Shoulder Replacement Surgery

Your doctor has told you that need to undergo shoulder replacement surgery. But what does that actually mean?

As you move your arm, the ball-shaped end of the upper arm, or humerus, moves against a cup-like depression in shoulder bone, or scapula.
As long as the upper arm can slide against the shoulder, you are able to move your arm comfortably. But over time, especially in patients who suffer from arthritis, the shoulder joint can wear down.

Cartilage, the tissue that cushions the bones and makes it possible for them to move smoothly against each other can wear away.

When this happens, the bones run together, causing pain and restricting arm movement. No matter what the cause, one of the most effective ways to fix a damaged shoulder is to replace it surgically.

In this procedure, the ball-shaped bone at the top of the upper arm is removed ...
... and replaced with a metal substitute.

The shoulder socket is widened and lined with a smooth pad that allows the metal ball joint to move more freely against the shoulder blade.
Shoulder replacement surgery is a major operation, but your doctor believes that the procedure -- followed up with physical therapy and time to heal -- will result in reduced pain and greater mobility.

So make sure that you ask your doctor to carefully explain the reasons behind this recommendation.

Patient Education Company

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Patient
• Education
• Surgery
• humerus
• obese
• bone
• clinic
• doctor
• medicine
• pain
• hospital
• scapula
• arthritis
• shoulder
• replacement

[deckerbraden]

I had this done in 2006 and my shoulder is still useless with more pain then before the surgery

[insurancegame]

Make sure you get a lawyer that doesn't mind going to court if you were injured in accident. The insurance company made an insulting settlement offer of $4,000 to my friend for a permanent neck injury that causes arthritis at an early age. Read the George's Line report online and you'll see how insulting the insurance companies are.

[princealvin05]

same operations happened to my shoulder