Back to the Swing of Things: One Man’s Shoulder Replacement Story

Kenneth Larsen, 68, spent over 20 years working as a New York City subway engineer. He started out as a porter, sweeping the subway stations. Then he worked his way up to conductor and climbed up and down the subway trains as part of his job. Eventually, Larsen became a subway engineer. In this role, he would climb up and down the train and stop and start the train every twenty seconds for at least two hours straight. His long-time career meant over 20 years of repetitive arm movement which, as Larsen aged, led to chronic shoulder pain.

At first, Larsen treated his shoulder pain with Tylenol. When that wouldn’t numb the pain, his primary care physician recommended injections. However, Larsen was told he couldn’t stay on the injections forever. Larsen decided to get arthroscopic surgery to repair the tears in his rotator cuff. Unfortunately this was a temporary fix. Four years later, Larsen considered shoulder replacement surgery.

“It got so bad I could barely raise my arm,” Larsen said.

A friend of Larsen’s had her knee replaced by Dr. Seth Krum of Pennsylvania Orthopedic Associates. She had such great results; Larsen requested to go there too.

That friendly referral led Larsen to meet Dr. Nick Phillips, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in upper extremities . In March 2018, Larsen had his right shoulder replaced.

“The surgery was successful and I started rehab right away,” Larsen said. “My physical therapist was amazed at how well I recuperated. I finished my physical therapy in six months when it normally takes a year.”

Seven months later, November 2018, Larsen had his son and grandson come up from Florida to visit him. The trio went to a Sixers basketball game, watched auto racing and participated in ax throwing for nearly three hours.

“We were so good, the ax master went out to his car and got a larger ax,” Larsen said. “That goes to show you how well I improved and recovered. I could throw that ax with no problem whatsoever.”

Today Larsen gets to enjoy the activities he loved before his shoulder pain got in the way. He is an usher at his church parish and volunteers monthly at Pennypack Park. He plans to get his left shoulder replaced sometime next year.

“Thank God, for that practice,” Larsen said. “The whole point of surgery is to be able to go back to life and have fun.”

To learn more about our orthopedic services visit Redeemer Orthopedics