Reverse Shoulder Replacement Long Wait for Reverse Shoulder Replacement.

Thank you for the advice, @Tkdbob . Yes, I've chosen a surgeon who specialises in shoulders and upper arms.

@Jamie - How long after a TSR would it be safe to travel by air? I would ask for wheelchair assistance.
 
You'd have to wait at least 6 weeks minimum as you're really limited in mobility during that time. But I personally wouldn't travel that soon. As I remember my recovery, it was about 3 months before I felt comfortable enough to pack up and make the 3-hour drive to my lake house. You will be having physical therapy for at least a month or two after surgery that is very critical to a good recovery.
 
Thank you, Jamie. I was thinking of travelling about 3 months post-op, but it will be a long journey - from NZ to England.
We'd like to go a bit earlier this year than we did last year, so we're there for the whole of our granddaughter's summer holiday.

Of course, all this depends on other medical matters as well.
 
If you need to schedule your travel arrangements in advance you could see if a refund is possible in the event you determine you’re not quite ready for the trip. I wouldn’t make plans that I couldn’t back out of a week or so ahead of time. Anything can happen that early in your recovery. I think at three months you could be good to go but that’s throwing the dice. I think you would be very safe at four months if your healing process goes as planned. I was ready for a long trip at three months but everyone is different. So once again, leave yourself room to back out if needed without it costing you a ton of money. It’s unpredictable how things will workout that soon after surgery.
 
Thank you both for the advice.
 
Good luck, Celle. I'll be thinking of you...
 
I saw the shoulder surgeon yesterday. He says my shoulder has advanced osteoarthritis and there's nothing he can do for me, except for a reverse shoulder replacement.
This may have to wait for a while, as I have other medical issues with both myself and my husband that need to be sorted out first.

He wants me to have a CT scan of my left shoulder, as well as an X-Ray of my right shoulder, which is also starting to give me a few twinges of pain.
 
best of luck on what ever you decide to do,maybe if you take care of your other medical issues and you re doing well then take your trip and get your shoulder done when you come back. wishing you the best.
 
I got the results of my left shoulder CT scan today:
CT L SHOULDER 04/03/2020 Reference: 1934851 NHI:
INDICATION: Orthopaedic protocol for surgical planning. For reverse shoulder replacement.
Multiplanar imaging with bone and soft tissue windows.

FINDINGS: There is complete loss of joint space at the glenohumeral joint with extensive but small subchondral cyst formation, subchondral sclerosis and prominent marginal osteophytes indicating advanced osteoarthritis.

Prominent cystic change in region of insertion of rotator cuff indicating degenerative change.

Moderate to advanced osteoarthritis with narrowing of joint space, subchondral sclerosis and marginal osteophytes at the left acromioclavicular joint.

Visualised adjacent lung and ribs appear unremarkable.

No calcific tendinopathy evident.

Radiologist: Dr P. Nugent

Ordered by:
FRANCIS TING

I'm still waiting for the results of my right shoulder X-Ray.​
 
Well.....that pretty much says it, Celle. I'm so sorry that you need this surgery, but I do believe it will make things much better for you. Fortunately everything I hear says recovery from a reverse replacement is a bit easier than a standard one.
 
It may be a while before I can have the surgery - it depends on what treatment my husband needs. Then there's the question of whether or not the anaesthetist is happy for me to have the operation in the private hospital, or would prefer it to be in the public hospital, with an ICU.
If it's to be the public, I'll have to go on a waiting list and if Covid 19 proliferates (which it will), elective surgery may have to be cancelled.

I was very pleased with the way my surgeon explained everything, including telling me that full recovery can take "about a year" - where have I heard that before? LOL . He showed me all the images on his computer screen as he was explaining, too.
 
I did get a tentative date for my surgery - April 18th,2020 - but it was dependent on the anaesthetist approving my having the surgery in the private hospital.

However, due to my age and a few other medical problems, she has decided I should have the surgery in a public hospital, with an ICU on site. That means going on a waiting list and now, because of Covid-19, elective surgeries will probably be postponed/cancelled.
 
Talk about good news - bad news! I hope you don't have to wait too long.
 
Celle, I hope you don't have to wait too long! Covid has certainly shut down elective procedures in my area and I was lucky enough to get my rotator cuff repair just before shutdown. I'm still not certain how it's going to affect follow-up appts or PT when I'm cleared for it.

Hoping for pain relief and patience for you in the interim!
 
Thank you, @SaraK . I'll just have to wait as long as it takes. The pain was pretty bad a couple of weeks ago, but it seems to have settled down a bit lately, thank goodness.
 
I can't see my shoulder getting replaced before some time in 2021. Until there's an effective vaccine available to all people in vulnerable groups, which includes me, it wouldn't be safe to be in hospital, even if elective surgeries are resumed.

I have been in contact with my surgeon's nurse. She is working from home, but will ask my surgeon if he thinks he will be able to give me an injection to relieve some of the pain, since surgery is probably a long way away.
However, he isn't seeing patients in person, and is only doing consultations that can be accomplished via Skype.
 
That's probably a realistic expectation, Celle. I agree with you that the best place to be these days is anywhere BUT a hospital unless you are infected with the Coronavirus and must be there for treatment.
 
Since we now have no community transmission of Covid -19 in NZ, we are only in Level One lockdown and our hospitals are operating again.
(NZ currently has 22 active cases, but they are all from citizens in compulsory 14-day quarantine, after coming back to NZ from various other countries).

My surgeon's rooms are open again and the good news is that I now have an appointment to be seen by him out Out-Patients at the public (Base) hospital on July 24. I don't know how long after that I will have to wait for surgery.

Before Covid-19 struck, I did have a surgery date for April 18 at the private hospital, but the anaesthetist balked at having me there, and then Covid put the final lid on that.

The anaesthetist said I was "elderly" and I had "too many co-morbidities" for her to be comfortable unless I was in Base Hospital, with an ICU readily available. So I have to be on the public hospital waiting list.

I also got some bad news - my right shoulder also has osteoarthritis, although not as bad as the left shoulder. My right shoulder does give me the occasional ache, but i still have good range of motion. I hope it stands up to being the only shoulder I can use in the first weeks after my left shoulder is replaced.

My left shoulder is hurting more and its range of motion has decreased a lot in the past few months. I'll be glad to get it sorted.

My husband still has some health issues and there is a strong possibility that he will have to have a one-day surgery (bronchoscopy) some time in the next couple of months, but I think we can manage that, with some help from a good neighbour, if I am out of action.
 
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get an early date - and that your other shoulder is up to handling the increased worl load!
 
@Jamie ,
I know that you had your TSR and went home alone. How much help did you need from friends?

I know that my husband will help, but he isn't naturally empathetic (his mother never taught her sons how to nurture - it was "shape up or ship out" in their upbringing). He's also dreadful at doing things on time. I remember not having lunch until about 3 pm and dinner was sometimes at almost 10 pm after had my last TKR.

He's pretty hopeless around the house, so I am going to pay someone to come and do cleaning weekly.

I've bought a hands-free can opener and a thing for pulling tabs on cans, as well as a spare sling. Did you need a shower stool, and how did you manage about cutting toenails?

I will start cooking and freezing meals and buy some TV dinners as well.

John will be able to help me with dressing - he already has to help me put on cardigans and jackets.

Is there anything else I should think of?
 

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