Good age for shoulder joint replacement

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I have seen my docotr and they did x-rays of my shoulder that has AVN - you can clearly see the degeneration of the joint has the head of the humeral is now flattened.

Yet this doctor tells me I am to young for a joint replacement, says that I need to wait until I am older. I'm in pain daily and some days my pain medication doesn't touch the pain that much at all. Currently I am 41 yrs old, but I am also quite active. What age is considered a good age for a joint replacement? And what options are avaiable for the joint - is it just metal on poly - or do they have the metal on metal like they do with the hips?

Thank you for your responses.

Barb

-- Barbara Susanto (runningdeer@rew2000.com), September 20, 2003

Answers

Dear Mrs Susanto;

In my opinion there is no good age for a joint replacement. You need it when you need it. The younger you are, and the more active the higher the liklihood that the prosthesis will wear out before you do.

Take Care

-- Marc W. Hungerford, M.D. (mhunger@jhmi.edu), February 06, 2004.


I have avn in shoulder also. Doc insisted I was to young 41. He injected with cortisone. Needless to say shoulder colasped and now surgery is required. Had my hip replaced 2x in a year avn also. Am wondering about my ankle that now has some pain. What are the chances of having it in my ankle

-- BettyLou (bhubb32342@aol.com), March 16, 2004.

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