to you with your surgery. Rick

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by 1abagto

In July June 2019 it was determined that I needed shoulder replacement surgery. The Dr said there were two types of surgery that could be done the reverse shoulder replacement surgery, and the "partial" shoulder replacement. I questioned him about the long term affects and which surgery would least impact my hobby of working on cars. I told him that I do not sit around, but am pretty active. the Dr then said we should do the "partial shoulder" surgery. They clean out the socket, and replace the ball. The Dr felt that this partial surgery would suit me better and hold up better because I am so active. I don't know your situation and if this is even an option. Best of luck to you with your surgery. Rick

Thanks Rick, it’ll be a few days before I know what awaits me, but my current Doc seems to think the reverse replacement is my only option given the time the muscles have been off.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Always been curious on how to avoid shoulder woes. Former Boss had "bone/cartilage spurs"removed; his arm was in a sling for a few months.

None of the Bowlers have ever complained about their shoulders. (knees & wrists more likely). Fits my theory that the shoulder builds cartilage bumps from lack of use (like when compressed at night), and that regular use grinds them to bittles for re-absorption onto the cartilage pack.

My suspicion has been the mattress pressure at night harms the Shoulder. Fits my overall suspicion that we have the most bodily harm done while sleeping. I'd love to design & market a proper bed & pillow design!

My right shoulder has soreness at night; makes me roll over onto the left shoulder which my heart never liked since i was little. So i need a mattress fix.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Always been curious on how to avoid shoulder woes.

I started with sore shoulders and Dr diagnosed arthritis/tendinitis/bursitis when I was 25-30. I raced dirt bikes, worked at pretty physical jobs, played softball, split firewood etc to get there. I worked and played to get to this point and I wouldn't change a thing. I'd loved to have gone bass fishing over the last year, one of my favorite things to do. Casting would have been tough, setting the hook would have probably killed me and if that didn't do me in, I doubt I could swim.



I pray I can go fishing in 2020.

[77 TRASHCAN]

Praying same for you, along with healing from the Almighty!!!

I've been through a insane kidney stone ordeal in last 3 months. Hope yours are under control. I will make a post about that for everyone to beware of, soon...

[77 TRASHCAN]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Always been curious on how to avoid shoulder woes. Former Boss had "bone/cartilage spurs"removed; his arm was in a sling for a few months.

None of the Bowlers have ever complained about their shoulders. (knees & wrists more likely). Fits my theory that the shoulder builds cartilage bumps from lack of use (like when compressed at night), and that regular use grinds them to bittles for re-absorption onto the cartilage pack.

My suspicion has been the mattress pressure at night harms the Shoulder. Fits my overall suspicion that we have the most bodily harm done while sleeping. I'd love to design & market a proper bed & pillow design!

My right shoulder has soreness at night; makes me roll over onto the left shoulder which my heart never liked since i was little. So i need a mattress fix.

When you find a mattress that works, I would like to know!!!
I keep thinking those beds that are adjustable might help me...none of the seemingly good ones are very cheap...

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

Praying same for you, along with healing from the Almighty!!!

I've been through a insane kidney stone ordeal in last 3 months. Hope yours are under control. I will make a post about that for everyone to beware of, soon...

Many thanks. I actually passed a kidney stone a few weeks after the second surgery. I couldn't believe it and actually HATED to tell my wife! I felt it coming on and having a good bit of experience it stones, I tried to deal with it myself. Hydro-Codone, taken for the shoulder, does nothing for a KS. I ended up at the emergency room and after I pee'd a container full of red pee, the hooked me up with some IV drugs. Amazing results through chemistry. The radiologist said it was a 4mm stone. A week later I went to my urologist, who couldn't find it with an Xray, though I still had blood in my pee. Possibly I passed it? Hardly. A few spells and a week later, it still didn't show up on an Xray and my urine was clear. Probably I passed it. A week later I passed a 6.5x3x3mm stone.



No, I still have stones and the CT showed a few more.

[tooski]

I did a search on the reverse replacement as I did not understand what is actually done. Normally the ball is part of the humerus and is captured by the socket. The ball is reversed and is put in the socket and is captured by the end of the humerus. From the pictures I saw there does not seem to be much socket in the humerus to capture the bone. As I have zero medical training I am sure that there is a lot more going on than what internet pictures show.

[Half-Inch Stud]

Instinct tells me to cut a rude hole in our mattress to accomodate the shoulder.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by tooski

I did a search on the reverse replacement as I did not understand what is actually done. Normally the ball is part of the humerus and is captured by the socket. The ball is reversed and is put in the socket and is captured by the end of the humerus. From the pictures I saw there does not seem to be much socket in the humerus to capture the bone. As I have zero medical training I am sure that there is a lot more going on than what internet pictures show.

I'm not sure about the mechanics, but they also put a different group of muscles in play with a reverse replacement. When I read that, I kinda laughed. Do you have to think about wiggling your toes to lift your arm? Hopefully my questions will be answered on the 22nd.



I'm ready.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Half-Inch Stud

Instinct tells me to cut a rude hole in our mattress to accomodate the shoulder.

The little lady might think otherwise.......

[stu72]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

When you find a mattress that works, I would like to know!!!
I keep thinking those beds that are adjustable might help me...none of the seemingly good ones are very cheap...

Made the jump to a Air Number bed a few years ago. They are not cheap by any means but they do help with shoulder pain. A few years ago I had a MRI done and the report had shown a tare with a bunch of other stuff I had no time for. Lol
Needless to say I will need to get it taken care of at some point. Maybe........

[David Jones]

Thank you for your email message Todd553. I couldn't figure out how to respond back, so hopefully you'll see this. No doubt, I have a lot of questions....at this point, I don't really know what they are.

[Will]

David, best of luck with your procedure(s) and recovery. Be sure to do whatever PT they recommend and really go at it.

I've had three knee surgeries and one shoulder surgery but nothing quite as complicated as what it sounds like you're going through. I don't know what you have in your area for medical centers & doctors but around here we have quite a few Orthopods who deal with athletes and I would highly recommend finding the best sports medicine Orthopod you can. The doc that did both my shoulder (Labrum reconstruction) and my most recent knee surgery (ACL replacement for second time in same knee) did an outstanding job and the outcomes have been better than with previous doctors. He has worked with professional athletes and was (or maybe still is) the team doctor for the Sounders soccer team and Storm WNBA team. Sports medicine docs just seem to have a better handle on what needs to be done to regain long term functionality, IMO.

[Johnny406]

David,

My father had the reverse shoulder joint surgery a few years back. He's 72 now, but I'll gladly get you in touch with him to discuss it if you like?

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by Will

David, best of luck with your procedure(s) and recovery. Be sure to do whatever PT they recommend and really go at it.

I've had three knee surgeries and one shoulder surgery but nothing quite as complicated as what it sounds like you're going through. I don't know what you have in your area for medical centers & doctors but around here we have quite a few Orthopods who deal with athletes and I would highly recommend finding the best sports medicine Orthopod you can. The doc that did both my shoulder (Labrum reconstruction) and my most recent knee surgery (ACL replacement for second time in same knee) did an outstanding job and the outcomes have been better than with previous doctors. He has worked with professional athletes and was (or maybe still is) the team doctor for the Sounders soccer team and Storm WNBA team. Sports medicine docs just seem to have a better handle on what needs to be done to regain long term functionality, IMO.

Many thanks.
We have some of the best medical facilities in the country in the Birmingham Alabama area. I live about 15 miles away. My original Dr is a partner in Precision Sports medicine and works out of my preferred hospital. He was going to do a "standard" shoulder replacement during my 2nd surgery in May, had he felt the need. When this latest complication came up, he felt like the better course of action was to send me on to UAB's (the University of Alabama, Birmingham) shoulder specialist, Dr. Ponce. Dr. Ponce is also a professor at the UAB Medical School. His bio notes that he completed a "shoulder fellowship" at Harvard as part of his training. "Dr. Ponce’s Clinical practice is primarily dedicated to reconstruction of acute and chronic injuries and disorders about the shoulder girdle"