Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: razorsharptokill on May 22, 2016, 08:39:00 AM

Title: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 22, 2016, 08:39:00 AM
50% torn, bone spurs removed. Hunt in Aug. Sept. feasible?
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Gil Verwey on May 22, 2016, 08:48:00 AM
I tore my bow arm cuff. If it is your drawing arm shoulder I couldn't say. My bow arm shoulder would have been OK.

Good luck
Gil
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Sam McMichael on May 22, 2016, 09:32:00 AM
With a torn cuff, don't mess around with it. Go to the doctor and do what he tells you - to the letter.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Terry Johnston on May 22, 2016, 09:59:00 AM
I just had a torn labrum repaired 3 weeks ago plus bone spurs. I think the recovery time is somewhat similar. I am shooting for October. If you have not had this done yet or just had it done I think Aug/Sept might be a bit optimistic. Every tear and every one is somewhat different. Just be sure and follow docs advise, dont want to re-injure it...
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: smokin joe on May 22, 2016, 11:32:00 AM
I am recovering now from re-injury after decompression surgery, a partial tear and impingement -- and I can tell it is going to be a slow process. I sure don't want to do anything that causes another injury.   :scared:  

So far I have received two gleno-humeral steroid injections and one a/c joint steroid injection. I am also doing basic stretching under the supervision of a physical therapist.

I will probably get another a/c joint injection at the next doctor visit, and start shooting a very light bow gain in a few weeks or so.

This is the second time I have had rotator cuff surgery/recovery and it is a little tougher than when I was younger.    :banghead:  

I'll be following this thread to see if I can learn anything new that will help.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Sherwood Poacher on May 22, 2016, 01:43:00 PM
Had right shoulder surgery last October and am just getting around to shooting. Had a 10% tear and besides repairing that the doctor "cleaned out" the bursitis and arthritis. It was sore and WEAK for many months. Went to physical therapy for 2 months and continued the exercises after that, I  still do them....doctor suggested that I should.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 22, 2016, 04:56:00 PM
ugh....
thanks guys. Surgery was Friday. Block wore off in the middle of the night. I went to the ER and got two shots. I have never been in that much pain! EVER!
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on May 22, 2016, 08:46:00 PM
I had a lot worse and a lot more done on my pulling shoulder, had to rebuild and reattach just about everything and all was torn to peices at the end of May 08. Did all my PT and everything I was told, your right hurts like you know what!!!!

Started back on light weight bows by October and hunting by November, had a great season. Don't push it atleast I'm glad I didn't never want to go back through it again. I've seen a lot of guys on here over the years push it and need it done again, yuck!

Good luck! First couple weeks are the worst but it gets better till PT but it's got to be done. You make it    :thumbsup:  

Tracy
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Sam McMichael on May 22, 2016, 08:54:00 PM
I was lucky. The labrum was torn a little but not the rotator cuff. No pain medicine was needed after the day of the surgery. I was shooting my 40# bow at three weeks and my 53# hunting bow at five weeks. All that was done was smoothing out some rough surfaces and some bone chips. Yours is much, much more involved, so it is good to hear that you are looking for a slow and well planned recovery and rehab. Good luck.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: George Vernon on May 23, 2016, 08:17:00 AM
Jim,
Had a lot of work done on my bow arm shoulder the first of this year-80% torn, bone spurs, tendon reattachment .  This week I was able to pull a light weight bow all the way to my 'normal' draw length for the first time.  Could not do it three times in a row.  Dr predicted getting back to 'normal' in July.  I think he's right.  Dr also says string arm recovery would be faster since drawing the bow uses a lot of back muscle.

Trust the advice of your surgeon.  He/she has done it many times.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Doc Nock on May 23, 2016, 08:36:00 AM
seems to me that it depends on the injury, the surgeon and the patient.

Back many moons, I had a tear in the top of the draw shoulder rotator from an impingement..I KNEW when I tore it as the arm went numb, then weak and lots of aching,  that guy at that time cut... he didn't believe in Arthoscopic but got in there to do the repair.

That was Aug 27th many years back.  By end of October, following everything they said I was to do, I was shooting a hunting weight bow!

No problems since.

Moved South in late 2014 and did a lot of work... somewhere in there, I did "something" and now it aches like crazy. MRI showed the repair is fine but the whole rotator muscle is pulling away from the bone.    :banghead:    

Getting older sucks!  Surgery scheduled mid June, but Im older and no clue if hunt this year or not!
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Roy from Pa on May 23, 2016, 09:51:00 AM
My surgery was February 3rd and I have 2 more months before I can shoot. "Do Not rush things and do exactly as the doctor and pt tell you."
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Burly on May 23, 2016, 10:38:00 AM
I had my bow arm ( left shoulder) done in April 2012. I tore it up really bad , torn rotator cuff, torn labrum and detached biceps tendon with clean out of other junk floating around. It was the worst surgery To recover from I had every had. I didn't get to bow hunt that year but I did recover to about 80% of what I was before. Don't push it, you don't want to go thru it again.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on May 23, 2016, 01:08:00 PM
I do agree with Doc, every person and everbodys healing time will be different based on many factors. None of us want to discourage you in anyway just take your time.

Just a little setback and will make that next trad kill just a little extra special when it happens    :bigsmyl:    :archer2:    

Tracy
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: on May 23, 2016, 01:25:00 PM
Good luck with your recovery. I cringe at the thought every time I read a thread where someone is going thru this type of thing.

Bisch
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 23, 2016, 03:50:00 PM
I didn't get to bowhunt at all last fall due to being overseas. If I cant draw a bow then here will be some handgun hunting in my future. Thanks for the encouragement guys.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: jhg on May 23, 2016, 09:35:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Doc Nock:
seems to me that it depends on the injury, the surgeon and the patient....
Agreed. I tore mine from a shock load onto the top of the shoulder.
I went from being able to do 20 one arm push ups to barely lifting a spoon. I had about a year into the recovery before all was good.
And I was 24 years old.
I did not need surgery, but they said I'd never be the same. Youth and determination brought it back (and smart rehab starting with ultra sound)

Joshua
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 24, 2016, 01:40:00 PM
I switched to ibuprofen from the Percocet and so far it isn't unbearable. I can't stand the way the strong stuff makes me itch all over!
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: J-dog on May 26, 2016, 12:18:00 PM
These shoulder injury threads make me cringe! I have torn up my shoulders growing up but knock on wood no bow hunting limitations so I have no advice for you really but!

Just do as your told by your doc! That advice goes with everything! Lol

Best of luck, wish you a speedy recover and a good season!
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Burnsie on May 26, 2016, 12:49:00 PM
Had to have mine done twice,  when the surgeon got in there the 2nd time it was a lot worse than he thought.  Tendon was shredded, had to implant several anchors in the bone and stretch remaining good tissue up to where it needed to be attached.  I had arm and shoulder totally immobilized for 6-8 weeks before doing anything. Surgeon was concerned that I would tear tendon away from where he had it anchored. Told me to follow instructions closely and not over do it, because if I tore it away from the anchors he wouldn't really have much to work with to try again. I was a good patient and did what I was told, was back to full weight bows in about 6 months.  And yes that was crazy pain, when I woke up from surgery I would have given anyone nearby a $1000 to put me out of my misery, and I consider myself to have a pretty high threshold for pain, or a least I thought I did.  They ramped me up so much on morphine to control the pain I ended up with my respiration tanking and that became a whole other issue.  But, after a couple sleepless nights in the recliner I was able to get off the pain killers and managed with just ibuprofen.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Burly on May 26, 2016, 01:16:00 PM
I would have given anything to be able to lie flat in my bed. I was sleeping ( if you can call it that ) in my recliner for way to long.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on May 26, 2016, 05:05:00 PM
Had follow up appointment today. They removed some bone spurs, repaired the torn tendon and anchored it with two anchors. Monday is my 1st physical therapy. 2-3 times per week after that an a sling for 6 weeks. He said I should be shooting again by Sept. We'll see.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: jhg on May 26, 2016, 09:37:00 PM
One of the big things with a good recovery is blood flow. Doing easy range of motion routines per guidelines set forth by phys therapist you want to flood the area with blood. Just by range of motion exercises done carefully, slowly, do not over extend, higher reps, you will get the blood into the joint tissue. That is huge for a good recovery. More so than just strength training.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: tippit on May 27, 2016, 09:15:00 AM
I had mine repaired last July...tear & spur.  It wasn't until after the first of the year that I was able to really shoot again.  Find an old target bow as low as 30 pounds and work up very slowly.  If feeling any pain quit!  Now my shoulder is just fine...tippit
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on June 01, 2016, 10:52:00 AM
My range of motion is coming back quickly. No prescription pain meds now. I have a Hoyt pro medalist that is 36 at 28" I believe. PT starts Monday. May need the prescription meds after that! LOL!
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Russ Clagett on June 01, 2016, 12:09:00 PM
I think you're good to go....

I completely tore mine off a few years ago and also had to have some stuff dug out....that was in May and I was bowhunting in Sept...

Lucky, I know.

Yours doesn't sound all that bad as it was only torn...and it sounds like you are recovering quickly...
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Blueridge on June 01, 2016, 01:40:00 PM
I had the basically the same as you describe many moons ago.  You should be ok if you don't try to rush it . Do your pt and ease into a light weight bow at first. Key is do not rush things.
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: razorsharptokill on September 12, 2016, 09:06:00 PM
Update: I'd say 95% recovered. Weight lifting slow and steady, not too heavy. Feel good. No pain while shooting. So happy it is better! I wouldn't go through that with the other shoulder unless it was WAYYY worse!
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Doc Nock on September 13, 2016, 08:07:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by K.S.TRAPPER:
I do agree with Doc, every person and everbodys healing time will be different based on many factors. None of us want to discourage you in anyway just take your time.

Just a little setback and will make that next trad kill just a little extra special when it happens     :bigsmyl:      :archer2:    

Tracy
Glad to read your last post RAzor... And I agree with ks trapper. I hope I wasn't coming off negative.

What my experience told me is that not only does it depend on the person, but the surgeon.  After 6 weeks in a sling, I was told back 1st time by that surgeon, "You can't hurt what I repaired" and it was extensive...bone spurs, impingement, sliced up tendon they trimmed, etc.  This time it was something of a repeat but the rotator was tearing away from its attachment to the bone. Different surgeon, different state and this guy is ULTRA conservative... so's not to have a relapse.  

He has me still restricted and has restrictions out to 26 weeks... said NO WAY to pulling a bow, while other surgeons are doing that motion way sooner...

I'll pass on one season to ensure not doing this again if possible!  My block wore off middle of night, too, and my Rx for pain was denied by my insurance, so I was without till 24 hrs later when they got it straightened out!   :eek:
Title: Re: Rotator cuff recovery
Post by: Sam McMichael on September 13, 2016, 09:11:00 AM
Glad that your update report seems to be favorable. Just keep the work steady and don't do too much all at one time. Now we hope to see hunting pics before very long.