Relieve Chronic Shoulder Pain with Total Shoulder Replacement

If non-surgical treatments cannot relieve your chronic shoulder arthritis pain, a total shoulder replacement may be your best option to restore mobility and quality of life. During this procedure, our physicians surgically replace your damaged shoulder joint with an implant to eliminate pain and restore smooth motion.

There are two types of shoulder replacements. 

Anatomic replacement where the shoulder ball is replaced with a metal ball, often using a "stemless fixation" to hold it in place. A plastic socket is cemented to the bone on the socket side to allow the metal ball to move in the plastic socket. This type of replacement is ideal for patients with arthritis.

A reverse replacement has a metal ball attached to the socket with screws to hold it in place. A plastic socket is attached to a metal stem fixed to the upper arm bone where the ball was previously. The socket rotates around the ball and is ideal for patients with a large rotator cuff tear, severe bone loss from the arthritis, shoulder fractures, or revision surgery.

Total recovery takes several months, with physical therapy needed to rebuild strength and mobility. However, most patients experience a dramatic reduction in shoulder pain and restoration of range of motion.

If you are struggling with shoulder arthritis and have exhausted more conservative treatment options, consider total shoulder replacement. Schedule a consultation at Tidewater Orthopaedics to determine if you may benefit.

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