Conditions + Treatments
Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
Total Shoulder Replacement
I’ve lived in Tuscaloosa my entire life - 65 years, to be exact. For most of those years, I worked hard - first as a welder traveling all over the country, and then as a unit leader at a local, oil refinery.
My profession demanded strength and perseverance, with long days climbing 40-foot towers and working heavy valves.
There were no catastrophic injuries - just decades of wear and tear from honest, hard work. Years of this labor inevitably took a toll on my shoulders.
It started with my left shoulder, which troubled me for years. I underwent a partial shoulder replacement in Birmingham with an orthopaedic surgeon, after he told me a total shoulder replacement might mean two future surgeries. That partial lasted about a decade.
When it wore out, I started asking around and soon enough, folks in town pointed me to Andrews Sports Medicine and to Dr. Wayne McGough. Thank the Lord I followed that advice - my experience with Dr. McGough has been nothing short of phenomenal.
Understandably, I was apprehensive when Dr. McGough recommended reverse shoulder replacement surgery for my left shoulder two years ago, given my job’s physical demands.
However, he made me feel confident and cared for - he never rushed, always took time to listen, and offered steady reassurance. The surgery went better than I dreamed possible. Within weeks, I felt like I had the shoulder I was born with. Even Dr. McGough was surprised by the speed of my recovery, and I couldn’t have been happier.
Before long, my right shoulder started giving me trouble too. Bone on bone - they showed me on the X-rays. I managed with injections for a while, but after a year or so, I went back to Dr. McGough, and we scheduled a traditional shoulder replacement surgery for October 2025. Once again, I was amazed by my progress. Just ten weeks after surgery, I had regained impressive range of motion—so much so that I was ahead of others in therapy who’d had their surgery months before me.
I credit my comebacks to sheer determination and, above all, to Dr. McGough. But it’s the care and support from Dr. McGough and his staff, especially Katie, that made all the difference. Not only are they top-notch professionals, but their kindness, patience, and personal attention put me at ease every step of the way. I can honestly say: you won’t find better care anywhere.
Looking ahead, I know I may need a knee replacement, and there’s no question Dr. McGough is the only one I’ll trust with my care. My wife agrees completely. I’m grateful for a second chance at an active life, and even more grateful for the people who made it possible.
Thanks to Dr. McGough and the incredible Andrews team, my comeback story is still being written.
