Total Shoulder Replacement (arthroplasty)

[Kiteboarder]

Too many years of baseball, fast pitch softball, and racquetball have eliminated the cartilage between my AC joint and the humerus. Bone on bone creates some interesting sensations.

Wondering if anyone else here has had this procedure done? If so, perhaps you can give me some advice - wmjg8atcomcast.net.

I'm looking for an ortho who specializes in shoulder arthroplasty, not knees, not hips, only shoulders. Just like flying, want a pilot that's taken off and landed a thousand times - a surgeon who's done this procedure many times. One in Knoxville, TN (associated with the University of Tennessee) that looks good, also Stedman Hawkins Shoulder Institute in Greenville, SC.

I've had 12 surgeries on various body parts. Never worried too much about any of them, but this one concerns me. Looks like a nasty, lengthy procedure.

 

[Deeringfish]

Too many years of baseball, fast pitch softball, and racquetball have eliminated the cartilage between my AC joint and the humerus. Bone on bone creates some interesting sensations.

Wondering if anyone else here has had this procedure done? If so, perhaps you can give me some advice - wmjg8atcomcast.net.

I'm looking for an ortho who specializes in shoulder arthroplasty, not knees, not hips, only shoulders. Just like flying, want a pilot that's taken off and landed a thousand times - a surgeon who's done this procedure many times. One in Knoxville, TN (associated with the University of Tennessee) that looks good, also Stedman Hawkins Shoulder Institute in Greenville, SC.

I've had 12 surgeries on various body parts. Never worried too much about any of them, but this one concerns me. Looks like a nasty, lengthy procedure.

Shoulder surgeries all seem to have a very difficult recovery. When I was in St Louis I heard the name of a very skilled shoulder guy, one that was greatly preferred by my Physical Therapist than all others in the St Louis area. In the end I didn't need the surgery but I'll see if I can get the name of the Dr. He worked in the Mercy Healthcare system. I have only good things to say about the Mercy System.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Dr. Gord Nuber at Northwestern did my shoulder clean-up, and has been the Bears' team surgeon for several years (that might not be a good sign, depending on your view of the Bears). He will be doing my wife's ACL in July.

 

[WestCoastWildcat]

Too many years of baseball, fast pitch softball, and racquetball have eliminated the cartilage between my AC joint and the humerus. Bone on bone creates some interesting sensations.

Wondering if anyone else here has had this procedure done? If so, perhaps you can give me some advice - wmjg8atcomcast.net.

I'm looking for an ortho who specializes in shoulder arthroplasty, not knees, not hips, only shoulders. Just like flying, want a pilot that's taken off and landed a thousand times - a surgeon who's done this procedure many times. One in Knoxville, TN (associated with the University of Tennessee) that looks good, also Stedman Hawkins Shoulder Institute in Greenville, SC.

I've had 12 surgeries on various body parts. Never worried too much about any of them, but this one concerns me. Looks like a nasty, lengthy procedure.

I have a bad AC joint mainly from abusing it blocking playing football over the years. I have had shots and PT and have been lucky to stave off surgery. Recent studies have shown the correlation between successful surgical outcomes and experience so you are wise to seek out someone who has done a lot of surgeries, just common sense. My sister-in-law who is a nurse worked for years with an orthopedic surgical group at Evanston Hospital that had patients from the Bears and the Cats. Good luck.

 

[catfans5]

Too many years of baseball, fast pitch softball, and racquetball have eliminated the cartilage between my AC joint and the humerus. Bone on bone creates some interesting sensations.

Wondering if anyone else here has had this procedure done? If so, perhaps you can give me some advice - wmjg8atcomcast.net.

I'm looking for an ortho who specializes in shoulder arthroplasty, not knees, not hips, only shoulders. Just like flying, want a pilot that's taken off and landed a thousand times - a surgeon who's done this procedure many times. One in Knoxville, TN (associated with the University of Tennessee) that looks good, also Stedman Hawkins Shoulder Institute in Greenville, SC.

I've had 12 surgeries on various body parts. Never worried too much about any of them, but this one concerns me. Looks like a nasty, lengthy procedure.

Dr. Romeo at Midwest Ortho at Rush in Chicago. He only does shoulders and elbows. He frequently does the 2nd procedure after the first one fails for whatever reason. He may have left Midwest and opened his own shop. Midwest Ortho at Rush are the doctors for the Bulls and White Sox.

Good luck with that surgery.

 

[villox]

Dr. Gord Nuber at Northwestern did my shoulder clean-up, and has been the Bears' team surgeon for several years (that might not be a good sign, depending on your view of the Bears). He will be doing my wife's ACL in July.

Oh hey, same surgeon repaired my rotator cuff tear last spring. Still hurts a bit a year later, but don't think it was his fault. Could be because I never did any of my home exercises from PT.

 

[hdhntr1]

Dr. Romeo at Midwest Ortho at Rush in Chicago. He only does shoulders and elbows. He frequently does the 2nd procedure after the first one fails for whatever reason. He may have left Midwest and opened his own shop. Midwest Ortho at Rush are the doctors for the Bulls and White Sox.

Good luck with that surgery.

Bernie Bach at Midwest used to do shoulders and knees. I am not sure he is still practices but before I had my knee reconstructed I had about 5 referrals all to the same guy. I think others at Midwest are pretty good as well but I would definitely make sere the Surgeon had done plenty of them

 

[Hungry Jack]

Oh hey, same surgeon repaired my rotator cuff tear last spring. Still hurts a bit a year later, but don't think it was his fault. Could be because I never did any of my home exercises from PT.

Shoulders are a (female dog). I had a cleanup--debride a partial tear of the cuff and labrum, shave down the acromium, remove some junk--and it took 2 years for it to "fully" recover. The first year was mostly spent rehabbing, overdoing it, having it flare it, waiting a month for it to calm down, and then resuming.

It's doing well now, though debriding vs. repairing the cuff means that locking the arm overhead is near impossible--not that it matters. I just notice it in some workout movements.

 

[Deeringfish]

Oh hey, same surgeon repaired my rotator cuff tear last spring. Still hurts a bit a year later, but don't think it was his fault. Could be because I never did any of my home exercises from PT.

One year is probably not quite enough time for full recovery in an adult but do your stretching at least every other day. It is a long life. We hope.

 

[iCat_rivals517718]

My contact in Athletics put me in contact with Eric Chehab with Illinois Bone and Joint several years ago when my supraspinatus was close to being fully detached from my humerus. They told me this is the shoulder guy they send our athletes to. Recovery was amazing, no loss of range of motion, no stiffness. Only tell tales of the injury are 4 faded scars.

Saw him again last year for same thing on other shoulder. Less than 5% loss in range of motion but it's still early and it could come back as well.

I can't speak to other work he does but he came highly recommended from Athletics and my results have exceeded the most optimistic outcomes. Also, he did not rush me in and out the door as other surgeons have done. Totally worth bouncing between Michigan and Wilmette and Glenview for surgery and appointments.

 

[docrugby1]

If you have glenohumeral arthritis, the type of total shoulder replacement depends on the integrity of the rotator cuff. A traditional replacement can be done if the cuff is intact but a relatively new technique , known as a reverse shoulder arthroplasty,is required if the rotator cuff is torn.

Dr Romeo is an internationally known shoulder surgeon but I do not know if he does arthroplasties. I would certainly contact his office if Chicago is convenient.

David Dines at Northshore Hospital on Long Island probably does hundreds of arthroplasties. He is the Former President of The Shoulder Society and my scrumhalf on my med school's rugby team

 

[CTCatFan_rivals154454]

I would strongly suggest Dr. Edward Craig who is now practicing at the University of Minnesota Medical School. I had a total shoulder replacement almost 3 yrs ago by Dr. Craig when he was practicing at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan; HSS is ranked the #1 Orthopedic hospital in the country, and likely the world.
Dr. Craig is a terrific guy, and one of the best in the country. In the 2 calendar years prior to my surgery, 66% of his surgeries were shoulder replacements. My email: [email protected]

 

[Kiteboarder]

Thanks for all the responses.


docrugby1:

I'm familiar with both the traditional and reverse arthroplasty procedures to the extent that I've watched videos covering both (man are they just about the most fun thing). I haven't had an MRI yet, so I don't know whether my rotator cuff is intact or not, ditto the labrum. I believe a lot of the early reverse shoulder replacements were done at U Dub in Seattle.

Looking up Dr. Romeo at Rush/Midwest Ortho - seems that he does do total replacement and is is very respected in this field.

I live in Peoria, and there is not a shoulder specialist here that I know of, so I'm going to have to travel to get it done, so it doesn't make any difference to me how far away the best guy is.

CTCatFan:

Dr. Craig wrote a really interesting article:

https://www.hss.edu/conditions_Shoulder-Replacement-Surgery-Diagnosis-Treatment-Recovery.asp

Unfortunately,I believe he is retired now. He definitely would have made my short list.

iCat:

Will definitely check out Dr. Chehab.

 

[iskaboo]

Just to add to this thread, I had subabcrominal decompression surgery nine months ago to alleviate what was thought to be chronic bursitis. The shoulder felt fine for a couple of months, but the pain is now the same as it was prior to the surgery (and I followed the rehab instructions faithfully). The docs now disagree on what should be done next. I am having an MRI on Saturday so that the docs with differing opinions have more evidence on which to base their recommendations.

I am beginning to think a witch doctor may have better results than some surgeons.

 

[Deeringfish]

I am beginning to think a witch doctor may have better results than some surgeons.[/QUOTE]

Well, that is pertinent to the thread since the goal is to figure out Which doctor.

 

[Hungry Jack]

Just to add to this thread, I had subabcrominal decompression surgery nine months ago to alleviate what was thought to be chronic bursitis. The shoulder felt fine for a couple of months, but the pain is now the same as it was prior to the surgery (and I followed the rehab instructions faithfully). The docs now disagree on what should be done next. I am having an MRI on Saturday so that the docs with differing opinions have more evidence on which to base their recommendations.

I am beginning to think a witch doctor may have better results than some surgeons.

Sounds like they shaved out the articulating surface of the acromium, which is what I had done. Dr. Nuber said that a lot of people have a "hook" on their acromium that can impinge the joint as it pushes on the bursa that cushions the joint space. It is a bit surprising to hear that you are having issues, but you probably ought to try strengthening and stretching the rotator cuff to help alleviate pressure in the joint. Active people, especially people who lift weights, throw baseballs, swim, spike volleyballs, use hammers, etc. tend to have over-strengthened internal rotators, which can pull the humerus forward in the joint and cause it to pinch up against the AC joint. Strengthening the external rotators and the rhomboids can help restore the natural shape of the shoulder joint and alleviate this issue.

 

[mybrotha]

Too many years of baseball, fast pitch softball, and racquetball have eliminated the cartilage between my AC joint and the humerus. Bone on bone creates some interesting sensations.

Wondering if anyone else here has had this procedure done? If so, perhaps you can give me some advice - wmjg8atcomcast.net.

I'm looking for an ortho who specializes in shoulder arthroplasty, not knees, not hips, only shoulders. Just like flying, want a pilot that's taken off and landed a thousand times - a surgeon who's done this procedure many times. One in Knoxville, TN (associated with the University of Tennessee) that looks good, also Stedman Hawkins Shoulder Institute in Greenville, SC.

I've had 12 surgeries on various body parts. Never worried too much about any of them, but this one concerns me. Looks like a nasty, lengthy procedure.

My mom has had it done on one shoulder and is getting it on the other shoulder. She is in her late 70s and is very happy with the results!

 

[FEW]

Kevorkian. Great bedside manner and you won't feel a thing afterward.

;=)

 

[FloridAlum]

Kevorkian. Great bedside manner and you won't feel a thing afterward.

;=)

I was thinking that if he is going to replace his shoulder he might replace it with something other than another shoulder, Like perhaps a beverage dispenser

 

[StreamCat]

This whole thread sounds like dinner at the retirement home.