For Timothy Traister, the pain began with the simple act of taking off his shirt. The sleeve got caught, his shoulder yanked, and then it seared. That night, Traister couldn’t raise his arm. Many people know that feeling.
Shoulder pain can be debilitating, and Traister, an active 78-year-old who lives in Upper Black Eddy, tried living with it. He went to work delivering used auto parts, gardened as best he could, and tried to play golf. But his left shoulder conspired to make everything difficult, and a cortisone shot only delayed the inevitable.
That’s when Traister received a referral to St. Luke’s Orthopedic Care and Dr. Tyler Smith, who specializes in sports medicine and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery. After wrestling with pain for nearly a year, Traister was ready for surgery.
Smith performed a total shoulder arthroplasty in April 2025, and three months later, Traister’s left shoulder felt strong and pain-free. Restored from that result, Traister plans to return to Dr. Smith in 2027 to have surgery on his right shoulder.
“Pain affects your daily life,” Traister said. “But after the surgery, my shoulder felt almost brand new. There wasn’t anything I couldn’t do. The right one is hurting now, so I’m going to go back to Dr. Smith and get it fixed as well.”
Total shoulder arthroplasty, also known as shoulder replacement surgery, is a common procedure for individuals suffering from rotator cuff injuries, osteoarthritis, or other shoulder-related conditions. Surgeons replace damaged parts of the shoulder with new implants. In Traister’s case, Smith performed a reverse shoulder arthroplasty, during which he reversed the ball and socket of the shoulder.
Smith, an athlete himself, understands what he calls “the cycle of pain” followed by the immobilization and rehabilitation that surgery requires. He guided Traister through all three phases, clarifying the goals of getting him through the initial phase and into rehab to restore shoulder usage.
“Seeing patients like Tim get back to the activities they love is the most rewarding part of my job,” Dr. Smith said. “After living with years of shoulder pain from arthritis, it’s incredibly gratifying to see him regain his comfort, mobility, and quality of life. His outcome is a great example of how a shoulder replacement can truly be life-changing for the right patient.”
Smith performed the surgery at St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus in one day. Traister was in surgery at 11 a.m. and on his way home by 4:30 p.m. As St. Luke’s expands its orthopedic services, Smith is performing same-day shoulder arthroplasties at St. Luke’s Anderson Campus Ambulatory Surgery Center, offering patients more convenient access to advanced shoulder care.
“He talked me through everything, showing me exactly what the surgery would look like and what was involved,” Traister said. “He made me feel very comfortable. I was impressed, and my wife was even more impressed, which made it even better.”
Traister said his recovery went as smoothly as the surgery. Smith communicated his progress through post-surgery visits, and Traister completed six weeks of physical therapy at St. Luke’s Ottsville location. The staff accompanied him through the process with a supportive, thoughtful approach.
The comprehensive care Traister received is a testament to St. Luke’s overall excellence. This past fall, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranked St. Luke’s #1 – ahead of Houston Methodist and Mayo Clinic, two of the nation’s most prestigious institutions – as the nation’s top health system for quality, safety, and patient experience. This objective recognition, based on public data reported to the government, reaffirmed St. Luke’s preeminent position among the leading health systems in the country.
Soon after completing rehab, Traister returned to the golf course and the garden, until his right shoulder began giving him more trouble. He’s confident that, by this time next year, both shoulders will be working fine.
"From the first time I met Dr. Smith, I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all,” Traister said. “He's the guy for me. I trust him. That’s how I felt then, and I feel the same now. And if anybody mentions shoulder surgery, I tell them about St. Luke’s and Dr. Smith.”
