Well had the rotator cuff tear repaired on 12/10.First year in over 40 I did'nt get to bow hunt,except couple in military.Went from 65lb bow to 40 and not able to hunt.I just hope I can get a full recovery as the pt is'nt a possibility till I can get back to work.Tough knowing other shoulder needs it to.
Hey Swamp.
I just scheduled my 3rd rotator cuff surgery for the 22nd. I had my right done about 12 years ago, the left 6 or so years back and now it's the right again. You'll prolly have another dozen folks tell you that rehab is the most important part. A shoulder can freeze up with scar tissue if it isn't rehabed properly. I got 95% of my strength back after each of the last surgeries, I hope this next one will go as well. Prayers your way. Jim
I think I will stick to my 48#s and save some surgeries.
Good luck with your recovery! I dread the day i have to deal with something like that!
Bisch
I have had 3 cuts on the right shoulder and one on the left. If you choose a good doc and follow the PT routine you should do ok.
Swamper, had rotator cuff and torn bicept surgery on 10/31. In second week of PT, Fully expect no change in my pre surgery bow weight Will be 65 in April! Be positive, due your homework. Good luck.
I've had rotator cuff surgery twice and a repaired labrum/bone spur removal...all in right shoulder. I feel it some days but I stuck to my PT and strength came back...man theres nothing worse than everyday life with a busted up shoulder!
No torn RC, but having a bone spur removed off my left shoulder.
Anxious to get it done and start rehabbing ASAP.
Had Spur and tear surgeries in both shoulders some years back. Had a great doctor ( trad guy ) good PT and was back to speed in 6 months or so. Key is don't rush things , do your exercises and gradually increase bow weight. You should be fine given time.
Good luck.
I get my cuff tears and a bone spur removed on Jan 16th. Can't sleep with it like it is so I have to have it fixed.
Haven't you guy's ever heard of Indian Clubs ! Though I don't think they'll do anything for bone spurs.
A friend had shoulder surgery about 3 years ago.
He is a man of considerable strength and was up and running in pretty short order.. In fact, now he shoots longbows in excess of 100 pounds, a feat very few could pull off.. At least in his case, the surgery didn't limit the bow weight he could eventually handle..
The sleepless nights were the worst, my wife would find me with my arm in all kinds of crazy positions trying to find a comfortable way to sleep. Was eating ibuprofin like it was candy. Getting rid of the nagging pain was the best part. I never regained full strenght, but it is all good compared to where it was.
Is the shoulder tears caused by years of pulling heavy bows, or is it a function of of the way we shoot? I don't see or here of Olympic archers having shoulder problems after years of competition. My wife has had shoulder surgery so I'm trying to avoid it like the plaque.
I had surgery a week ago. Tear & spurs.I don't know about all of you but I am really sore, (post op). With time & therapy I hope to recover.
I hope yall have a quick and complete recovery!
Thanks guys,I hope to get back back to where I was.Also trying to get the other shoulder back in shape but may need that side done as well.My nephew in florida had both his done and is sending me all the stuff he had for rehabing his shoulders.I feel for anyone who can't sleep,I sure can not,been spending nights in a recliner.
I had rotator SLAP and a pile of other things fixed about 2 years ago now. I would say I went up in bow weight by 10lbs during recovery/PT because I was determined to get back to where I was... Now I am not sure what I am in for... Had an MRI on Wednesday and the doc called before the end of the day to talk about results. I am not very excited, up until the MRI everyone has held to the diagnosis that I tore my Trap muscle, it feels like my shoulder is almost out of socket again, and the pain runs down the outside of my arm to my elbow. All I know is that they didn't do the MRI on my shoulder, they did C-Spine... So any results don't sound promising to me.
Good luck, listen to the doc and the Physical Terrorist, and you will be good to go.
( now I just Hope I can follow my own advice.)
Good luck with the rehab. Follow your PT regimen faithfully and spend your down time sharpening broad heads.
All the med professionals I've talked with say eh rotator cuff surgery is the second most painful one to have, no one told me the first. just posting this so it doesn't catch you by surprise.
Are these bow related injuries or something else?
Speedy recovery to all!!
Mine aren't bow related, it just relates to my use of a bow. I'm a photojournalist, so lugging camera gear is part of it, 30 years of heating with firewood is most of the rest.
Joe=
Just had rotator cuff surgery last September and missed the entire hunting season! First one in 40 years! What a bummer...the worst part was the sleeping or lack there of! Good luck with your PT
Kenny :readit:
My injury isn't bow related, I tried to muscle out a stuck 4000v breaker out of its compartment, it won, I lost, this was 30 years ago. With the tear, arteritis and a bone spur, it all combined to make bow shooting difficult. Time to get things fixed.
I've had rotator cuff repairs in both shoulders.I had full thickness complete tears in both shoulders.It takes at least 6 months to recover and PT is very important.I'm not 100% in either shoulder but I'm shooting again.45lb longbow.Don't rush recovery.It takes time but you should be ok and back to shooting again.
I went to sleep in my deerstand several weeks ago and fell.My harness caught me and overall I was ok but I hurt my left shoulder on the harness somehow during the fall.It feels like it could be my rc.I hope not.
I'm going out on a limb here, I am 65 years young and with all that not working as it used to, I've had to try many different things because I don't like going under the knife.
I had sciatic back pain for the first time about 8 months ago, couldn't shake it for THREE MONTHS ! Now just so y'all understand I have 5 discs that are whacked and they would love to cut me open, only believe it or not I found out I can keep it in check by working out, but when I got that sciatic pain nothing would work, they said I just have to wait for it to subside. Well I ain't the type to give into anything, my soon to be x brings this little bottle of essential oils home and says here try this. Well after three months of pain I begrudgingly try it. I put it on that night before I go to sleep, it only takes one or two little drops, I wake up the next day and the pain is half of what it was ! I put it on again that night before bed and wake up with NO PAIN ! , and it never came back ! Needless to say I don't go anyplace without this little bottle. Guys with all kinds of nerve pain have begrudgingly tried it since and guess what it worked, maybe not completely all the time but now they don't leave home without it.
It's called Nerve Pain by Forces of Nature, any decent health foodstore should have it and if they ddon't they can order it.
Hope this helps someone !
Good luck.
My surgery was due to years of physical abuse, not a bow shooting issue, I due shoot my bow daily. Bottom-line, regardless of your age your body will respond to physical activity. With respect to shoulder surgery, PT post surgery is paramount. Sustained physical workouts will serve you well to the end. Just do it!
I couldn't pull back 15# bow right handed or even lift up 1 pound box of nails. Started bowhunting left handed...had rotator cuff surgery Feb 2013. Four months of dedicated rehab and I was back shooting right handed...from 55# to 60#.
Hardest part was not rushing, taking my time with the strength exercise and stretching. Now, back to full strength. Listen to your doctor and especially the Therapist. I was out of work 3 months...do not rush!!
Mine was related to a few to many years on two wheels, or I guess too many years with those two wheels not staying under me.
My latest pains, MRI says are not shoulder related.... Anyone ever dealt with bulging disks? Specifically discs that are cutting off nerves( numbness and extreme pain shooting down arm and across back.
Not excited about the possibilities of surgery... Was a pretty bad day at the doctor.
Mine was not bow related...had a traumatic footbal injury that required immediate surgery the first time. Follow that by years of wrestling and then dropped 315 bench press on myself (spotters fault lol) and that brought me to the second one...Based on the PT i had i would say drawing a bow correctly and without prior injury would build up your shoulders.
I see hundreds, if not thousands, of people each year with damaged rotator cuff tendons. Almost none as a result of archery. The same old lightweight argument gets old, particularly with no real evidence to back it up.
Hey fellow archers, I go under the knife Thursday about 10:30 a.m. for my right shoulder. Prayers would be much appreciated...
I had 70% full thickness rotator cuff tear,a bicep tendon complete tear fixed, bone spurs removes and arthritis taken off collar bone April the 2cnd 2014. I hunted Oct 1 2014 with a 53 lb bow have no problems at all shooting any weight bow now. That was after keeping my arm in a sling for 8 weeks with no pt at all not even stretching. Did it stiffen up, you bet. Positive mental attitude is what it takes.
PT is the key also. Just make sure your pt person you choose is big in sports rehabilitation, not the ones getting your grandmother back to a normal life.
According to my surgeon, drawing a bow puts less stress on your rotator cuff than is put on the arm holding the bow. Which makes sense I guess since the first thing the workers comp lady asked me was have you fallen and tried to catch yourself or been in a wreck lately that you tried to keep yourself from hitting the dash.
Widowdoublelung is spot on with his comments. I'm 12 weeks since torn rotator cuff and torn bicept surgery. Starting shooting again at 10 weeks. Today at 12 weeks have moved up to 40lbs. with no issues. I'm certain I'll be at full strength, 54 lbs., for April turkey!
At almost 7 weeks out of sling and only aloud movement therapy.Still a lot of pain and feel like my arms getting weaker it has me concerned.
:wavey:
Patience Swamper, patience... this is my third time thru this and i know it takes a long while. "The only way out is through" really applies in our case.
Strength will come, in time. If we hurry, it can set us back big time...
2012 was my surgery year. It is indeed a long road, but once done with that road it seems like it was nothing.
As said, do not skimp on doing what you are supposed to do. If you decide to "just" try a little more even though they said don't...you made your bed. Don't complain when you set yourself back for another year.
Do what your told, and don't give up when finally on your own and you will excel. Keep working it.
I now shoot whatever bow I choose, I fish for big stripers, I shoot a 12 gauge off my "bad" shoulder, etc. etc.
100% better. You will be too.
You are far from alone, we are here to help you along.
P.S., the looks I got when I showed up with an unstrung longbow as my stretching stick at P.T.!
Swamper-had my surgery last Sept 24th and missed my 40th year hunting with a bow! So, I'm with you brother!
It eases up in time but you have to be patient and do what your PT says! Good luck!
Kenny :readit:
By the way, its going to hurt. Nothing you can do but deal with it.
If a little doe can get hit by a car and get her hind leg smashed to oblivion, then you see her limping along 6 months later still surviving...well that says a lot to me.
Be like the animals we pursue, deal with whatever comes at you and keep moving.
The pain will pass, don't ever, ever let it win.
I saw that little doe for three more years after that before she disappeared. She had fawns the last two times I saw her.
thanks for support..
I at day 11 after my surgery. I have 6 hours of rehab a day, 4 hours on a passive motion machine and 2 hours of the normal rope pulling stretching and isometric exercises. I am gaining some movement but the pain is still prevalent.
My biggest problem is sleep. I have to sleep on my back because of the sling, something I have never done well because of a broken back from a treestand fall years ago. I have tried recliners, soft couches and every kind of pillow configurations to get comfortable, nothing works.
I don't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet as far as recovery goes but things are getting marginally better.
The "light" gets closer some days, some days falls back. I had enough work done to limit me to three 10 minute sessios a day for now. 2 tendon re-attachments ad a partial re-attach. I was side sleeper too Eric, now i'm sitting up on the end of a couch padded all around by pillows, feeling like a rickshaw driver in an opium den most of the time.
It all really depends on you...I had my right shoulder done in May of 12, and was hunting elk in sept with my 59 pound longbow.
It all worked out really well for me and I admit that...the PT was the key and the willingness to go thru some "discomfort" to make it right again.
But it all worked and now I have the shoulder of a 30 year old (and I'm not 30 anymore)
One thing I can most highly recommend is the nerve block....the first few days after the surgery is pretty painful...but with the nerve block you'll miss most of that.
Good luck! And let us know how it's going for you.
I too have had both RC's done plus a bicep tear on left side. It takes time and there is no rushing it as it has to get a good start to make it stronger in the end. The nerve block is the way to go IMO. You will shoot again if you will give it time and PT like a religious zealot!
Had 4 shoulder surgeries. First thing when I go to the gym is perform 3 sets of all 6 of the shoulder exercises. I can feel some issues but the regular exercise keeps everything okay. Once you are better, don't stop the shoulder therapy exercises.
The best thing you get out of therapy is learning what you should have been doing your whole life.
just had my 1st follow-up. i'm posting mainly to show the wide gap in the amount of damage one can have and the different approaches to treatment. the surgeon said the bicep tendon was completely separated, but i was saved because it hung up on the rotator cuff, preventing complete retraction. had that happened, i'd have lost the use of that muscle. the tear in the labrum was bad he said, as in light, medium and bad. therapy consists of once daily passively(use the left arm)moving the right, up 90% out 45% down 35%, repeat 10x. arm back in sling til tomorrow. that's it for the next four weeks. most i should hope for is 90% range-of-motion recovery. sorry to bore y'all but thought it might help. pm if you want, or we can talk. jim