John Orasy is a pro when it comes to joint replacements. By the time he had his left shoulder replaced in July 2024, he had already replaced both his hips, his right knee, and his right shoulder.
But this fifth joint replacement was different. It was John's first experience at BMC. His previous orthopedic surgeon had moved to Florida and had recommended Dr. Tiger Li in BMC's Department of Orthopedic Surgery. After reviewing the x-rays and MRI images, Dr. Li told John he would need a reverse shoulder replacement, a surgical procedure to replace the shoulder joint with a prosthetic metal ball and socket.
John was not surprised. He couldn't reach high with his left arm and was in a lot of pain on a daily basis. With so many successful surgeries behind him, he approached #5 with confidence. But the results from BMC exceeded even his highest expectations.
"Everything was amazing. I was out of the OR in two hours and went home the next day with no pain," says John. "I can't say enough about Dr. Li. The surgery was fantastic, and my recovery was smooth."
Though he briefly went to rehab near his home in Grafton, John did most of his recovery at home. His wife, Kathleen, a retired nurse, was a huge help. "She is a really good nurse and has taken care of me after all my operations," says John. "We got a list from rehab and did the exercises from home all day long."
John and Kathleen's hard work paid off. By his second post-op appointment, John was feeling great and was no longer wearing a sling. "Dr. Li was very impressed with what I could do only two months after surgery," remembers John. "Everyone was amazed by my mobility!"
Today, John can reach high with his left arm and has no pain when he moves his shoulder. "I don't have any limitations - none at all," he says. "Kathleen and I are pushing 80, but we're still young. We walk all the time, we work around the house, we don't even use a sit-down lawnmower or anything! We just keep moving."
John's advice to anyone facing a shoulder joint replacement: "Don't be afraid. Go to the people who know what they're doing, have the will to get better, don't baby yourself…. and have a wife like Kathleen!"