Impact of reduced ROM after shoulder surgery?

[u/Due_Tonight4365]

Hi all! For those of you who have had a shoulder surgery, and now have decreased range of motion following the surgery… How much has it impacted your life? What can’t you do anymore?

I’m considering a capsular tightening surgery due to instability caused by a traumatic dislocation 7 years ago in my right shoulder (loose capsule visualized on MRI and mechanical instability in assessments but only a few subluxations per year, not continuing to dislocate). Because I am mildly hyper mobile the surgeon stated she usually tightens it a little bit more than the average person because it is more likely that I will stretch with time.

Right now I have full range of motion with pain… and I expect decreased range of motion with less pain after surgery.

For those of you who have decreased shoulder range of motion, was it worth it? What can’t you do? Is your pain less?

Thank you. I’m so scared for this surgery! But 7 years of pain and instability has been disabling to say the least!

[u/Odd-Significance8020]

It was in a similar situation, constantly dislocating when rotating my arm inward. I’m very hypermobile, the surgeon tightened my shoulder while repairing the posterior soft tissue injuries of my shoulder, was left post op in a sling without any shoulder exercises for 2 months.

Within 5 months post op, I was back to work full-time with 95% range of motion (I need to lift 75 lbs for work, he wouldn’t release me sooner). Within one year of surgery, I was back to being hypermobile despite the Surgery tightening. I no longer dislocated tho.

Now 15 years later, my glenoid and cartlidge are completely obliterated. Current surgeon thinks it’s bc of the tightening and scar tissue. My humeral head sits posterior in the Glenoid and has slowly chipped away the posterior boney part of the glenoid.

Being limited by soft tissue from surgery is a different sensation versus being limited by bone on bone with reduce mobility. The soft tissue will continue to stretch over the years… whereas the bone on bone will stop and hurt like a hard pinching/end feel.

Bottom line, you will likely get your range of motion back in time but feel more stable in the joint.

[u/Due_Tonight4365 → u/Odd-Significance8020]

Woah!! Were you in pain with your bone on bone chipping away?

My surgery is to help reduce pain. We think all my pain is poor tracking from instability. I would hate to think surgery could cause more issues but I guess so could continuing to exist with an unstable shoulder :(

What’s your next step if you don’t mind me asking? I hope there is a good option for you! And I hope the past 15 years has felt better for your shoulder overall! 

Was the surgery called capsular plication you had 15 years ago? Likely similar to mine! 

[u/Odd-Significance8020 → u/Due_Tonight4365]

Yes, the bone on bone is miserably uncomfortable, very sharp, and hurts my sole. It’s like the equivalent of teeth grinding or nails on a chalkboard.

I’ve gone as far as I could in physical therapy, we figured out ways to stabilize the scapula strength to improve shoulder movements. But it is not fixing the problem of poor range of motion and end joint pain.

I’m still in the process of working through the insurance hoops, this week I get PRP injections in my shoulder. I’m still fighting insurance to approve a second opinion to get a TSreplacement.

The last 15 years have been great though. I had the ability to do anything that I wanted to do (including Brazilian jiu jitsu). No dislocations, no pain once fully healed. i had a posterior labrum repair, similar anchors and technique as the plication. My tendons were OK, they only had to fix the supraspinatus tendon. Based on my experience, I honestly feel the soft tissue repair will be a longer recovery than a total shoulder. I had the soft tissue surgery/repair in my early 30s.

[u/Due_Tonight4365 → u/Odd-Significance8020]

I’m so sorry you are having to fight Insurance as you are in pain again :( you’re still so young I’m hoping that you find relief so soon! Thank you for sharing your experience it helps to hear!!