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headed toward a shoulder replacement...

Ewo

Ewo

a/k/a Steve Cooper
Apr 2, 2008
7,871
10,285
Huntington WV
#1
Hey, gang--I'd appreciate any thoughts, comments, personal stories, whatever you have to offer.

I'm an old cat (65+), still out there gigging regularly. I really dig my band and my bandmates; we work a long weekend (Friday night, Saturday night, and a Sunday matinee during the warm weather) each month at our regular club, and sometimes a one-nighter at another venue.

My right shoulder is completely shot (glenohumeral arthritis), and the range of motion has been pretty limited for the last couple years. I've been able to keep playing, but I went to an orthopedic surgeon today about it to see what my options are.

He said a complete shoulder replacement is the best course of action.

I've been pondering it, googling some stuff about the operation, and of course asked the doc about how the recovery period would affect my musical adventures.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. Guess I could just keep doing what I've been doing without the joint replacement, but the pain is pretty intense sometimes.
 
#2
Your health and well being trumps (or should do..) bass playing any day. Yes, it will take some time to get back to playing, after an operation, but if you don't have one, things may get worse. In which case, your playing could be finished...permanently.

I'd have the operation.

This.. from a 61+ year old cat ! ;)

Best of luck in whatever you decide.
 
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#3
Well, thanks for the reply, youngster! ;)

Doc says the joint is kaput, but it's up to me when to get the replacement done. I'm not risking my hand becoming paralyzed or something, by putting it off for a while--but the range of motion of that arm will continue to deteriorate.
 
#4
I don't know anyone with a shoulder replacement, but I know people who have knee or hip replacements. What they all seem agree on is:

1. Don't wait. The sooner it's done, the sooner you get relief.
2. After a couple weeks of physical therapy, most of the range of motion is back and pain has mostly gone away.
3. For the pain to completely go away, it will take several months. Possible a year. So don't get discouraged if you still has a little pain 4 or 5 months after surgery.

Good luck!
 
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#7
Groove Doctor said:
@Ewo - have you seen anyone for rehab yet? Physical therapy, shoulder rehab exercises, gentle swimming, etc.?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion. Yeah, I tried using Robin McKenzie's techniques for rehab. (They've worked great for periodic neck pains.) Didn't help. Been taking glucosamine/chondrointin for years, and I figure it did hold off the deterioration for a while but the clock's run out on that.

Got X-rayed today. The way the orthopedist put it is that the end of the upper arm bone is supposed to be round where it meets the scapula, and mine isn't, anymore. Both the end of the humerus and the glenoid where it pivots are worn out. I wasn't surprised he recommended I go bionic with new parts.
 
#9
Obviously everyone manages recovery differently, but my experience (at 41 years old, and it was my fretting arm, stage life became an ordeal) was that the first month I couldn't play because of the slings and straps. In the second month I was noodling around in the living room. I did 3 times a week physical therapy, but it was still slow going. By month four or five I was doing 2-hour coffee shop gigs, and at 6 I was doing 4-hour shows, but not two days in a row.

At 10 months after the fact I was solid again, though I did miss my guitarist offering to drag my cabinets to the car for me :)

Ten months sounds like a long time, and it sure felt like it at the time. But my overall quality of life is greatly enhanced, and stage life is fun again.
 
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#10
Groove Doctor said:
Tried swimming yet? Gentle breaststroke is extremely beneficial, and about the last thing you can do before it completely packs it in.

Seen anyone at all for Physical Therapy?
Click to expand...

Well, it's not one of the soft tissue problems (like a rotator cuff or SLAP tear). I get it, problems like that will respond well to physical therapy. Actually, years back I had a SLAP tear from mountain biking and physical therapy healed it up well enough without surgery.

This time it's that the ends of the bones are messed up, where they meet.

Appreciate the suggestion, though.
 
#12
Wandering Bass said:
Obviously everyone manages recovery differently, but my experience (at 41 years old, and it was my fretting arm, stage life became an ordeal) was that the first month I couldn't play because of the slings and straps. In the second month I was noodling around in the living room. I did 3 times a week physical therapy, but it was still slow going. By month four or five I was doing 2-hour coffee shop gigs, and at 6 I was doing 4-hour shows, but not two days in a row.

At 10 months after the fact I was solid again, though I did miss my guitarist offering to drag my cabinets to the car for me :)

Ten months sounds like a long time, and it sure felt like it at the time. But my overall quality of life is greatly enhanced, and stage life is fun again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the personal experience. Wow, a longer recovery time than I'd hoped... OTOH, it could be fun to set off metal detectors with the replacement parts... (Lemons to lemonade and all.)
 
#13
Groove Doctor said:
This stuff is my day job. See it regularly. Try it - don't try it - you decide.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm not blowing the idea off. But please clue me: how could physical therapy help if the pain and loss of motion is caused by loss of cartilage and misshapen bones at the point of contact?

Again--not arguing! I just don't get the concept.

Do you mean it might be a misdiagnosis?
 
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#14
I've seen patients with "bone-on-bone" who are virtually pain free because they do daily exercises. Exercise can reduce pain, improve strength and maintain joint function. Swimming is often enough for some people.

Find someone good and follow their prescribed exercise program. No guarantee, but worth trying. Hell of a lot cheaper than surgery, and you'll have to do rehab exercises post-op anyway.
 
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#15
Ewo said:
Hey, I'm not blowing the idea off. But please clue me: how could physical therapy help if the pain and loss of motion is caused by loss of cartilage and misshapen bones at the point of contact?

Again--not arguing! I just don't get the concept.

Do you mean it might be a misdiagnosis?
Click to expand...

It wouldn't. I'm guessing that he didn't read the details of the joint. I hate when medical professionals don't listen before they start diagnosing and recommending.
 
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#20
Ewo said:
Hmn, thanks for your comments, all. I haven't yet committed to the surgery (we left it I'd call if I decided to have it done).

So you figure I oughtta go to a physical therapy place for another opinion?
Click to expand...

Go to another DOCTOR for a second opinion. As credible doctors always use invading the body as a last resort, if you have two well-regarded doctors tell you that surgery is the fix for the quality of life that you want then surgery is the fix. Bone on bone might be fine for a sedentary person but if you want your quality of life then a replacement makes sense.
 
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