Shoulder Resurfacing Treatment in India

Myra Ali, a 58-year-old high school...

Myra Ali, a 58-year-old high school art teacher and avid gardener, had been living with worsening right shoulder pain for nearly a decade. Initially diagnosed with osteoarthritis, she managed with painkillers and modifications, but the grinding pain and severe stiffness were stealing her joys. She could no longer demonstrate pottery techniques on the wheel, lift bags of soil, or sleep through the night. Her orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chen, explained that while her rotator cuff was intact, the cartilage in her ball-and-socket joint was completely worn. A full shoulder replacement seemed excessive for her active lifestyle, so he recommended a shoulder resurfacing (cap hemiarthroplasty). This procedure would replace only the damaged humeral head with a smooth metal cap, preserving her natural bone and socket. Myra was terrified of surgery but desperate for relief. The procedure went smoothly. Her post-op recovery involved a sling for 4 weeks and rigorous physical therapy. Within three months, her pain was dramatically reduced. By six months, she was back at her pottery wheel, her movement fluid and pain-free. Emotionally, she journeyed from feeling like her body was betraying her passions to a profound gratitude for regaining her ability to create and nurture her garden, feeling like she had reclaimed a part of her identity.