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HI all,

i just had some non elective orthopedic surgery on my shoulder which is a real tough recovery. I am out about 4 weeks and just getting my strength back and am ambulatory. I should be out of my sling in 2 weeks. I am trying to get implant surgery in November which would be about 10 weeks after my current surgery.

I have seen many comments about implant surgery being difficult and some saying it was no big deal.
I know for sure I will not be 100% going into it. Doc has no problem with it, but I am concerned that if I am still healing from my current surgery, maybe it would make recovery from the implant surgery much more difficult. If I don't do it in November, I will probably have to wait another year due to work, and family. Just want to get your thoughts on what you would do given your experience with recovery from implant surgery. After reading some of the journals like Merrix and others have written, I believe you better be 100% going in. That said, I encountered the same type of thing when I was younger and had to have several surgeries very close to each other and I had no problems. But, that was 20 years ago. What do you guys think?

How's your physical therapy going? The implant surgery will probably not be hurt by your shoulder recovery, but I imagine your shoulder recovery might be impacted by your implant surgery. You will not be feeling like doing a lot of shoulder work for the first couple of weeks after the implant. Some rebound quicker than others, but it is hard to predict.

14 weeks after shoulder surgery, you should be fine, I think, unless your shoulder is progressing slowly.

Based on my shoulder surgeries (fairly minor rotator cuff repairs) I opine that you will be fine, but only you can tell. We haven't enough information here.

Good Luck.

Lost Sheep

thanks for the reply lost sheep. You make a good point on the shoulder rehab. This was a real bad one, supraspinatus, subscapularus, and biceps tendon all torn. Plus lots of work on scar tissue etc
In spite of that, my rehab is going well subject to significant pain.I don't mind a set back on that rehab, i was just concerned about how I would do on the implant surgery given I just had another surgery ie would that make it more difficult. I guess its a bit of a crap shoot. Any other advice from anyone? Thanks

Cumstein

I have had major surgeries, a nephrectomy and then 9 months later open heart surgery. Actually it made me stronger because i wanted to get well and i already knew the pain. If you wait another year you won't know what will be. You have planned long enough for this implant surgery so don't let this date go by. You will feel better for it.

You've read many posts here and if your doctor says you have the go ahead, DO IT...

Rod

hardrod, thanks for the advice. I have gone without more than 3 hours of sleep now for 4 weeks. Its tough to recover from anything when you can't sleep, but with the shoulder surgery you have to sleep reclined on your back which is difficult for me to do for more than 2 hours. However, just the last few nights I have healed enough to get about5 hours. Shit, does that make a difference. I feel a lot better a more able to do the implant surgery. I am scheduled, so I will let you all know what its like in the context of recent prior surgery for something else. Thanks for the help, I know you been thorough it all!

Had rotater cup repaired and 9 months later had the implant. I was fully healed by then and my surgery was minor compared to mine. I don't think the two will conflict with each other. They are different parts of the body, i.e. don't interact with each other doing the healing process. By November you should be well along in your rehab of your shoulder, but only you can determine that.

I am concerned about the waiting another year, most of us wish we had done it a long time ago. Hope if your make the decision to wait until 2017 you will look back and say this was not too bad, wish I had done it last year.