With all this hip and knee talk I figure lets throw shoulders into the mix...
I'm bone on bone in both shoulders , same with my hips and knees which all have been replaced....Been getting cortisone shots but they're not working very well anymore...Doc says they need replacing....which I don't really want to do, very long and difficult rehab and I'll probably need to stop working with all the restrictions they place on you, so I've been told...by everyone.
My BIL the ortho surgeon said don't do it till you can't stand the pain...and you can't wipe your butt anymore, lol...

So...anyone have any success stories, ..or otherwise?...

I have undergone rotator cuff surgeries five times. Still have problems on the side that had three.

A good friend had one done in Feb. for the first time. He is worse off now then he was. I would be real slow to go in. Look at Charles three on one side and still problems. Maybe they will fix it next time.

You got a lot of new parts. Shoulder would be the most complicated one of them all. I wish you the best in your decision but if were me I would put it off as long as possible.

I fell on the ice last winter and landed on my shoulder with all my weight and since then I have issues with movement and some pain. I'm sure not going to go see a Doc about it though.

Good Luck!

I suffered with shoulder pain for a long time. Finally got it checked. Complete tear with a lot of retraction. Had it fixed and did a lot of painful PT. Was it worth it? Absolutely IMO! I’m in much better shape than before. I can even throw overhand again. I can’t remember the last time I could do that. I sometimes wonder if people who have bad outcomes with these types of surgeries fail to follow through with their PT and restrictions.

In each of my repairs, I did the therapy religiously, except #5. The surgeon thought he might have to graft in a cadaver tendon but he didn’t. This time I did no therapy for six weeks! It was a very fragile procedure. He described it to me like sewing tissue paper together. Every time a broken tendon is repaired, the shredded ends are cut off and the resulting tendon is shorter. We need therapy to stretch the tendon to its natural length. This thins the tendon. Repeated repair keep thinning it more.

Had many years with multiple "repairs" on both shoulders. Had total reverse shoulders done (left in 2024, right in 2025). Best thing that ever happened to my shoulders. Was doing physical therapy as soon as the nerve block wore off. PT, PT, and PT. Makes all the difference in the world. Love the results. Rick

According to a friend of mine who had a total shoulder replacement said PT is a must to healing. He followed through as instructed and is doing fine six months after the surgery.

Rotator Cuf surgery (2012) : right shoulder (strong side)
Rotator Cuf surgery (2018) : left shoulder (much better surgeon)

Right shoulder finally crapped out, had my right shoulder replaced 9/18/24. Very little discomfort, way less time to heal and be functuinal again, compared to rotator cuf. Wouldn't hesitate to do replacement again if I had to choose.
Sounds to me like your shoulders need replacing, not rotator cuf surgery (???)

Yeah, replacing...had a consultation once, explained the procedures, then explained that you won't get back full motion, can't do any heavy lifting, should avoid recoil from shooting, bla, bla, BUT! you SHOULD be pain free....didn't sound like a ringing endorsement...told him I'd get back to him, lol

For me personally, my right shoulder was worn out from many years of hard use, painful way more often than not, so I went with the replacement. A very good decision for me and worth it.
Best wishes with whatever you decide...

For those of you who have had a full replacement can you handle fairly significant recoil(saw your response gcs). My right shoulder is gone, hard to almost impossible to lift my arm above shoulder height, it catches when in use and wakes me multiple times at night. Dr. says not rotator cuff but arthritis and shoulder is wore out. He has been trying to send me to a specialist for several years and I have been resisting but am about to where I am going to have to do it. I have had both knees replaced with zero problems but have heard nothing good about shoulder surgery.

I've heard varying responses to the recoil thing, my Doc said absolutely not, said a revision to a damaged shoulder replacement is very difficult....some people said they get away with it...
I guess it depends how much and how often....
Even my BIL, who does these replacements said hold off as long as possible .

Every doctor, and PA when I get the cortisone shots keep asking when I'm going to get them, then say, "you know you won't be able to do what you're doing now"...I'm still commercial crabbing....

I don't know. don't want to spend the rest of my life watching tomatoes grow...

I shoot right handed and had my right shoulder replaced.
To answer your question, list some calibers of concern regarding recoil and I'll answer you.

Had a shoulder, some other stuff repaired while in there and they had to detach my bicep, clean off bone spurs and re attached. He told me my bicep was hanging on by a thread. After the nerve block wore off, I regretted the surgery. pain is an understatement when it come to the shoulder. PT was painful. I didn't think I would ever get full motion. About 8-9 months later I had full motion. I am very happy I had it done. If someone were to ask me if they should get the surgery, I would say YES. Now I have a new knee and I am regretting that as well.

Both total reverse shoulder replacements were in the spring. By late summer I was back to shooting trap, hunted the fall and winter seasons with archery, shotgun, and rifle. Trapping, push poling, not a problem. No lifting issues, arms above my head straight up, plenty of strength. I do fence posts once in a while, still no issues. I put my belt through the belt loops on my pants before I put my pants on. Seems that one loop in the small of the back is a little tricky sometimes. Just easier without the pants on.

I do know some panzies that have had the same thing done, some by the same surgeon that did both of mine. They complain about the same things written above. Their own fault, just want to be the victim, no effort with PT or trying to make themselves better. They are better suited to the lazy, whining life. It is all what you make of it. Rick

I shoot a 270 short mag which has a fair amount of recoil and an auto 12 gauge. I had zero problems with both knees and was walking on the gravel driveway a week after the surgery with my doctors blessing. I am 69 and don't want to lose any seasons at this stage of my life but am going to have to do something