Benefits of a Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Your shoulder is a very important joint in your body and moves more than any other joint. The slightest amount of pain around them can cause great discomfort. So, if it hurts so much that, for instance, you can't reach into a cabinet or you can't sleep well, your orthopedic surgeon in Deltona may suggest replacement surgery. This procedure can ease your pain and make it easier for you to move around. There are many benefits that shoulder replacement surgery can offer you.

What Is Shoulder Replacement Surgery?

A shoulder replacement is a surgery that replaces damaged parts of the shoulder joint with artificial parts called prostheses. This is to try to get rid of pain and dysfunction. Shoulder replacement surgery is usually the go-to surgery for osteoarthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, avascular necrosis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Benefits of Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Generally, shoulder replacement surgeries are an option to help you:

• Feel less pain,
• Get stronger,
• Increase your range of motion, and
• Use your shoulder and arm again.

How it Works

An orthopedic surgeon will use metal or plastic to replace the natural bone in the ball and socket of your shoulder joint. It's a major operation so expect to be in the hospital for a few days. You'll also need physical therapy for a few weeks after the surgery.

There are three kinds of shoulder replacement surgery:

1. Total Replacement Surgery

This is the most common type of shoulder replacement surgery. It takes the ball at the top of your humerus and replaces it with a metal ball that gets attached to the rest of the bone. Then, the surgeon puts a new piece of plastic over the socket.

2. Partial Replacement Surgery

Only the ball gets replaced in a partial shoulder replacement.

3. Reverse Shoulder Replacement

Most of the time, you would get this if your rotator cuff muscles got torn. It is also an option when a previous surgery to replace the shoulder doesn't work. The surgeon puts a socket on the top of your arm, and the metal ball is attached to your shoulder bones. The benefits of a reverse shoulder replacement surgery are as follows:

• It helps your shoulder depend on a different muscle. In a reverse shoulder replacement, the position of the new ball and socket is different. Because of this change, the large deltoid muscle now supports and moves the shoulder instead of the rotator cuff.
• It stabilizes your joints. Tears in the rotator cuff and arthritis weaken the shoulder joint, causing pain, loss of motion, and instability. Through reverse shoulder replacement, the joint is stabilized and made stronger.
• Reverse shoulder replacement is a treatment option for people who would not benefit from traditional shoulder replacement.

Signs You May Need a Shoulder Replacement Surgery

If you have any of the following signs, you may need shoulder replacement surgery:

• Your shoulder pain is so bad that it makes it hard to do things like wash your face, get dressed, or reach into a cabinet.
• Your shoulder doesn't move as well as it used to.
• Your shoulder isn't as strong as it should be.
• You're in so much pain that it keeps you from sleeping well at night.
• You've tried painkillers, cortisone shots, and physical therapy, but nothing has helped.
• You've already had arthroscopic surgery, rotator cuff repair, or fracture repair, but it didn't help.

If you are curious if you are a candidate for shoulder replacement surgery, talk with our orthopedic surgeon in Deltona to schedule an appointment with our specialists today.