What is your name and with what hand do you play pickleball?
Beth Lecorgne, right handed
What replacement did you have and how old were you when it was done?
Full shoulder replacement at 60 years old.
How long was your rehab (when were you back on the pickleball court, how many weeks of PT, etc.)? Were there setbacks or complications, did you do PT at home, etc.
I was in a full brace 24/7 for 6 weeks after surgery. So I couldn’t do any PT for 6 weeks. When I did start PT I went 3 times per week for 10 weeks. I was expected to do PT at home as well. I wanted to start dinking 6 weeks into PT but my therapist asked me not to. He said if I reached too far or fell I could have a set back. After 4 months I went back to playing full force. I could not play tennis for 6 months.
How many years had you played pickleball before the procedure?
I started playing 5 years prior to my surgery.
What is your best pickleball shot?
- Forehand ground stroke
- Backhand ground stroke
- Serve
- Dinking
- Drop shots
- Baseline lob
- Serve
After your procedure, is it still your best shot or is it something else now?
I did have the “yips” on my serve when I started playing again. I never used to think about my serve and could direct where I wanted it to go. The yips are gone now.
What is 1 thing you wish you knew before you had the procedure?
That I would be totally pain free afterwards.
Please share any other detail (why it was needed, if you would do it again and if not – why, challenges you overcame or didn’t – and how you are dealing with it, etc.).
My shoulder started hurting 3 years prior to the surgery. My doctor told me it was bone on bone arthritis and I could try cortisone injections. I did that for 3 years although they didn’t really help. I got to the point I couldn’t stand the pain—couldn’t sleep, couldn’t serve a tennis ball, and avoided overheads. I wish I had done it sooner.
What pickleball successes have you had since the procedure?
Medaled in several tournaments. Qualified for senior Olympics. Love hitting overheads now!
Tell us about traveling with your replacement.
There are no issues traveling. You don’t set off metal detectors.
