Deborah LeMaster

Deborah LeMaster never imagined that a workplace fall 15 years ago would have left her in such a debilitated state as to not have any functional use of her left arm. But that is exactly what happened. Following her injury, Deborah went through two rounds of arthroscopic shoulder surgery with the goal of “cleaning” out her shoulder joint of any loose bodies or torn cartilage. Unfortunately, these efforts were mostly unsuccessful, and as time went on Deborah’s pain increased and her functional use of her arm decreased.

Deborah found herself being advised by different physicians and surgeons that her only hope would be a “total shoulder replacement.” This procedure is indicated for treatment of severe arthritis of the shoulder joint. Severe shoulder arthritis is quite painful, and can cause restriction of motion. Total shoulder replacement surgery alleviates pain by replacing the damaged bone and cartilage with a metal and plastic implant. The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint, much like the hip joint. The ball is the top of the arm bone (the humerus), and the socket is within the shoulder blade (scapula). This new joint allows people an increased range of motion at the shoulder with limited or eliminated pain.

Dr. Joseph Mileti, of the Ohio Joint Replacement Institute at The Ohio Orthopedic Center of Excellence, after reviewing her MRI results explained to Deborah that her shoulder “is one of the worst shoulders I’ve seen.” Admittedly a bit strong willed, Deborah resisted this surgery for many years. “It was a trip to the Emergency Room because my pain was so bad that told me it was time,” explains Deborah. “I couldn’t hold my grandkids, I couldn’t do my hair, my shoulder was completely frozen, my muscles were atrophied, and my pain was a 10 on a scale 1 of 10….all the time!”. Fortunately, in Dr. Mileti, Deborah found “one of the kindest people I know.” Dr. Mileti performed a successful total shoulder arthroplasty in April 2007, almost 14 years after her initial injury.

Today, Deborah can’t believe she waited so long to have the procedure done. “This surgery has opened up a whole new chapter of my life”, exclaims Deborah. She explains that the surgery was not easy, nor was the rehabilitation, but she is certainly glad she finally did it. With 80% function restored in her arm and minimal pain, she now looks forward to living out the rest of her life fishing, enjoying her family, and doing all the things she couldn’t do for so very long.