Your shoulders are ball-and-socket joints that get a lot of use, particularly if you have a job that includes a lot of physical activity like farming. When they are not working quite right, pain shows up. Sometimes, the pain doesn’t go anywhere until you’re ready to do something about it.
If your doctor mentions the possibility of shoulder replacement surgery, you might cringe. As the conversation goes on, however, it doesn’t sound nearly as scary.
You learn that shoulder replacement involves replacing damaged parts of the shoulder with artificial components.
There are different kinds of procedures based on the severity and type of damage. Often, recovery and rehab are not as disruptive as you might anticipate.
“Three months after surgery, my shoulder patients tell me they regret putting it off as long as they did,” said Clint Benge, M.D., a Sanford Health orthopedic surgeon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who does shoulder procedures. “They are recovering quicker than they thought. Strength and range of motion is returning, and the pain is no longer there.”
Qualifying for shoulder replacement surgery
Shoulder replacement surgery should be considered when severe, persistent pain and a lack of mobility have not responded to other treatments.
These procedures are most often recommended for osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, severe rotator cuff tears and serious shoulder injuries. At the core of needing a shoulder replacement are two symptoms: a lack of mobility and an abundance of discomfort.
“Whether they have been limiting themselves to avoid pain or they just don’t have good functionality of motion, a lot of times our shoulder patients are in some pain all the time,” Dr. Benge said. “They might not even realize how limited they are because it’s been going on so long.”
Types of shoulder replacement procedures
Shoulder replacement surgery options depend on what is causing the problem and the extent of damage and wear on your shoulder.
The three types of shoulder replacements Sanford Health offers are:
- Total shoulder replacement – Replaces the end of your upper arm bone and part of your scapula, restoring proper function to the shoulder joint.
- Partial shoulder replacement – Removes the damaged section of your shoulder joint and replaces it.
- Reverse total shoulder replacement – Replaces both parts of your shoulder joint but reverses the natural location of them.
More prevalent, more effective
Shoulder replacement procedures are an increasingly common way of addressing chronic shoulder pain. As many as 350,000 shoulder replacement surgeries were performed in the U.S. in 2025. This would represent a 235% increase since 2017.
An aging population explains some of the increase, but advances in surgical techniques are also playing a role. More than ever, shoulder replacements are now viewed as a no-nonsense way to get back to an active life.
“Over the years, design changes and the understanding of how the components work has improved quite a bit,” Dr. Benge said. “With some changes in rehab protocol, we’ve actually found that getting people back into things quicker really improves outcomes long-term.”
After surgery and beyond
The procedure normally includes general anesthesia and takes a few hours to complete. Most patients will leave the hospital within a day or two, although some may be able to go home the same day as their operation.
Follow-up visits begin within a few weeks of surgery and are scheduled periodically based on recommendations of a Sanford Health care team.
At the six-month mark, most of Dr. Benge’s patients are back to doing everything they want at nearly full strength and flexibility. A year after surgery, they’re doing a lot of things they couldn’t do before the surgery.
“Often patients think they’re going to be pretty laid up and not able to do much,” Dr. Benge said. “But long-term, it’s actually the opposite – we’re going to do this so we can get people back to doing the things they really want to do.”
Is it time to consider shoulder replacement surgery?
If you suffer from shoulder pain or struggle with your joint function, shoulder replacement surgery may be the best way for you to get relief.
Sanford orthopedic surgeons and specialists offer a variety of shoulder replacement options for patients of all ages. They can walk you through the entire treatment process so you can recover safely and effectively.
