What’s the Right Age for Shoulder Replacement?

One of the most common questions our doctors are asked when patients are considering shoulder replacement surgery is , “am I the right age for this?”

Some think they’re too young to be considering a major joint replacement. Others think they’re too old for their bodies to handle it. One way or another though, many people who aren’t of the “typical” age for joint replacement will ask whether their age alone should rule them out.

The simple answer: absolutely not.

At Excelsior, our surgeons analyze a patient’s whole health and body situation before making a recommendation to either undergo surgery or seek other treatments. There are a lot of factors to consider, including the severity of injury or pain, the overall health of the patient, and the potential benefit of choosing shoulder replacement.

The bottom line is this: if you are experiencing chronic pain in your shoulder, you would benefit from a new prosthetic joint, and you are healthy enough to undergo surgery, your age simply doesn’t matter. Whether you think you’re way too young or a little too old, there’s no reason to live in pain if you don’t have to, and it’s never too early to seek a treatment that could bring you happiness and freedom from pain.