Joann A., 68, of Kennedy, N.Y., had been feeling shoulder pain for more than two years when she realized she finally needed to do something about it.
Daily tasks, such as carrying groceries and putting away dishes, were becoming too painful. Babysitting her grandchildren twice a week was proving difficult. She even needed to use a step stool just to lower her grandchild into the crib.
“The pain got worse quickly,” Joann says. “I had to bend over to put on or take off a blouse. I had trouble sleeping and living — I couldn’t do it anymore.”
At first, Joann’s primary care physician referred her to physical therapy (PT) sessions. After months of PT, however, her condition wasn’t improving as much as they’d hoped. That’s when shoulder replacement surgery came into the conversation.
“I did the max PT sessions, and I wasn’t feeling much relief, so I was ready for the surgery — anything to bring pain relief,” Joann says.
Ready for Surgery but Missing Something Important
There was only one small problem Joann faced. The two surgeons at her local UPMC hospital, UPMC Chautauqua, were both retiring at the end of the year and booked solid until then. By the time Joann needed surgery, there wasn’t a shoulder surgeon available in her community.
That’s when Brian Mata, MD, at Lakeshore Orthopedics & Sports Medicine GLPP, which is affiliated with UPMC Chautauqua, told Joann about a colleague who was coming into town soon: James Boniface, MD. Having recently moved from Youngstown, Ohio, Dr. Boniface had more than 30 years of experience in orthopaedic surgery and was just getting settled in Joann’s town.
Joann considered having her shoulder replacement surgery in spring 2024 when Dr. Boniface first arrived. However, her travel plans were too extensive. A fun summer full of family visits and trips out west put surgery on hold until August.
“I could live with the pain a little longer to make some good summer memories first,” Joann says with a laugh.
Another Issue Needs Attention
During discussions about her shoulder surgery, Joann brought up another condition that needed surgical attention — carpal tunnel and trigger finger issues on her right hand. Years of typing and writing while working in banking had caused her pain for more than eight years.
Though the pain wasn’t as bad as it was in her shoulder, Joann still hoped to get the hand problems addressed as well. Because surgery couldn’t happen for both areas at the same time, she chose to have her shoulder replaced first.
Dr. Boniface performed outpatient shoulder replacement surgery in August 2024. Right afterward, Joann felt relief.
“I was immediately pain-free,” she says. “It was amazing. I couldn’t believe I had put off the procedure for so long!”
She wore a sling for two weeks before returning to the doctor to have her stitches removed and receive her postsurgical rehabilitation exercises. She chose to do her rehab on her own and went home with a list of exercises and repetitions.
“I like to exercise, so it was no big deal to me,” Joann says. “But if you need motivation, you should definitely go somewhere for physical therapy. It’s a life changer.”
Joann is a good example of a person who followed her doctor’s postoperative orders precisely. She could feel herself recovering quickly.
“You don’t just want to be pain-free,” she says. “You want your strength and range of motion. So, you must keep moving.”
Back Again for Surgery
A few months later, in December 2024, Dr. Boniface performed carpal tunnel and trigger finger release surgery on Joann’s right hand.
“Again, the pain was gone right away,” Joann says. “I had a bandage on my hand on a Friday, and by Monday, I was at my checkup and getting the bandage off. It was so easy.”
Today, Joann is completely pain-free in both arms. She enjoys having a full range of motion that keeps her picking up her grandkids, completing her chores, and traveling as much as she wants.
“Everyone on Dr. Boniface’s team was awesome,” Joann says. “I never felt rushed or hurried, even with my long list of questions. They take their time with you.”
Dr. Boniface did such a great job that Joann referred two very important people — her parents — to him for orthopaedic surgery. Her father recently received a total knee replacement at age 94 and was walking within a week. Her mother, 89, will receive the same carpal tunnel and trigger finger release surgery as Joann this summer.
That’s a testament to Joann’s trust and appreciation for Dr. Boniface’s expertise.
“I don’t know why anyone would go out of town for surgery when we have such amazing, capable, friendly, caring doctors and nurses that live and work right here in our community,” Joann says. “There’s no reason to go anywhere else.”
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on , and was last reviewed on .