Your shoulders have the greatest range of motion of any joint. This ability stems from the shoulders’ complexity, and they’re vulnerable to various disorders and injuries.
While shoulder replacement surgery isn’t a first-line treatment for shoulder pain and loss of function, it’s possible that you could reach this point, particularly if a degenerative condition like osteoarthritis interferes with natural recovery. The Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic team can guide you through the decision-making process.
When you begin to experience pain and limited mobility in your shoulder, there are many options before shoulder replacement becomes necessary. Treatments usually start with conservative modalities such as ice, physical therapy, over-the-counter pain medications, and rest.
When these fail to produce sufficient results, we’ll move on to treatments such as injections for inflammation and pain. In extreme cases, we’ll recommend surgical procedures to repair damage to natural shoulder tissue.
When none of these options succeed, shoulder replacement becomes the most viable solution to stop pain and restore function. Sections of some bones of your shoulder are swapped out with prostheses, providing a functional joint that removes the problems that contribute to loss of motion and pain, such as bone-on-bone contact with shoulder motion.
Some patients aren’t good candidates for shoulder replacement surgery. In many cases, advanced damage to elements of the shoulder’s anatomy compromises the chances of successful surgery. These include:
Patients prone to falling may not be able to protect the shoulder after replacement surgery, a key contributing condition to the success of replacement surgery.
When you pass these requirements, chances are suitable for a successful procedure. Patients who are older and in good health carry an increased risk of complications with any surgery, but age alone won’t prevent you from having a shoulder replacement.
The same is true for those who are overweight or obese. While you may be more at risk of surgical complications, these won’t limit your access to shoulder replacement if you’re otherwise in good general health.
The ideal time for shoulder replacement procedures is usually after age 60. Younger patients have a greater chance of requiring another shoulder replacement later, after the prosthetic’s expected lifespan. We may recommend less invasive surgery to postpone joint replacement for younger patients.
Every shoulder condition has its considerations. Contact the nearest location of Bahri Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Clinic in Jacksonville to consult with our joint replacement experts. Call or click to request your appointment today.
