Under usual circumstances, IAAL, that would be true. A critical attachment from the neck bone to a functioning head-bone must be present. That last connection permits the following of directions.
However, speaking seriously and medically, what the patient brings to the table (operating room table) has a great deal to do with the outcome.
Rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulder is a progressive and destructive joint disease with unpredictable results. Total shoulder replacement often yields satisfactory short and long term results and pain relief is reliable and significant. However, deteriorating results, emphasizing the complexity of shoulder arthroplasty, were seen with increasing observation time in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The most common complication is rotator cuff failure.
Physical therapy constitutes an essential determinant of clinical outcome after total shoulder arthroplasty. Patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid ,traumatic arthritis and osteonecrosis were identified as being at risk for failure to regain motion and for tendon healing complications.
So, dear poster, you do the best you can with what you have. RA is a painful and chronic condition but you do not have anyone to sue. I do not believe that your Dow Corning breast implants are responsible either.
Good luck to you.