Shoulder replacement surgery.
3 month(s) ago • 529 views • 46 replies
Friends, I am 43 year old black belt and compete a few times a year. But I need a full shoulder replacement. I know I am too young for it still and I’ll never be the same. Anyone with experience with shoulder replacements? How long was your recovery time? When were you back to at least drilling. Do you recommend doing? Will I be able to compete again? It’s getting unbearable even with my every 3 month injections. I am also an avid Power Athlete as well. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. (Edited 3 month(s) ago) |
Joint replacements have a shelf life before needing replacing. That's why they say you are too young. As you would need another replacement in your lifetime. Now as for how long on those replacements. Depends upon activity. As the more rigorous the activity the quicker it wears out. As it won't adapt to load or stress in comparison to organic tissue. My advice would be get an appointment with a health professional who can get a detailed subjective history and help give an informed clinical decision on best courses of action. In my experience with rehabilitating joint replacements it's about expectation management and adaptions to current training regimes to improve quality of life. Also time lines on rehab and when a replacement will happen is patient dependant as we as clinicians have to consider training age, previous injury history, previous medical history etc. |
I am looking at double hip replacements in the spring at 48 years old. If they are saying you're too young I would get a second opinion. It is true that replacement joints have a shelf life. But it's also true that if you wait too long for a replacement it can make it much worse to get done. Meanwhile, your quality of life while you wait will be in constant decline and a second replacement isn't nearly as traumatic to your body as the first. So your choices are to do it now while you're young and strong and have a better life for 20-30 years before you need it done again, or suffer for the next 20 years until they say you're old enough and then endure a surgery and recovery with a body that isn't nearly as resilient as it is now. When I first started researching hip replacements I found research that said (these numbers are approximations because I'm not going to try to dig up the paper) something like 80% of replacement joints last 25 years, 85% last 20 years, and 90% last 15 years. Doesn't sound that promising for those of us that need replacements early, but consider that a joint that's 25 years old is made with 25 year old technology and think about how much better a modern replacement joint might be. |
Not the shoulder for me, but I do have a total ankle replacement, that was the 5th surgery on that joint. Unfortunately I had that at 35 years old. I turn 40 next week. Also "too young* but needed hence the surgery. From my personal experience with my joint replacement it was unfortunately a solid year plus. I can a do roll, but unfortunately Ican feel that joint when rolling and the level of intensity of competition is not something that I am willing to risk. And yes I will without a doubt need a revision at some point. I've been. In a gi for more than 30 years between Judo and BJJ. The hardest pill to swallow for my situation was that fact that I wouldn't be able to compete anymore. As soon as I got passed that I hit the mat, limitations and all. Not saying that you wouldn't be able to compete again, just be mentally prepared for that possibility of have to shift gears. |
The consultant will know best. As that is what their specialism is in. I deal more with the rehabilitative care post surgery or the conservative management of the joint if they opt to not have it replaced. I have a paitent who I am caring for who deferred their replacement due to the prehab we are doing is helping their symptoms. But they will be reviewing it in 12 months to see if they wish to defer again. This is in the UK though unsure of other health care providers. |
"I guess it's also worth asking why it needs replaced. My hips have developed bone spurs that severely limit my range of motion. If you just have tissue problems there may be other solutions to help you." Yeah man wear and tear, they say I have a 90 year olds shoulder. It’s from 23 years in the marines and army and 14 years of training and weight lifting I assume lol. |
Here's something of an inspirational story for those of us looking at total shoulder replacements: https://www.youtube.com/w[...]tUrPiILqhg |
"Dang. Best of luck to you all in your recovery. I need both my knees replaced, but I'm not ready to do it. I'm 50 and don't see myself getting them done for many years. I just hobble around as best I can. :)" I know a guy who had both knees replaced and continues to do jump squats and powerlifting. He is like 56. Modern technology and medicine is kinda amazing. |
"Friends, I am 43 year old black belt and compete a few times a year. But I need a full shoulder replacement. I know I am too young for it still and I’ll never be the same. Anyone with experience with shoulder replacements? How long was your recovery time? When were you back to at least drilling. Do you recommend doing? Will I be able to compete again? It’s getting unbearable even with my every 3 month injections. I am also an avid Power Athlete as well. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks in advance." One of my coaches is not much older than you. His ortho wanted to replace his shoulder years ago. But he can’t stand the thought to not be able to train or compete. He has been using PRP (plasma injections) and some peptides to help it. He said it helps a lot and it keeps him on the mats. I don’t recommend it but the plasma injections are expensive. So after he saw it done a few times, he bought a centrifuge and does it himself now😂 |
As of the two week followup yesterday, my surgeon was very confident that the repair was good. He said the surgery went perfectly, and when I expressed concern that I was feeling some instability he told me there's no way I'm unstable, and my shoulder is probably tighter than it was before the injury. Must just be my body misinterpreting the signals from the still-tender joint. Hope your new shoulder treats you well and your recovery is smooth. It's amazing that you're already starting tomorrow, it seems the repairs are slower than the replacement! You'll have to let us know how the bionic joint compares to OEM. |
I'm considering a replacement vs shoulder clean up. I'm about 47 yo and have been a life long athlete. Football, soccer, volleyball, through college, downhill mountain bike racing, competitive crossfit and weightlifting, now jiu jitsu for the last 6 years. I have damaged both shoulders through multiple mild separations and had a rotator cuff labrum repair about 7 years ago. Doc said I'm a good candidate due to bone on bone, arthritis, bone spur, and multiple large fragments. Glad you started this topic and sorry to see so many are going through replacements. The good I see is that people are going hard! I'm looking forward to updates. |
I'm 51 and in a similar boat, with bilateral severe shoulder arthritis, "goat's beard" deformity and VERY limited range of motion but am still training and competing. I avoid cortisone shots due to the adverse joint effects they can have, but my pain was getting so bad that sleep was becoming impossible without ice bags and NSAID's. PRP also did little for me but I do have some autoimmune issues. I'm curious about peptides and if anyone has tried stem cells. I'm skeptical of massive improvements due to arthritic changes and keep hoping the longer I wait, the better the replacement tech will get? One game changer for me has been High Intensity PEMF therapy. I bought a higher end pemf mat after positive results in my Doc's office and use it daily. This treatment along with diet improvements has me sleeping throughout the night, able to train 3-4 times a week, and down to nearly zero NSAID's for the past year. Dude doing his own PRP had my jaw hit the floor. DIY Savage. |
"I'm curious about peptides and if anyone has tried stem cells. I'm skeptical of massive improvements due to arthritic changes and keep hoping the longer I wait, the better the replacement tech will get? One game changer for me has been High Intensity PEMF therapy." I tried supplementing with bpc-157, as well as some collagen peptides, but in the end, I think my shoulder was just too far gone :(. I think the one thing out of this list I didn't experiment with, prior to the total replacement, was stem cells. I tried the pemf for a few months, probably averaging ~5hrs/wk, but unfortunately it wasn't much help with my shoulder or hip, but that's awesome it's working for you. If you're still in a lot of pain, and especially if it's disrupting your sleep so much, and assuming you've tried pretty much everything else, maybe you should seriously consider a replacement. Yes, you're right, replacement technology is bound to improve, but if you get it replaced now and it lasts 20 years, then you can get the upgrade in 20yrs, instead of gimping around in pain for the next 20 years waiting for it to be perfect. Basically, if you're too young for one replacement, then you're definitely old enough for 2 replacements. Lol. This was my dilemma/logic as well, as a guy in his mid-40's. |
Just got out of my sling last week. Doing tons of PT now, along with work around the yard. I've got about another 5 weeks until I see the surgeon again for what I hope will be the last time. Feeling better each day, and it's reassuring to be able to take my arm to spots that were very painful prior to surgery, with no pain now. |
"Just got out of my sling last week. Doing tons of PT now, along with work around the yard. I've got about another 5 weeks until I see the surgeon again for what I hope will be the last time. Feeling better each day, and it's reassuring to be able to take my arm to spots that were very painful prior to surgery, with no pain now." Really happy to hear that. :) |
"Just got out of my sling last week. Doing tons of PT now, along with work around the yard. I've got about another 5 weeks until I see the surgeon again for what I hope will be the last time. Feeling better each day, and it's reassuring to be able to take my arm to spots that were very painful prior to surgery, with no pain now." That is awesome to hear! |
Yes awesome. Cant wait to see how you do when you start training again. After this year of competition I might get it done. We shall see how you do. Or I’ll train and compete till the arm falls off. I did get submitted today by a dope brown belt (should be a black belt) tapped to train another day. I’m in some pain right now lol. |
