Whenever we are facing a big life decision, we typically like to look at the potential pros and cons in order to determine whether or not it’s worth it to move forward in one direction or the other. When it comes to a decision as major as joint replacement surgery, it’s imperative that you come to the conclusion that surgery is right for you. But how can you go about determining if shoulder replacement is worth it? Below, we take a look at some of the ways you can quantify whether or not the shoulder replacement operation is worth it for your situation.
Is Shoulder Replacement The Right Treatment For Me?
There is no perfect formula for determining whether or not shoulder replacement is worth it for you, but if you and your specialist dive into the nuts and bolts of your situation and you work to answer the following questions, you may be able to better understand if a joint replacement procedure is right for you.
- Is Pain Limiting Your Daily Activities? – This question gets right to the heart of the issue of why so many people opt to undergo a shoulder replacement procedure. If shoulder pain or degeneration is making daily life uncomfortable, or you’re shying away from activities that you once loved, shoulder replacement may be the perfect solution for you.
- Have Conservative Options Failed? – Although shoulder surgery may be able to provide you with immense relief, a replacement operation is rarely the first treatment option pursued. If you haven’t really tried to treat your discomfort with physical therapy or mobility exercises, your surgeon may recommend that you pursue these options for a number of weeks before you consider a more invasive technique.
- Is Replacement Likely To Address My Discomfort? – This question is best answered during a consultation with your shoulder specialist. One of the best ways to determine if shoulder replacement is worth it is to understand what type of pain relief and functional restoration you will likely experience assuming the operation and your surgery and rehabilitation go as expected. Don’t be afraid to ask this exact question of your shoulder specialist during an initial consultation.
- Are You Healthy Enough For Surgery? – All surgeries carry risks, and if you have some underlying health issues that may make it more likely that you’ll experience complications, your doctor may recommend against shoulder replacement surgery. We’ll still work with you to find a way to reduce or alleviate your shoulder discomfort, but if surgery is too risky because of your health or age, it may not be worth it.
These are just a few of the questions that you’ll want to answer before you decide whether or not to pursue a shoulder replacement operation, and we’ll be more than happy to help you answer these questions in any way we can. For help with your shoulder issue, or to learn more about the replacement process, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
