When shoulder pain makes even simple movements difficult, what options do you have? Shoulder replacement treats severe arthritis, joint damage, and chronic pain that limit your mobility. At Arête Health Group, you receive personalized orthopedic care focused on restoring function, relieving discomfort, and helping you return to daily life and movement.
Regain Strength and Overhead Mobility
Shoulder replacement is a surgical procedure that replaces damaged parts of your shoulder joint with smooth, artificial components. It’s typically recommended when arthritis, fractures, or severe joint degeneration cause persistent pain and limit your movement. By restoring the joint’s structure and function, shoulder replacement helps reduce discomfort, improve range of motion, and make everyday activities, like reaching, lifting, and dressing, feel more natural again.
Shoulder Replacement Treats:
- Severe shoulder osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis affecting the joint
- Post-traumatic arthritis after injury
- Complex shoulder fractures
- Irreparable rotator cuff tears (cuff tear arthropathy)
- Advanced joint degeneration and cartilage loss
- Chronic shoulder pain unresponsive to conservative care
- Limited range of motion and stiffness
- Joint instability and structural damage
Types of Shoulder Replacement
Total Shoulder Replacement
Total shoulder replacement restores the natural structure of your joint by replacing both the damaged ball (humeral head) and socket (glenoid) with prosthetic components. The metal ball attaches to a stem placed inside your upper arm bone, while a durable plastic socket lines the shoulder blade. This design mimics normal anatomy, allowing smooth, low-friction movement. It’s typically recommended when arthritis has worn down the cartilage, but your rotator cuff muscles remain strong and functional, stabilizing and guiding joint motion.
Reverse Shoulder Replacement
Reverse shoulder replacement changes the joint’s mechanics by switching the positions of the ball and socket. A metal ball is attached to the shoulder blade, and a socket is placed at the top of the arm bone. This design shifts the workload from the damaged rotator cuff to the deltoid muscle, allowing you to lift and move your arm more effectively. It’s often recommended for patients with severe rotator cuff tears, complex fractures, or failed prior surgeries where traditional replacements wouldn’t provide stable movement.
Benefits of Shoulder Replacement:
- Significant reduction in chronic shoulder pain
- Improved range of motion and flexibility
- Restored ability to perform daily activities
- Enhanced strength and joint stability
- Smoother, more natural joint movement
- Long-lasting results with durable implants
- Better sleep due to reduced nighttime pain
Shoulder Replacement FAQs
How Long Does the Surgery Take?
Most procedures take about one to two hours, depending on the complexity of your condition and the type of joint reconstruction being performed. You’ll be monitored throughout, and your care team will ensure you’re comfortable before, during, and after the procedure.
What Is Recovery Like?
You’ll likely wear a sling for a few weeks to protect the joint, followed by a structured physical therapy program to restore movement and strength. Many patients begin noticing improvement within a few weeks, with continued progress over several months as the joint heals.
When Can I Return to Normal Activities?
Light daily activities often resume within a few weeks, but more demanding movements, like lifting or overhead use, take longer. Most people return to many of their normal routines within 3 to 6 months. Your provider will give you clear timelines based on your progress.
How Long Do the Results Last?
Modern implants are designed to be durable and long-lasting. Many patients experience relief and improved function for 10-20 years or more, especially when they follow their recovery plan and avoid excessive strain on the joint.
Schedule Your Consultation
Ready to move your shoulder without constant pain? At Arête Health Group, you’re more than a patient: you’re someone we take the time to truly know and care for. Serving Paramus, Fords, and Clifton, our providers deliver personalized, relationship-driven orthopedic care. Schedule your consultation and take the next step toward lasting relief with shoulder replacement.
