Both Shoulders - now what - HELP

[rcol]

Like many of you, I have had bad left shoulder pain for a while, spent 18 months exploring non-surgical treatments that ultimately did not work. I am scheduled for a July 1 surgery for reverse total replacement. In the meantime, I have been relying on my stronger right arm to get me through.

Yesterday, I experienced significant pain and loss of motion in my right arm as well!! What do I do now? I can't get in to see my surgeon for two weeks.

Do I try to get in for an earlier surgical date to avoid further deterioration in my right arm? Should I sdtart getting steroid injections in my right arm? Would it delay left shoulder surgery? How do I support my left shoulder recovery with a bad right shoulder?

I am totally freaked out.

 

[Jaycey]

@rcol Welcome to BoneSmart! First thing to do is take a deep breath and try not to stress. You have no firm diagnosis that the right shoulder has a problem.

I would call your surgeon's office and discuss this latest development with them. I am sure they will want to proceed. But the question is - can you get an earlier date.

Meanwhile they may need an x-ray to confirm if there is really a problem. Perhaps you are over using that side since the left side is very sore?

 

[SaraK]

I agree with Jaycey - let's see how things progress. You may have just tweaked something if the pain was quick onset. Your surgeon should evaluate it and then decisions can be made from there. It could be that it will get better quickly on its own, it could be that treatment can make the shoulder feel better and be better able to support the recovery from replacing the left. It's possible this could push your surgery back instead of forward. If it does, just remember that any delay is intended to give you a better recovery.