Lou’s Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement Patient Story

I had a severely arthritic right shoulder. This shoulder had previous surgeries to correct a torn rotator cuff (2000) and torn biceps tendon (2017). Over the last year the arthritis kept getting worse to the point where I could not even put on a shirt or jacket without significant pain. I had stopped bowling because it hurt too much, every single golf swing caused me significant pain, I was waking up at least 4x per night because of pain, I had stopped doing many weight exercises at the gym, because I had too much pain with any overhead or shoulder involved movements. I couldn’t even ride a bike more than 10 or 15 minutes before it was too painful. It even hurt when I went skiing, just doing pole plants.

Why did you choose Dr. Obermeyer?

I went and saw Dr. Rotstein, since he did my last surgery in 2017. He took an x-ray and showed me significant arthritis that was showing. He suggested that the likely path forward to be pain free outcome, would involve shoulder replacement. (I had gone through other shoulder physical therapies for this shoulder, that simply were not helping any longer) He suggested that Dr. Obermeyer was the expert at BOS for shoulder replacements. When I went and saw Dr. Obermeyer he explained my options and gave me confidence that if we went ahead with this surgery, that I could get back to doing the things I enjoy. He was able to answer all my questions and explain the procedure in easy-to-understand terms for me. I had no question he would be able to help me. Honestly, before I had the surgery, I found at least 7 friends or acquaintances that had gone through similar surgeries with a great outcome, so that helped put me in a positive state of mind heading into the surgery.

Outcome

This has been life changing, in a really good way. The pain was not as bad as I expected (to me less than the rotator cuff surgery), and the recovery has been straight line up, no setbacks and generally ahead of expected milestones (according to the therapists, who were also great for my rehab process (Chris Eirich and Keri Nicholson)).

I started experimenting with chipping and putting (golf) at 6 weeks post op and very quickly I was playing pain free rounds of golf before 2 months post op (I realize that is highly unusual, but that is my actual outcome). Today (~15 weeks post op) I golf multiple times a week, I have returned to biking, I am now building up my strength weightlifting in the gym again, I am sleeping through the night, I have started practicing bowling for my fall league, I can get dressed normally, and all of this is absolutely pain free. It has been a simply amazing outcome, I have shared with many friends and family, what a great experience I have had with the entire team at BOS. This started before the surgery, at the surgery center, and all the follow up. I have been going to BOS for 24 years now, and have had 6 surgeries, numerous injections and therapies. This process for shoulder replacement was the best yet, kudos to all the staff involved and especially Dr Obermeyer for doing a great “install” of my new shoulder.