Reverse Shoulder Replacement | Johns Hopkins Medicine

Dr. Edward McFarland explains a reverse total shoulder replacement as a complex procedure that is warranted by certain conditions. The major difference between a standard shoulder replacement and a reverse procedure is that in a reverse shoulder replacement the ball and socket parts of the shoulder joint switch sides. This means their natural position is reversed. Call to request an appointment with one of our shoulder experts if you have shoulder problems that may require shoulder replacement at 443-997-2663 (BONE) or visit hopkinsmedicine.org/ortho #shouldersurgery #JohnsHopkinsOrthopaedics
FAQs
0:02 What is a shoulder replacement?
1:29 How does a standard shoulder replacement differ from a reverse shoulder replacement.
2:26 Why would one choose a reverse shoulder replacement?
4:24 What does recovery after reverse shoulder surgery look like?
5:41 If I had a failed shoulder replacement surgery in the past, can another shoulder replacement surgery be done to improve it?

[@lauracamuso6950]

I'm 66 yrs old & had total complete reverse shoulder replacement in April 2023. I hadn't been able to move/use my right arm in 3 yrs due to arthritis. I was in a sling & taking a huge amount of Advil, Aleve & Asprin daily just to be able to walk & breath. 9 different Dr's told me there was not enough bone & there was no hope. DR. NAIK in Livingston, NJ took pity on me & operated. After 4 months of intense PT he released me. I had 95% of full function (still can't put my bra on in back. LOL), all pain & swelling is GONE. Dr Naik's skills & compassion are incredible!! I'd travel from MARS to be his patient. God bless him & anyone lucky enough to meet him.

[@markharvey7988]

In 6 days I will be 90 days post op reverse shoulder replacement. The one conspicuous thing that jumped out at me that this Dr did not mention is that this surgery is a last resort. If this does not work (for whatever reason) or if you damage the shoulder again there is no recourse, no options to repair it again. Those were the sobering words I heard from my surgeon before I signed off on the surgery. The result of a fall, I was informed that I had essentially "demolished" my rotator cuff (that was the word he used, demolished). In addition I tore biceps and triceps tendons, which, in hindsight should have been addressed in the surgery (or a subsequent one not yet mentioned) because they now are limiting my strength and range of motion. Overall I'm very pleased with the surgery, most especially the recovery time! I still have (and I expect always will have) limitations, some of which are inherent to the geometry of the new shoulder. To date, I have not attended physical therapy though I'm now considering requesting it as my improvement has plateaued and I think with professional help I should be able to achieve more. But, I still have to remind myself that it's only been (not quite) 90 days and to be patient. Would I recommend this surgery? Based on my results and the amount of improvement from my injury, yes, no question. BUT, it was the only option I had due to the extensive damage. And the warning from my surgeon is always at the back of my mind that if I mess it up it's done, so I approach things (work/play) differently, and have slowed down a bit (which maybe I should be doing anyway at 63)... I hope some of this may be helpful to someone who's faced with the decision of surgery

[@tomsangiuliano8032]

Wow! Mine was also last resort fix but I was at physical therapy 2 days after surgery, 3x a week for almost 5 months. I’m limited to maximum 25 lb lifting restrictions for life. I have no pain at all day 1 after surgery. My range may get back to 80%. My arm looks robotic when I move it. They were happy that I would at least have basic functional mobility moving forward

[@markharvey7988]

@@tomsangiuliano8032 It'll get better Tom. I'm now 4 months and a 1 week post op. Range of motion continues to improve though slower at this point. Pain is gone for the most part except when I test the limits of the prosthetic. Or when trying to lift something up near my face (like a glass of water or whatever). I think this is because the bicep and tricep tendons that were torn were not repaired with this surgery. Both of those muscles, which had atrophied are now beginning to come back, though different than before. Thinking about going back to have those repaired... good luck to you with your new shoulder.

[@jefftabb1929]

Who was your doctor?

[@markharvey7988]

@@jefftabb1929 His name is Broburg. I'm told he's among the early pioneers of this surgery in the US and has been doing it now for 15 yrs and came with the highest recommendation: the surgeon who was originally going to do the rotator cuff repair balked at my preop physical. Said he didn't realize in earlier visits just how bad the damage was and upon further examination decided the only fix would be a reverse total shoulder- and he himself didn't do that surgery. He then said if he were in my place and was given such news there's only one surgeon he'd go to for it and recommended Broburg. 2-1/2 yrs later I'm happy with it. It'll never again be what it was but I'm 66 now and nothing else is the same either! I still work hard and lift things I probably shouldn't but I think about it and approach it differently. The only real limitation now is working overhead. Hope this helps

[@rick58nc]

I had a reverse shoulder placement one week ago. Looking forward to getting the use of my arm back.

[@cherylrousell7598]

Great video. Helping understand my upcoming reverse shoulder replacement. Thank you.

[@thearthurmigliazza]

perfect video with easy to understand explanations, thank you! I am going to use this video as a resource that people can refer to when I present on this procedure in my musculoskeletal interventions class.

[@OfficialRtotheG]

Great video! Well done!

[@ccnrps123]

I had 5 surigal repairs to my left shoulder in 2018, including securing my bicep tendon with an anchor & repairing the rotator cuff. In 2019 I injured both shoulders & had rotator cuff tears in both of them (different place in left arm). I've been putting off getting them repaired & now it's more complicated. I needed my shoulders repaired so they'll support me when I have 2-3 spinal surgeries. I was told by one dr that the spinal surgery could easily be easier & quicker than rotator cuff tear surgery. My orthopedic surgeon told me last week that I need complete replacement, we're doing an mri to determine which surgery I need. I'm also currently dealing with a broken shoulder blade on the left side. While this drs explanation of what is done seemed thorough, his recovery times & pain information really doesn't match anything anyone has told me. I'm actually terrified to go through this, but I need to start the surgeries so I can be in less pain & physically able to do things. This will be the first of 4-5 surgeries over the next 1.2-3 5 years. My right shoulder rotator cuff needs to be repaired as well & hopefully, it will only be an easy repair. At the earliest, I could be back to feeling 'some normalcy' on the early side, at 6 months.

[@sarahkesselem1639]

I jammed my right shoulder after a double hip replacement Oct-Dec. 2023… I had to wait 3 months and went I went to the orthopedic surgeon, I found out that my right shoulder is “gone” and I am now doing a reverse shoulder replacement…. I can’t reach up a bit and it aches at night - otherwise,no symptoms……. I am going to enter my 70th year “all new”. LOL A bit unnerved about another surgery…… 😮😢😮

[@gailsimmons456]

Thank you.

[@elee325]

Thx for the video. Can you opine as to stem vs stemless shoulder replacement for an active person? Thx,

[@sharmitoboylos7585]

yes indeed, outstanding explanations. I'm very thankful to all you medical professionals for your help with this and these types pf procedures.

[@t.c.5456]

Thanks!!!

[@deckerbob]

I’m looking to my reverse shoulder replacement surgery with Dr. McFarland and his excellent team of surgeons 💪🏽

[@ifilmhackersdotcom]

Can you do strength training after surgery?

[@sylviaguillen1499]

What would make extreme pain under the stem?

[@eXislander]

I have a Hemicap shoulder replacement in 2017, and tested now have extremely high levels of cobalt and chromium in my blood-- Chomium levels at 20.8 nmol/L and Cobalt at 19.3 nmol/L . Do your research before agreeing to this surgery.

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

I'm recovering from a reverse shoulder replacement right now this is the second surgery on my shoulder I pray it's the last my surgeon said it should last around 20 years.

[@buckstone1959]

Wife having reverse this morning. How has your recovery been since your post?

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

@@buckstone1959 it's been going pretty good I can tell i will have a better range of motion once i heel up still in pain at this point. I hope your wife has a speedy recovery

[@oliverjames4734]

How old are you ?

[@oliverjames4734]

I may need this I’m scared 😮

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

@@oliverjames4734 39 got the first surgery done at 32

[@loriholloway5866]

I've had 2 failed rotator cuff surgeries. I've lived with pain for about 16 years. 2nd surgery was done 12 years ago. The pain after surgery was unbearable. Terrified of this. I was told 12 years ago the "good news" is this appliance can last up to 10 years!!! WHA!?

[@davidc1961utube]

When you mentioned driving after surgery, you mean an automati transmission, right? Presuming that you do mean an automatic, if I have a right shoulder done, am I looking at weeks or months until I can drive a stick without risk of damage or significant pain?

[@08fusion1]

David, I am having my right shoulder fixed 6/1. I feel better after watching this video. Was planning on being out of commission 8 weeks. Fingers crossed. Good luck with yours.

[@johnclark4023]

Can a person use their bed after surgery?

[@judo-drummerboy-tapout]

I am a bilateral amputee. Lost both legs as a baby. Left ak and right hip disarticulation. I am 47 n have no rotator cuff left. My dr is miguel ramirez. He was trained by yall at hopkins. Do you have any outcome results for this surgery and wheelchair bound patients? Worried it wont last long with how i move around....

[@bradlot5104]

I want you to know that God still loves you more than you can comprehend. Give your life to him and the best will be yet to come. Blessings to you buddy

[@kerrivintson9506]

Think hard about a “REVERSAL” I wish I hadn’t have had it done! 1. They Shave about 3in. Your Clavicle, it also pulls your Arm forward. The Rear Deltoid is gone, it will never come back, the shoulder you have worked on from your neck to the outer deltoid is way shorter than the other it looks bad, and Your pull over Shirts Don’t fit right and it feels terrible, I hope this Helps.

[@thersascott9836]

I had reverse shoulder replacement surgery 4 weeks ago. Been going to therapy since I got out of the hospital. I can only raise my arm a couple of inches and move my arm away from side a couple of inches. How long does it take to be able to raise my arm above my head?

[@thuanho744]

Did you check with dr why?

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

I just got the same surgery on December 1st I'm just ready to get out of this sling

[@moodygal51]

Good luck! I will never have this done!

[@saroaali5475]

Hows your sulgary replacement now?

[@moodygal51]

What do you do to prevent a floppy, useless arm post operatively? Read I would not be able to lift more than five pounds and many restrictions as to just what you can do after this procedure but will live with my pain and never do this.

[@JohnsHopkinsMedicine]

For specific questions, we suggest speaking with a doctor about this.

[@tombird518]

what is a safe age to have this shoulder replacement surgery? i am 65 now. Tom

[@sraytho1]

I had mine at 63. Followed directions, went to physical therapy, and came out fine. I am glad it did it. 69 now.

[@cosmicflash8868]

Can anyone tell me how our body responds to that replacement as it's not made of bone but it's metallic or whatever it's that i mean how do our body knows if it have to move it or not. ? I hope i didn't confused anyone . This video popped up randomly to me ha

[@user-xu8er1bj7b]

Usually made of titanium. I’m allergic to some metals so I was tested with patches. No reaction to titanium hip replacement. It’s been great.

[@brendasimmons9045]

My sister had reverse shoulder replacement today... She's 80 years old and in very fragile health.... Is there a chance that she won't heal from this?

[@JohnsHopkinsMedicine]

For specific questions we suggest having her reach out to a doctor. If she would like to come to Johns Hopkins Medicine, please call 888-872-1408. Our specially trained medical concierges can arrange consultations or treatment plans with the most appropriate specialists.

[@thuanho744]

I will have shoulder replacement in 3 months I am 54 year old woman I am so scared I was crying Lot someone has done please help me to let me know how was it thanks

[@LOUISVILLECARDINALS]

I'm recovering from reverse shoulder replacement now got my surgery on December 1st not gonna lie it's a painful recovery but it had to be done I had limited motion

[@alaaibrahim4127]

I had surgery 15 years ago in my shoulder they use T shape plate and 7 screws but since then I had limitation for my arm( maximum 90 and most of it by compensation of other muscles) and now muscles become very weak, I am 51 years old is total shoulder replacement can work for me

[@patsyjohnson3963]

Well, it has done wonders for me. Things have improved with surgery in the last 15 years. My shoulder was completely reversed.

[@bradlot5104]

@@patsyjohnson3963 great news mate

[@patsyjohnson3963]

@@bradlot5104 Thank you. Saw doctor this week and my shoulder almost 100%. He said I could do anything but use a jack hammer 😆

[@patsyjohnson3963]

I just had the reverse shoulder replacement 10 days ago. When you do have the pain it is unbearable after the blockage wore off. He is WRONG about Being less painful than hip etc . I am 74 and in good health. Doctor made it sound as if you would be doing great in a day or two. Patients need to hear the truth...My doctor did a great job and told me about the pain. My pain was well controlled by Dr. McBrayer and staff at CFV in Fayetteville NC

[@sage4516]

Oh my goddess.. I’m having both done one at a time and the After pain iris what I fear ?the most. What helped

[@patsyjohnson3963]

@@sage4516 you will have a blockage and hardly any pain. This starts wearing off in about 12 hours. They. Will control the pain with meds. Important to stay ahead of the pain and not wait until it starts. My pain was worse worse when blockage wore off upper part of NY arm. I did not ask for pain meds soon enough but when I ask it was taken care of immediately. Just remember you have to ask for the pain meds. You will be fine and given meds to take home. Mine was reverse replacement. The surgery is amore confining for a while that the doctor implies. . Good luck and don't worry. You will be fine. 💪🏋😊

[@AIM1282]

@Patsy Johnson My mother 65 and she gonna have this surgery just wanted to know are you pain free? after surgery thanks waiting for reply

[@2lapapmitchell213]

I’ve had problems with both my shoulders due to playing netball and softball. I’ve had them operated on 8 times in total. I’ve had 3 Shoulder Reconstructions to my left shoulder and 3 Shoulder Reconstructions to my right. Anyway. As the years gone by my shoulders have progressively gotten worse. I’m in so much pain day and night. My right shoulder was so bad it was bone on bone so my surgeon did a Partial Shoulder Replacement on me in October 2018 because i was in so much pain. That was almost 3 years ago and i have been in extreme pain ever since. My shoulder clicks and it clunks and also has some grinding in my right shoulder. Anyway, 5 months ago my surgeon put me back into hospital to clean out my shoulder and to do a biopsy to check if there was an infection. They had to wait 14 days to see if anything grew in the couture, and luckily for me there was no infection. However, after all that and my shoulder is no better off. I’ve had a lot of Physio but, did bugger all. So, my surgeon said he would have to remove the existing shoulder replacement and do a complete Total Reversal Shoulder Replacement. I will be having it done very soon but, waiting a little because mentally I’m not ready just yet to have this major surgery. 😢 The doctor in the video made it sound like it will be a breeze but, i was told by my surgeon that it’s a big operation and the chances of infection is a lot higher than a normal Shoulder Replacement and there will be more pain. I am very nervous because, I’ve had so many operations to both my shoulders and Im simply over it to be honest. I would love to hear your stories if you’ve had Total Reversal Shoulder Replacement Surgery and how did you go? Was it painful? How long did it take for you to recover completely? And was it a success and do you have anymore pain? Thanking you in advance. 🙏

[@patsyjohnson3963]

@@2lapapmitchell213 I don't understand any doctor continuing to scrape and dig in your shoulder when it seems evident it needs reversal. All the destroyed bone in your shoulder would be replaced and the ball and everything reversed in order to move better. I had pain and I mean severe pain. I was a cosmetologist do 40 years . I'm sure I actually wore my shoulder out and then I helped pull my sick husband up in bed when he was in rehab and I felt something pull. I could not lift my arm up more than a foot. I was sent to rehab and no relief. I would wake up in the middle of the night crying in pain. Note as I said above, it is painful but your pain is controlled with meds. You will need help to drive you for 6 weeks and I had to buy a recliner chair that is called cat mapper. Therapy was started just a few days after surgery. I hope you can find relief soon. Within weeks I could lift my arm and at the end of therapy lifting above my head. If you are dealing with the same doctor, find another specialist. The doctor should specialize in REVERSE SHOULDER REPLACEMENT if that is what you need. I'm sorry you are in so much pain. The pain medicine prescribed before surgery did not help my pain at all. I got tired of the box sling but after 6 weeks l could discard. I am so grateful to my doctor and therapist for taking care of me. I hope you get relief soon. Very important you keep in mind the doctor has to be a specialist. The first doctor I saw put a shot in my shoulder which do not help. He did tell me straight up that he could not do the surgery I needed but his partner specialized in the procedure. I appreciated the fact that doctor #1 was a specialist but did not feel qualified and set me up with Dr. McBrayer. I hope this helps and good luck.

[@rinanorden4878]

Most of these videos of reverse shoulder replacements I find quite anoying. Drs always makes it out as being the least painfull of all replacements. I had two hip replacements two monthis apart and after six months I could do a 5km power walk. Swim about one km and could work out the mucles around the hip and buttocks quit hard in the gym. My reverse shoulder replacement was done ten months ago and I am still in some amount of pain and cannot let my shoulder hang for more than three to four hours a day. I am still getting physio threarapy twice a week and have to adjust my rehab exercise often as pain makes me to sometimes have to lower grade of excercises. Most of my peers in their sixties had the same experience and some of them still had pain after a year. All of them following all the guidlines around doing their rehab correctly. I think what is glarling lacking in most of these videos is that the doctors don’t speak about the amount of athropy of the surrounding muscles due to pain over extended periods of time. Pre op pain becomes soo unberable that you stop moving your shoulder and eventually your arm as well. The deltiod muscles on my operated arm waisted away almost completely and there were almost no muscle to keep the prothesis in place. Only after nine months of hard and very consentrated strenghtening execises, am I am slowly getting stonger and pain is decreasing and hope of full recovery. The body also needs to adapt to a whole new anatomy and at times I have unbearble nerve pain due to just something simple as just sitting too long or swimming where you need full range of movement and stretch the muscles and nevers simplex too far. I get that after swimming because you need full range of movement, but hours later I have triggered myself into a massive neuropathic pain cycle that can last for days. Young people tend to do must better and would fit the time line that most drs like yourself discribe. It would be great if doctors can talk about the huge difference between younger and older parient and time that it can takes to completely reabilitate a shoulder with very little muscle mass left before the operation, than those with more muscles mass. I watch soo many similar videos like this one as well as my surgeon telling me the same, yet my own and many other older people had a total different experience. This is not meant to come accros as being critical, but rather something that meeds to be taken into considiration when giving time lines to some of us that are totally unrealistic and make you feel it is either your fault or there might be something seriously wrong when almost the same level of pain that you had before the operation gets triggered. Thank you for still a very grat video explaining the difference of the two different replacements

[@thuanho744]

Your shoulder is getting better now? I will have reverse shoulder replacement in 3 months I am 54 year old woman and scared a lot. I was crying a lot. Nightmare. Please let me know thank you

[@rinanorden4878]

@@thuanho744 I am soo sorry to hear about it because for doctors to recomend you doing this operation, to a patient like yourself, know too well are allready in a great amount of pain and loss of function in the affected arm. Due to exsteme pain, one tends to use your affected arm less and less, it becomes weaker and less functional and because of not using the muscles they tend to waste away. At 54 you are still fearly young. I am 68. Younger people do fair better due to age and bodies’s ability to heal faster and regain the strenght faster and thus getting painfree fastor. Thank you for asking, but I am getting better, but still have to monitor the amout of activity I am doing every day and have to rest my arm on a pillow while sitting or just go and lie down and pain is bearable. This operation is like this docter explains, very successful, but it takes just much longer to fully recover for some of us, that is very much age and patient related. You might find yourself up and about in six months as the doctor explained, but not the reality for all of us. If I was told from the beginning, give yourself 6 months to a year, it would have being much easier to just be patient and keep on doing the exercises my physio gave me and monitor my activities that increases my pain levels. If you are fortunate enough to be able to afford a good physio, greatest investment in your recovery. I am still going every week. She helps me to adjust my excercises when I triggered the pain to become worse as well as keeping all the spasms away in my shouder region. I am in my tenth month now and do have part of the day that I am completly pain free and the time pain free times and what I can do is also improving. I also have full rangement back in my operated arm as well. All I can advise you on is the doctors will not recomend this operation if your pain is still bearable. Will it be a painfull operation: yes, but most hospitals and doctors do support patiënts with good pain control medication after the operation, how ever you cannot stay on pain medicarion for too long and have to cut on it when the worse pain is over. Will I recomend you going for this operation? 100% yes! Just be realistic and have a low expection for your recovery time. You might still have enough muscles mass left that will help for faster recovery time or not. When you are in pain right now, just try to get your mind in a place that at the most, 6months to a year after your operation you will most definitly in a much better position with using your arm in a full range and pain will be become less ans less to a point were you will be totally pain free. Just looking at your age, you might have a better change than what I had to get better faster. Please keep in touch. I do follow up comments, and one like yours is important to me. I will keep you in my prayers🙏🏼 Just take it one day at a time and try not to spend to much time thinking about the operation, rather focus to get your mind what you are dealing with right now. It is a shock to hear you need to go for such a big operation and normal to have some anxiety over it. I knew only a month before the operation, but I was in such pain that I couldn’t wait as I was told I will be fine in three tot six months. Just re asure yourself that you will indeed be better off after the operation. may be not at the time the doctors tell you. Be gratefull if they are right. All the best my dear.

[@rinanorden4878]

y

[@bachplayer13]

@@rinanorden4878 do you think its possible to play piano after total reverse replacement? i'm a serious pianist and my ortho told me i have bone on bone and needed a total shoulder replacment. she did not mentiion a reverse but when i read the clinical summary it said it there. i'm very upset as i've seen articles about pianist playing again after conventional shoulder replacements but not much about the reverse operation...

[@rinanorden4878]

@@bachplayer13 I am sure that you would be able to play profesional piano again. Just make peace before the operation that it might take up to a year or longer to get your full strengh back in your hands, arms and the muscles that supports your whole shoulder joint to get full range of motion back as well. I can imagine that you might already compensate with not moving your shoulder joint too much while playing and compensate with more movement coming from your forearms than shoulders. I play flute and it is still hard for me to keep the flute in possition as it was my right shoulder. I am getting stronger and can hold my flute in posission for longer. I would just sugest that if you have access to a good phisio thearapist, that you continue with treatment untill you have full control of all your muscles and keep up with the rehab exercises. Feel free to keep me posted when you do go for the operation and your progress. All the best🙏🏼

[@JohnsHopkinsMedicine]

Hello, John. Thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately, because each person’s medical situation is different, we are unable to provide treatment recommendations or second opinions via this form of communication. If you would like to request an appointment with one of our shoulder experts, call 443-997-2663 (BONE) or visit hopkinsmedicine.org/ortho.