American Medical technology: Reverse shoulder replacement

[mbliss57]

I had my right shoulder joint replaced yesterday. Checked in at 6AM and was i home n my lounge chair before 12PM.
Not only is it fast and efficient but I have use of the arm and shoulder already. I was able to dress, shower, shave and obviously type on a laptop. My medication is minimal. Pain is mostly from surgical incision. I had 2 rotator cuff repairs prior both of which were caused by me doing catastrophic falls. This time (also my fault) he was worried about infection so he wanted to just do the replacement. This surgeon, Dr Reuben Goebezie is in top 2 in the country for shoulder surgeries. His actual time inside my shoulder to remove and replace was 30-45 minutes! Of course prep and closing is done by staff.
Time from decision to replace to surgery was 3 weeks.

Note: My 2.5 years in the UK gave me a great appreciation for US Medicine. They have free medical care there..if you can wait up to ..many months to years.. if it is not life threatening. The quality is not as good either. There are just not enough Drs to choose from if you want speciality procedure done. We may have some expense/ insurance premium issues but we also have the best doctors.

 

[NYlakesider]

I had my right shoulder joint replaced yesterday. Checked in at 6AM and was i home n my lounge chair before 12PM.
Not only is it fast and efficient but I have use of the arm and shoulder already. I was able to dress, shower, shave and obviously type on a laptop. My medication is minimal. Pain is mostly from surgical incision. I had 2 rotator cuff repairs prior both of which were caused by me doing catastrophic falls. This time (also my fault) he was worried about infection so he wanted to just do the replacement. This surgeon, Dr Reuben Goebezie is in top 2 in the country for shoulder surgeries. His actual time inside my shoulder to remove and replace was 30-45 minutes! Of course prep and closing is done by staff.
Time from decision to replace to surgery was 3 weeks.

Note: My 2.5 years in the UK gave me a great appreciation for US Medicine. They have free medical care there..if you can wait up to ..many months to years.. if it is not life threatening. The quality is not as good either. There are just not enough Drs to choose from if you want speciality procedure done. We may have some expense/ insurance premium issues but we also have the best doctors.

Good news! Got a question for you were you stitched up or did the surgeon use the glue procedure. From what I can see the glue job has the fastest healing and no way (no holes) to let a infection set in!

 

[mbliss57]

Good news! Got a question for you were you stitched up or did the surgeon use the glue procedure. From what I can see the glue job has the fastest healing and no way (no holes) to let a infection set in!

My surgeon uses internal stitches that dissolve then seals the outer skin layer with glue so there is not an entry way for infection. Great question.
They are also taking a lot more precautions now on pre-op prep at home by giving you anti microbial soap to wash with 2X just before surgery and then a anti acne cream to apply to the area where they will cut a couple of times a day 3-4 days prior.
Infections are the bane of surgeons. They can preform seeming miracles but if infection sets in it's all for nought.

 

[Onomea]

Mbliss57, congrats on your impressively successful surgery! That's great!

I disagree with you about the overall quality of US healthcare compared to other countries though. I think the expertise, individual quality — as in your case — is terrific, if you can get it. But I think other first world countries do a better job of making good, comprehensive healthcare available to all.

Here's an example of a survey that bears this out, as do other international healthcare rankings: Rankings :: Legatum Prosperity Index 2018 (The 5th icon, the heart with an EKG line through it, ranks healthcare.)

In the survey linked, the US is 35th, UK is 26th, and Japan — where I have lived for over 30 years — is 3rd.

In Japan healthcare is not free, but is tax supported for all and includes dental. I've had five operations in my time in Japan, most recently a partial knee replacement last October, as well as chemo and radiation therapy. I spend more time in the US now that I am retired, and covered by Medicare, so am getting used to the system over here now.

(My only beef with the US healthcare system is that it is not universally available to all, as it is in most countries. I think the quality of care itself, if available to the patient, is quite high.)

 

[kwselke]

How much did it cost?

 

[mbliss57]

Mbliss57, congrats on your impressively successful surgery! That's great!

I disagree with you about the overall quality of US healthcare compared to other countries though. I think the expertise, individual quality — as in your case — is terrific, if you can get it. But I think other first world countries do a better job of making good, comprehensive healthcare available to all.

Here's an example of a survey that bears this out, as do other international healthcare rankings: Rankings :: Legatum Prosperity Index 2018 (The 5th icon, the heart with an EKG line through it, ranks healthcare.)

In the survey linked, the US is 35th, UK is 26th, and Japan — where I have lived for over 30 years — is 3rd.

In Japan healthcare is not free, but is tax supported for all and includes dental. I've had five operations in my time in Japan, most recently a partial knee replacement last October, as well as chemo and radiation therapy. I spend more time in the US now that I am retired, and covered by Medicare, so am getting used to the system over here now.

(My only beef with the US healthcare system is that it is not universally available to all, as it is in most countries. I think the quality of care itself, if available to the patient, is quite high.)

I agree completely with your assessments. The total care system in the US is seriously lacking compared to other 1st world countries. Lacking in terms at availability to quality care at reasonable cost.
My point was that given good insurance plans or just unlimited resources there is no better care available for acute and chronic problems. Thats my observation having lived in the UK, working extensively in Germany and Jordan and reading about international medicine. That doesn't mean that the US is always right in how they treat every problem.
As to the cost: Cost to who? me or the insurance company?
In my case I have a $4K max out of pocket annual deductible.
So it will likely cost close to that for me. Which I think is cheap when I look at what I gain from it. It's less than I would spend on a registered magnum or Wilson Combat 1911. The insurance company will get billed about $30K of which they will probably pay $10K of which I will pay $4 and they will pay $6. That's what happened last time when I had RC surgery. Except I was on a little better plan and my out of pocket was $2K.
The finer point to the $4K is that is also the family deductible and my wife had surgery 2 weeks ago. So hers will not cost her anything or it will and mine will not. Its split between us.

 

[GaryS]

A friend of mine had a "reverse" shoulder replacement Thursday. He was in the hospital overnight, but there were no complications.

His wife called me and told me it was 2 1/2 hours from start to finish. Much less time than I would think.

He's kind of a slow healer, so I don't know how long healing and rehab will take.

I spoke with him today and he told me he felt like a truck hit him.

My wife loaned him an ice machine we got when she had her bicep tendon repaired a couple of years ago. For some reason, his hospital (which does nothing buy ortho surgery) recommended one, but doesn't supply it.

I'll go to see him in a few days when he feels somewhat better.

 

[mbliss57]

Gary that hit by a truck feeling is pretty accurate. I went back to work last Thursday. 4 days out of work. Thursday and Friday where really long days at the plant. This coming week will be pretty grueling too. If I had more time available I would stay home for a few more days. Luckily I am in a position that I don't need to do manual labor. Even so it's tough sledding.

 

[nachogrande]

WE HAVE THE BEST MONEY CAN BUY, & NOT JUST MEDICINE.

Like the crude saying: life is a poop sandwich, the more bread you have, the less poop you have to eat. "The very best Dr's are all over the world. We have the rich US people traveling abroad for surgeries & some rich from abroad coming here. Some people leave the US to have surgeries abroad due to lower cost. I have yet to hear from anyone/anywhere that thought their system was the best.

 

[nachogrande]

+1 FOR ICE!!!

GREAT for pain/inflammation, low cost, few side effects.
Swimming in VERY cold water is about the best hangover remedy ever.

 

[Jebus35745]

Good luck with the healing process. You looked great at the gun show Saturday, had a smile on your face. It's amazing what can be done today, remember the therapy. Larry

 

[GaryS]

My friend is retired, so other than helping out his mooching relatives, he has little to do.

The mooching relatives are a different story, so I'll leave them out.

Despite the binder with all sorts of instructions and advice, he seemed surprised at the post op process.

I admire you for having the gumption to get up and go to work. Even though you had little choice, it still took some grit to get up and go to work.

Gary that hit by a truck feeling is pretty accurate. I went back to work last Thursday. 4 days out of work. Thursday and Friday where really long days at the plant. This coming week will be pretty grueling too. If I had more time available I would stay home for a few more days. Luckily I am in a position that I don't need to do manual labor. Even so it's tough sledding.

 

[dockmurgw]

I swore off modern medicine the first time I saw a late night TV lawyer add for genital gangrene cases. Yea...like I want to take a drug that causes that! If something ails me now I go right to the safe and reliable source for treatment...the Foxfire book.