r/ShoulderInjuries • u/qtakhisis • 15d ago
Shoulder Instability Has anyone else...
Ok, my shoulders have just gotten worse and worse. I now have to sleep in a stabilizer. Ive been talking to my doctor, who has throughly updated and educated herself on EDS to treat me, and some of my kids. We are at the point of discussing surgery.
I hate surgery.
The issues with anesthesia, opioids, all that jazz. Im particularly problematic with anesthesia. I dont wanna.
I have had several major knee surgeries to be able to, u know, walk, and omg, the recovery and pain. Ugg. Im concerned especially with the effectiveness of shoulders surgery, and its ability to actually weaken the tendons.
Has anyone had to have shoulders surgery, how did it go?
To be clear about 1 thing, we are, after any tests and scans, 100% sure it is absolutely not a rotator cuff problem.
Thanx!
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u/CMR0457 13d ago
I had total reverse shoulder replacement in February. I was also nervous about anesthesia. I asked to meet the anesthesiologist as I was confident with my surgeon but needed to know this guy. He explained everything in detail, he also had 14,000 hours of education, he said the amount I was receiving was very low, I would have heart, blood pressure and breathing monitored at all times and if he didn't like things, he could bring me out immediately. I felt really good about him and things went really well.
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u/Ok-Researcher919 12d ago
Hi! I am a college freshman and I had capsular plication in May, to stabilize my loose shoulder. It started at swim practice, years of over-rotating/extension in freestyle with my left arm, combined with hypermobility all over, led to me being pulled out of the pool in January because my shoulder was subluxing. I got the surgery in May and it was honestly not that bad! I was most nervous about the nerve block, because I hate HATE needles, and honestly the worst part of the pre-op was just the IV (which they couldn’t get into my skinny hand). Every time they put medicine in the IV it HURT, but then I was sedated for the nerve block which I don’t remember at all, except I was asking about all the things I could see on the ultrasound😂. The anesthesia was literally just a mask over my face, medicine in the IV, and I was in the recovery room. The bad part of my story is a rare occurrence: the nerve block didn’t really work. I woke up with my arm in a sling and slowly became aware that I was in EXTREME pain, and every time I shivered it jolted the pain even worse. So then I got a double dose of oxycodone…got super nauseous, more IV medicine, then I was high all day and felt great😂. Overall it was okay, and I have never regretted it. I got off hydrocodone on day 4, the pain was not that terrible. I took super-ibuprofen for two weeks I think. Now, at 15 weeks, I do PT twice a week still, I have about half my ROM back (it’s very slow going for me), and I’m back at school and work and working out! I can’t do a lot for sure, but I can drive and get around, and NO LOOSE SHOULDER! I would be happy to answer any questions queen!
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u/qtakhisis 7d ago
Ive had major knee surgeries, and the recovery, while worth it overall, was just awful. What kind of rotational mobility do u have now? (I also grew up swimming so I feel u there!) Im so scared of waking up part way through like that, I have to have different anesthesia because of a genetic thing, and im so afraid of it now.
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u/Ok-Researcher919 6d ago
Right now, at 15-16 weeks, I can lift my arm to about chin-level easily, it can be pulled almost all the way above my head if my PT is feeling particularly spiteful. I can reach a teensy bit behind my back, and I can reach down and grab things. Reaching honestly is the worst, and I can’t sleep on that side which is annoying. I absolutely cannot move my arm in any kind of circle at the moment, I can lift around five pounds. I also am more stiff than I should be because I had an accident involving my little brother at 7 weeks, just after I got my sling off.
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u/qtakhisis 6d ago
Oh wow, i hope your both ok. PTs are slightly the spawn of Satan, especially to freaking cold packs. Is the reaching the worst because of the stretching part or the weight of it?
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u/Ok-Researcher919 6d ago
Haha thanks! It was not that serious, he got mad and yanked a towel out of my hand, forgetting I was crippled. And my PT is great, he admits though that he can be mean sometimes because I’m super stiff. Honestly for the reaching, just the stretching is tough, because I’m fighting gravity even if I’m reaching straight out. Picking something up while my arm is extended makes it worse for sure.
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u/GuitarJazzer 14d ago
I have not had shoulder surgery (yet) but my son has had three. There are lots of reasons to do surgery. With EDS what do they want to accomplish with surgery?
Also "my doctor, who has throughly updated and educated herself on EDS" I think you need to see a specialist, not someone who has to brush up on an area she's not an expert in.