A person's shoulder can break down over time due to any number of reasons including unhealed injuries, arthritis, wear and tear or a combination of these. Depending on a person's age and health, doctors might recommend total joint replacement surgery or just exercise or another procedure known as a ream and run. Consult with a doctor before going through any procedure, but here are some things to think about before going under the knife.
The Procedure
The two-hour surgery is performed by a group of doctors using general anesthesia on the patient. The good thing is that it is a highly technical procedure, which means that only the top doctors with experience will perform it. The bad news is that those kinds of doctors might not always be readily accessible to the average patient.
Dealing with Surgery
Most doctors will save the procedure for someone who is in good shape already and will have a positive outlook on the surgery. That doesn't mean someone with a list of health problems can't get it done, but doctors will likely advise another strategy. Remember that there is a long rehabilitation as well, which means a lot of work to get back to normal.
Effectiveness
Total shoulder replacement is normally the last option for a doctor when trying to revitalize the damaged body part. There are no hard numbers on how often the procedure works, but remember that it is not a perfect solution. The shoulder may still hurt afterward. However, it also can be an easier surgery with less hospital time than a knee or hip replacement.
Costs
Shoulder surgery can cost more than $10,000, which is a big number for most people. Luckily, most insurance companies will cover it, but only if there is good cause.
Pain
Most people get the total shoulder replacement only when they can no longer handle the pain in the joint. While pain is a subjective issue to some people, most people (and doctors) will try to stall the surgery as long as possible.
Open or Arthroscopic
One thing to consider is the style of total shoulder replacement. One way (open) calls for larger incisions, but allows the doctor to work directly with the tissue. The arthroscopic way is done with smaller incisions, but could be less precise.
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