I've had 7 spinal surgeries in the past (Lumbar and Cervical).
In 2010 I two complete shoulder replacements and I just had my left hip totally replaced in November 2011.

Looking back it all of them, I would have to say the Cervical and Hip surgeries were the easiest to deal with and the easiest to recovery as well as having the best end results.

The shoulder surgery was by far the worse in my opinion. While it was a long recovery road for my lumbar surgeries and to this day I am still bothered a lot with lumbar problems, shoulders took so much longer.

The actual surgery time was someone longer than my lumbar, the recovery from the operation was easier. But thats where the easy part ended. You never realize how much you depend on your shoulders to do almost anything. I was essentially incapacitated. I couldnt eat , dress, shower, use the toilet, etc by myself. I never experienced anything like that with my other surgeries.

Before I started formal physical therapy (3 weeks post surgery), we had to do in house therapy. That really was taken my arm in moving it upward. I have to say, those times were the most painful I had to deal with. I would find any excuse not to do those exercises. As formal therapy went on, it get a bit easier. I was able to drive 7 weeks after surgery.
I still had limited range of motion in my shoulder. I started in with my Deep Tissue specialist who gave me FULL range of motion in my shoulder. The therapist and doctors were amazed at how much I could move them. At my age and previous medical conditions, they did not even think I would have more than 50% range. 8 months after the first shoulder was replaced, I had the second one totally replaced. Same routine post surgery. This April I will be coming up on the 2 year anniversary of my first shoulder surgery. I still need to do specific exercises to keep the mobility. I was told 18 to 36 months for regular type of therapy and exercises and then life time awareness.

Shoulder surgery, especially total replacements, with titanium rods, ball head, ceramic socket, etc is complicated. We went through about 6 different surgeons before we settled on the one who was going to do it. Where we lived, a very capable surgeon could perform the operation. He did about 3 or 4 a year. I finally went to NYC and based on other doctor recommendations find a surgeon who did the same procedure 6 or 10 times a month! That made a world of difference.

Don't mean to scare you.. I dont regret those shoulder surgeries a bit. I have more comfort now than I had for the previous 10 years.

I am faced with having my right hip replaced in the near future, plus it is pretty evident that I will need both knees replaced at a later date.

From my discussions with several doctors, therapists, etc.... The surgeries that are the most difficult and take the longest to recover are:

1 - Shoulder
2 - Lumbar
3 - Knee
4 - Cervical
5 - Hip

They dont even mention Thoracic surgery, because there is still so much out on this right now.

Post Deleted

Ron DiLauro, Spine-Health System Administrator 01/26/12