When you are suffering from advanced shoulder arthritis or a complex joint injury, making the decision to undergo surgery is rarely easy. It is completely normal to feel uncertain or to hear horror stories from well-meaning friends about what a recovery might entail.
Our patient, Mary Hargis, was in that exact position. Faced with severe shoulder dysfunction, she was incredibly skeptical about her options. “I was told that replacement was the worst thing that you could ever do,” Mary admits.
Fortunately, Mary chose to trust the team at the Louisville Institute of Orthopaedics. On April 21, 2025, she underwent a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty with Ryan J. Krupp, M.D.—and it transformed her outlook completely.
Overcoming Fear and Finding Relief
Now celebrating her one-year post-operative milestone, Mary can confidently say that taking the leap was worth it. Instead of the grueling experience she had feared, her recovery proved to be remarkably manageable.
“This has been the best thing that I could have ever done,” Mary smiles. “It was probably one of the easiest surgeries I’ve all had—as far as pain-wise, as far as recovery goes. As long as you do exactly what the doctor says, you’re going to be fine.”
A Lifelong Partnership in Orthopaedic Health
At Louisville Institute of Orthopaedics, we don’t just treat individual joints—we care for the whole patient. Mary’s experience was so positive that she already knows where she will turn for any future musculoskeletal needs.
“I will be back if I ever need to have the right one done,” Mary says, “and I will be here for the knees!”
Whether you are dealing with chronic shoulder pain, an old sports injury, or advanced arthritis, you don’t have to live with limitations. Request an appointment today, and let our team of independent specialists help you write your own success story.
