Patient Story: How Ena Got Her Shoulder — and Her Active Life — Back

Key Takeaways

• Ena lived with worsening shoulder pain for years before learning her joint was 'bone on bone' and surgery was the only path back to an active life.
• She chose a left reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with Brett Andres, MD, after non-surgical options were no longer enough.
• Recovery took real, consistent work in physical therapy with Grace Bautista, PT, but Ena is now back to gardening, painting, and the activities she loves.
• Her advice to anyone considering the surgery: go in with realistic expectations, commit to physical therapy, and keep up your exercises long after treatment ends.
• Orthopedic + Fracture Specialists' shoulder and joint replacement team helped guide Ena through diagnosis, surgery, and recovery, and can do the same for you. Request an appointment to talk through your own shoulder pain.

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Living With Shoulder Pain That Wouldn't Let Up

Before her surgery, Ena couldn't lift her left shoulder well, and lying on it at night was painful. Like many patients dealing with advanced shoulder arthritis, the pain had reached a point where it was affecting basic daily comfort, not just activity.

'I couldn't lift my left shoulder very well, and if I laid on my shoulder it was painful,' Ena said.

The Moment Surgery Became the Right Choice

Ena's decision point came during an appointment with Brett M. Andres, MD, a sports medicine and joint replacement specialist at Orthopedic + Fracture Specialists focused on knee and shoulder care. Dr. Andres explained that her shoulder joint was bone-on-bone, advanced arthritis with no cartilage cushion left between the bones.

'When I saw Dr. Andres...he said that my shoulder was bone-on-bone, then it's time for surgery, or you live with pain. I am too active to be in pain,' Ena said.

For patients like Ena, whose joint damage is severe enough that a standard shoulder replacement wouldn't hold up well, a reverse total shoulder replacement is often the better option. In this procedure, the normal ball-and-socket positions of the shoulder are switched, allowing the deltoid muscle to power the arm instead of a damaged rotator cuff. Reverse total shoulder replacement is often recommended for people whose rotator cuff and joint damage are too advanced for a conventional replacement to work well.

Choosing the Right Care Team

Ena wasn't new to joint replacement when she met Dr. Andres, she'd already had a full knee replacement. Her experience with his team stood out.

'Dr. Andres and his team are the best. I have had a full knee replacement and now a shoulder replacement. I wish that all the doctors were like Dr. Andres. I didn't have any pain after my shoulder surgery or my knee replacement,' she said.

Recovery: Why Physical Therapy Made All the Difference

Ena is candid that recovery wasn't easy, even with a great surgical outcome. Working with Grace Bautista, PT, at Orthopedic + Fracture Specialists' physical therapy team, she had to relearn movements most people take for granted. Because O+FS surgeons and physical therapists work closely together, they maintain open communication throughout the recovery process, helping ensure rehabilitation is aligned with the surgeon's goals after surgery.

'My recovery has been great. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy, but you have to work at it. I had to learn how to do things that we take for granted all over again,' Ena said. 'Grace has been great in my PT. Grace got me to where I am today. But you have to do the work. She has been amazed at my progress. PT has been a great success in my recovery. Without PT, I would not be where I am today.'

Her mindset shift was as important as the physical work: going in expecting to put in effort, rather than expecting an easy fix.

Getting Back to the Life She Loves

Today, Ena is back to nearly everything she enjoyed before her shoulder pain took over.

'I have been able to return to all the activities that I have done. Working in my yard, painting, I try what I want to do, and if it feels good, I will do it,' she said. 'I have almost forgotten that I had shoulder surgery.'

Ena's Advice for Anyone Considering Reverse Shoulder Replacement

Her message to others weighing the decision is straightforward: know what you're signing up for, and don't stop once the formal recovery ends.

'If someone asks me about shoulder surgery, I would tell them to go in with their eyes wide open. That they must do the work with PT, and once PT is done they must keep doing their exercises and not stop. The key is to keep your muscles strong so that you may not have to go through another surgery,' Ena said.

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