Pain Gives Way to Possibilities After Shoulder Replacements: Dan’s Story
When Potomac resident Daniel (Dan) Laibstain began experiencing shoulder pain that limited his daily activities, he never imagined it would lead to two replacement surgeries.
In August, Dan’s second surgery, performed by orthopedic surgeon Craig Miller, MD, was the medical center’s 500th shoulder replacement using GPS-guided technology. The procedure replaced the damaged joint in Dan’s left shoulder and repaired a nearby tendon. It came a little over a year after his first surgery, when Dr. Miller replaced his right shoulder with the technology, which the hospital pioneered in Maryland in 2018.
Dan’s shoulder pain had developed slowly over the years. His wife first noticed his decreasing strength around 2018, but he brushed it off. In early 2024, he awoke one morning unable to raise his right arm. He panicked.
“I couldn’t lift my hand to shower, shave or walk the dog,” he recalled. “It was restricting me from what I liked to do.”
Dan consulted with his care team, and imaging showed the cartilage in his shoulder had worn away, leaving the joint bone-on-bone. Dr. Miller confirmed that a shoulder replacement could restore his function and relieve pain. Although Dan was nervous about his first operation, the results quickly eased his fears.
“The pain I experienced from surgery was 10 times less than the pain I was feeling before,” he said. “Within three months, I had my full range of motion back.”
By early 2025, Dan’s left shoulder began showing similar signs – clicking, grinding and growing pain. When cortisone injections failed to help, Dr. Miller recommended another replacement. The experience felt easier the second time around, as Dan knew the process and felt reassured by the experts at Shady Grove Medical Center.
Today, Dan stays active in physical therapy and reports minimal pain. He’s careful to follow his rehabilitation plan precisely. He credits much of his shoulder replacement success to the team at Shady Grove Medical Center.
“They were amazing – everyone from pre-op to post-op,” he said. “Some staff even remembered me from the year before. I’d recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat.”
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