We received this email from an athletic 60 year old man who had a ream and run seven years earlier
His preoperative x-rays are shown here.
His x-rays at seven years after the ream and run are shown below. Showing a secure impaction grafted stem with a regenerated radiographic space between his human head and the glenoid.
He reports “It has been more than seven years since my shoulder replacement surgery, and I have long since resumed a normal life, essentially forgetting I ever had a problem.
The years leading up to surgery, when I could no longer ride a bike, kayak, rock climb, lift weights or even play the piano because I couldn’t raise my right arm high enough, seem now like just a bad dream. Before discovering the R&R option, I had consulted two other orthopedic surgeons and had not been encouraged by what they had to say. Consequently, I let my shoulder problem (osteoarthritis) progress until it was no longer tolerable. At the end, I was in constant pain, occasionally severe, and a right arm that was virtually useless.
After several months of regular stretching exercises, dedicated work, not without pain, I began to realize the amazing outcome from the R&R procedure. A year after surgery, I returned to the gym for the first time in twenty-five years. It was a new lease on life. Now, I exercise pretty vigorously three to five times a week, working all muscle groups, with a goal of restoring strength, flexibility and symmetry. Climbing, biking and kayaking are no problem. I can’t seem to perform as well in the gym as I did forty years ago, but I’ve been told the problem may be related to being 68 years old, rather than 28.
I’m attaching two video clips taken in a local gym earlier this year showing overhead press with 135 lbs. and pull-ups, respectively.”
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