If you're experiencing shoulder pain that lingers, your medical provider may have suggested shoulder replacement surgery as a solution. Before recommending shoulder replacement, your doctor probably considered many factors, including your medical history and the extent of damage to your shoulder joint.

You should consider shoulder replacement if you're experiencing constant discomfort, swelling, and limited range of motion. Shoulder pain may be due to several different conditions, including: 

• Avascular necrosis, which cuts off blood flow to bone tissue 
• Osteoarthritis, which occurs most often in the hands, hips, and knees
• Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune disorder that can be difficult to diagnose and may mimic other diseases
• Rotator cuff tear arthropathy, which results after a rotator cuff tear

Deciding whether to undergo joint replacement surgery can sometimes be difficult. Here are five facts to help you make an informed decision with your doctor:

If previous treatment options, including oral or injected medications and physical therapy, haven't alleviated your discomfort, shoulder replacement surgery may be the solution.

Those undergoing shoulder replacement surgery typically experience relief from symptoms and a return to the more normal functioning of the shoulder after post-surgical physical therapy and recovery.

While it's not as common as knee or hip replacement, shoulder replacement is still performed quite often in the United States. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, around 53,000 Americans have shoulder replacement surgery yearly – and the number is increasing.

During a shoulder replacement, the damaged portion of the shoulder joint is removed and replaced. There are several types of replacement surgeries, which focus on different areas:

• During total shoulder replacement, also called total shoulder arthroplasty, the entire ball and socket joint are replaced with a metal ball and a plastic socket, or cup. 
• During reverse total shoulder replacement, the ball and socket are replaced differently than in a total replacement. The ball is attached to the socket and the cup is attached to the upper arm bone. This surgery is for those who have certain types of rotator cuff damage.
• During resurfacing hemiarthroplasty, the joint surface of the upper arm bone is replaced with a prosthesis. This option preserves bone and is often recommended for young or active people.
• During stemmed hemiarthroplasty, only the ball is replaced with a metal ball and stem. This procedure occurs when the upper arm bone is fractured, but the socket is intact.

While complications can occur during any surgery, they are rare in shoulder replacement surgery. Complications may include infection of the wound or around the replacement joint, wear and tear or dislocation of the replacement joint, or nerve damage around the shoulder.

The experience of recovering from shoulder replacement surgery will vary somewhat from person to person. In the first hours and days after the surgery, you will take pain medication to ease discomfort. You'll want to pay careful attention to your orthopedic specialist's instructions. You'll usually be asked to use your arm for activities at your waist or below beginning on the day of surgery. You can resume other normal activities, such as getting dressed or feeding yourself, within days.

You'll be encouraged to work with a physical therapist to help you recover your range of motion and other abilities. Following rehabilitation, most patients experience improved quality of life and reduced pain.