I am still rehabbing from the pinched nerve issues in my neck and shoulder, but the strength in my right (bow arm) is coming along well. I moved up to 53# limbs from my "rehab limbs" at 48#. I spent some time shooting my 54# MOAB this past Saturday and noticed Sunday that I had some pain and tingling in my right shoulder. This evening I shot a few quick shots with the recurve and everything felt fine. Grabbed the little longbow and shot just a couple of times and the pain was back!?
The only thing that I can see different would be my wrist/hand position. I shoot a high wrist with the recurve and a low wrist with the MOAB. There is only a 1# difference (on my scale) in the draw weight, so I can not see that as an issue. My last visit to the doc gave me an all clear on my shoulder and I have not experienced any pain doing normal work other than with overhead work my right shoulder does tire quicker.
Any thoughts or words of wisdom will be appreciated! Mike

Hello Mike good luck on your rehab!!! I think you may have something with wrist position. Although I have heard on two different DVD that a high wrist will cause earlier fatigue. In your case I would believe the position is more important sorry I can not be of further help. Good Luck, Jerry.

see a chiropractor,  snap, crackle, pop u should feel better

It could be your grip-- just switching from a high to a low wrist engages muscles in different proportions.  I would also pay attention to what your shoulders/neck are doing when drawing/anchoring the recurve vs. longbow.  This could also explain sx exacerbation.

I would see a physical therapist and bring your bows in so he/she can see what is occuring anatomically that might explain your issue.

Finally, my father would say, "If shooting your longbow hurts, quit shooting your longbow!?"  The last thing you want is to "muscle" your way thru the symptoms only to cause long term injury.  I'd stick to your recurve for a while.  Besides, they're prettier anyway!      

Good luck!

i have a perpetual chronic 'frozen shoulder' that gets a weekly therapeutic massage and chiropractor crack - both help enormously.  i also use 'traumeel' gel or cream rubbed in on the shoulder to promote healing.

what's MOST important for me is to 'warm up' before shooting and that means drawing the bow slowly at a 45 to 85 degree upward angle, for about 4 to 6 pulls.  this is critical for me, as it sets up the shoulder up for level string pulling of the full holding weight.  

if there's any pain during this process, i need to stop shooting and rest, use traumeel, get the shoulder worked on via rehab, as continuing to pull string will make recovery take much longer.  as i can feel the shoulder getting back to 'normal', i'll begin working out with light surgical tubing pulls, ending in a few days with pulling a light 40# bow, then on to 55# and i'm back in action.

and yep - if it hurts, don't do it - proper muscle and tendon rest is critical.  as one gets older, there are instances where the 'sins of youth' may rear their ugliness, and dropping down in holding weight will probably be yer best friend in allowing you to keep pulling string and bowhunting for decades to come.

good luck!

I visit a chiropractor on a regular basis and it was the chiropractor visits that got me to the point where I could do my therapy/rehab without pain. I am heading to the woods here in a few minutes to scare some turkeys and as soon as I hit home, I grabbed the recurve and shot a few arrows. No pain or tingling at all. I broke my neck when I was a youngster (didn't know it until I had x-rays taken in my 20's) and I have been pulling wrenches and chainfalls for 30+ years...things are just starting to wear out I guess.
Rob-I read about your warm-up technique awhile back and have been using it with good results. Thanks for sharing it with everyone. Might have to try a longbow with more of a recurve type handle!?

I second the motion on the Traumeel Cream.  I am a chiropractor in Houston, and we use it on just about everyone who comes in.  Great product for soft tissue injuries and bruises....

If you want to try some and can't find any locally let me know.  I think it sells for around $18 for a 4 or 6oz tube.  It should last quite a while.