Post Op Shoulder Joint Replacement

C

Charlie Seagull

Guest
I had advanced arthritis in the shoulder and some rotator cuff tears. i held off on renewing my medical until after the shoulder joint replacement. Everything went well, post op rehab takes a while. It's still weak and there are still some range of motion issues. I expect full recovery with limits. Anyone know if there any specific criteria I need to meet before getting my medical renewed?
 
Really isn’t, if you’re good enough to fly (range of motion, strength, not currently on a scrip for pain meds), should be good to go.

Leastwise that’s how it was for me after a back operation.
 
Good to hear you have completed the most difficult part of the process - actually convincing yourself to go through with the surgery.
I put it off for over ten years, and the result was joint wear much worse than when first diagnosed. Luckily I was referred to a "rock star" by my normal orthopedist. He does shoulders, but felt that the amount of work to rebuild lost structure may be beyond his skill level. I appreciated his honesty, and the doctor he referred me to in Dallas was exceptional. After a three-hour session I emerged with a reverse shoulder protheses and a new lease on life. That was in July of 2021. Due to the continuous shifting of duties from the diseased shoulder to the healthy shoulder, it needed rebuilding too. I had an anatomical replacement done by the same "rock star" surgeon in Dallas in November of 2021.
I found the reverse was much, much easier to recover from - but in each case I was back to work in six weeks! I went in for my initial Third-Class medical 7 weeks postop (Jan 2022). While a little weak on adduction (left side), I still passed.

This coming Tuesday (07/23) I get a new left knee. I am dreading that. I still remember the recovery from the right knee back in 2016.
 
@Dry Creek , I’m encouraged by your post…I’m sitting in the waiting room right now while my mom is being prepped for a reverse replacement. Thanks.
 
Charlie Seagull said:
I had advanced arthritis in the shoulder and some rotator cuff tears. i held off on renewing my medical until after the shoulder joint replacement. Everything went well, post op rehab takes a while. It's still weak and there are still some range of motion issues. I expect full recovery with limits. Anyone know if there any specific criteria I need to meet before getting my medical renewed?
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No. Things like this are self-limiting. I recently had a knee replacement. Can’t fly until I can climb into the airplane :D.

Obviously, you will need to report it on your next medical and you might want some backup material, but it’s usually simple. I had a hip replacement 16 years ago. I walked into my next 3rd class with a binder full of reports.

“What’s that?” my AME asked.
“I had a hip replacement and thought you’d want to see this.”
“You walked in, didn’t you?”
 
Essentially what Mark (Midlifeflyer) said. If you can do a jumping jack with the shoulder you're good to go: "AME inspection".
 
midlifeflyer said:
Knee replacement is no fun. I’m just about 2 months out from mine.
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I'm hoping that this time I bounce back quicker. But as others near have pointed out, I am eight years older and about 15 pounds heavier.
 
But as long as I’m here… ;)

Since my mom will be largely one-handed for a while, I threw this together so she could open jars one-handed…quart jars down to pill bottles, anyway. She indicated that it’d probably be handy even after she’s recouperated, in which case I’ll probably make one that’s a little nicer.

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MauleSkinner said:
@Dry Creek , I’m encouraged by your post…I’m sitting in the waiting room right now while my mom is being prepped for a reverse replacement. Thanks.
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How did her surgery go? Well, I hope. The reverse was the easiest of all joint replacements I've experienced.
 
Dry Creek said:
How did her surgery go? Well, I hope. The reverse was the easiest of all joint replacements I've experienced.
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Surgery went well, thanks.

Got to the surgery center at 0530, home by 1100. Pain was noticeably decreasing by the weekend, we got her reasonably self sufficient, and the ladies from church set up a daily rotation so she can call someone if she needs anything, so I was able to come home on Monday.

Haven’t talked to her yet today, but she’s been doing well.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Knee replacement is no fun. I’m just about 2 months out from mine.
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My MIL got one, and the pain relief, in days, was so great she wanted the other ASAP.
I guess the thing to do is to wait until your joint is "screaming metal to metal" before getting it fixed!
 
Kenny Phillips said:
My MIL got one, and the pain relief, in days, was so great she wanted the other ASAP.
I guess the thing to do is to wait until your joint is "screaming metal to metal" before getting it fixed!
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In my case, once I realized that nonsurgical methods were not working, I accepted the fact replacement was coming. Once I could no longer play tennis or even walk for an extended period, it was time to get serious about scheduling the knee replacement. Fortunately, I am apparently having an unusually good recovery. My surgeon does a 2-month follow-up where he released me to full activity. "Do whatever you want," were his words. The next day, my physical terrorist canceled my remaining appointments and told me to go away (although I and close friends suspect that was more about getting rid of a PITA :D).
 
I had a reverse shoulder replacement in March 2023, surgery was on Thursday morning, PT started Monday and I drove to the grocery store Monday evening! While, it’s still not perfect, it’s much better with no pain!!
 
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