My late father-in-law had a shoulder replacement done in his 80's and did just fine, resuming normal activity after a few months of physical therapy. Everyone may be different but he cut the grass, lifted things, and drove for hundreds of miles on trips with no problems at all. The only difference we noticed was that it became difficult to put on his winter coat without help because it was not possible for him to move the arm backwards into the position you need to get it into the coat. There are not very many other situations where someone usually needs to get their arm into that position.

This was in the 1990's so one could reasonably expect the technology of the replacement parts used today to be even better than it was then.

Back in the 60's my dad had his shoulder replaced after it got nearly blown off in nam and you'd never know he had it replaced.

Ron, which type procedure are they planning? "Normal" or "reverse"?

My wife had the reverse procedure done about 20 months ago. Other than not being able to raise the arm past horizontal, you'd never know it.

In the reverse procedure they put a socket in the arm and a ball at the juncture of the clavicle and the head of the shoulder blade and it's held in place by the strength of the deltoid muscle.

Ron,
I was told by 3 different orthos I needed a shoulder replacement, I saw 2 different versions of joints. Take note of the limitations! very important! I still have my "old one" everyday I do more than the list of can't do with a new one. Mine has worn out from pitching as a kid... ok throwing a baseball cause it was fun, then hammering over the years. I wasn't impressed with the knowledge of the surgeons or the quality of the replacement parts.... I'm 56 it has been 5 years since I was at the surgeons. I carried a bag of concrete yesterday! tt