When Is Shoulder Replacement the Right Choice?

Surgical shoulder replacement sounds like an intense treatment choice, but it can actually be your best way to preserve full, pain-free shoulder function. That said, partial and total shoulder replacements are invasive surgical procedures, and you don’t want to go through surgery unnecessarily.

At the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine of Tomball, Kingwood, and The Woodlands, Texas, Dr. Michael L. Blackwell provides treatment and support for new and existing patients who have shoulder joint struggles. 

If you’ve been wondering whether shoulder replacement surgery could be right for you, consult with Dr. Blackwell to make a more informed decision.

Here are some of the key points Dr. Blackwell suggests you consider when it comes to the need for shoulder surgery.

The nature of your shoulder dysfunction

Your shoulder joints are quite complex, leaving several possible causes for shoulder dysfunction or pain related to your shoulder joints. When thinking about shoulder replacement surgery, it’s important to take the underlying cause into account.

Your shoulder joint may have become damaged over time due to repetitive stress. Or, conditions like osteoarthritis may result in degenerative changes in your shoulder joints. In these situations, you need to weigh whether it’s time for shoulder replacement surgery. 

If other treatments continue to work for you, you might want to wait a little longer.

Accidents and injuries can also cause mild to severe shoulder joint damage. In some cases, a trauma or injury to your shoulder may be so severe that surgery is clearly the right treatment option for you.

Your previous treatment experience

Dr. Blackwell doesn’t typically recommend moving toward shoulder replacement surgery until you’ve exhausted more conservative treatment options.

However, once you’ve tried options like rest, physical therapy, and injection therapy without sufficient relief, surgery might be the best option remaining.

Once chronic shoulder pain or instability starts to significantly decrease your quality of life, it’s definitely time to consider surgery!

The right shoulder surgery for you

When you’re ready to opt for shoulder surgery, you still have some choices facing you, as there are multiple types of shoulder surgery. Dr. Blackwell discusses every part of your treatment plan with you, ensuring that you fully understand your procedure and expected outcomes.

In partial surgical shoulder replacement (hemiarthroplasty), Dr. Blackwell creates an incision that allows him to remove damaged parts of your shoulder joint. 

He replaces them with prosthetic elements made from resin, metal, and other surgical-grade materials before closing the incision and getting you on your way to recovery.

In a full shoulder replacement surgery, Dr. Blackwell replaces both the ball and the socket of your shoulder joint with prosthetics.

In either procedure, Dr. Blackwell relies on the most minimally invasive surgical techniques possible for your procedure, including arthroscopy. He supports you through your postsurgical recovery process as well.

To learn more about shoulder surgery, and find out if partial or total shoulder replacement could be right for you, contact Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today. Request your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone now.