Trad Gang

Main Boards => Prayers/Concerns/Honors/Ailments => Topic started by: Alfie on January 14, 2012, 05:51:00 AM

Title: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 14, 2012, 05:51:00 AM

Last monday morning, I had shoulder surgery done to my right shoulder, about 10mm of the collarbone removed on the shoulder end.

Rehab training isnt that fun I can tell ya!  
  But I have a clear goal, I've orderd some Easton legacy sticks and I want to get some feathers on them and start shooting!   :)
  My longbow is hanging in the garage waiting for me.

So *********** is a nice site for inspiration, more than before I can tell you that much!

Anyone else who's done about the same surgery? If so, how long before you where shooting again?

Take care all fellow archers.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: jsweka on January 14, 2012, 06:56:00 AM

Good luck with the rehab and I wish you the best.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: YORNOC on January 14, 2012, 07:51:00 AM

Hang in there, your attitude seems good. Broke my right hand last year, drew back for the first time two months later...ouch.
Got any super light bows for rehab?

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: ranger 3 on January 14, 2012, 07:58:00 AM

Do the rehab it works, I had knee Knee placement in Nov. and I am doing great after rehab.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 14, 2012, 08:25:00 AM

Hmmmm...maybe get a set of lighter limbs för my recurve? good idea!....I'll start looking right away!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Hatrick on January 14, 2012, 08:50:00 AM

I can't shoot for at least another month and it's killing me. I had some recent inner ear surgery. They had to reconstruct the inner ear bones and graft a new ear drum.

Hopefully I'll get some hearing back in my left ear. I'm getting pretty tired of not being able to tell the direction of approaching deer. Worse yet, I think they know   :biglaugh:  

Good luck to you, hang in there and do the rehab. Stick to your goals. I'm working on some new arrows now myself. At least I can do that!

Dave

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: lpcjon2 on January 14, 2012, 08:50:00 AM

I feel your pain, I herniated a disk just after the season started and have not been able to hunt at all this year. Im still waiting to find out what my options are. But I have been craving some shooting so my brother lent me a recurve in a lower poundage to work with. I shoot longbows in the 70# weight class and cant shoot them yet,so the little recurve is gonna get me in the yard shooting.Get well and do as the doc says.Tim

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Bill Carlsen on January 14, 2012, 09:33:00 AM

Go slow with the rehab before you pick up a bow. Too much too soon and you may not be hunting next season. Start of with light bows. Once i started shooting again after surgery it always helped to ice the shoulder afterwards. Best of luck.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Outwest on January 14, 2012, 09:38:00 AM

Good luck with your bump in the road.
With your good attitude you will prevail.

John

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: straitera on January 14, 2012, 09:38:00 AM

Everybody here at TG will pull for you for sure! Hope you;re back in the woods after 'em pdq! Can't say about *********** folks? Probably nice guys too?

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 14, 2012, 09:44:00 AM

Will be spending time doing some mental training, creating positive mind pics of shooting, reading books and forums and watching archery vids on the tube to keep the goal of being back shoooting until spring time at the latest (that's about in may here)

And i do hope that I'll have a bow hunting season to look forward to, we arn't allowed to hunt with bows here in Sweden yet, but we hope it will be allowed in 2012, fingers crossed.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Easykeeper on January 14, 2012, 11:15:00 AM

I had a similar surgery on my AC joint about five years ago.  Ground off the end of the bone that was deteriorated from arthritis.  I will need to have it done on the other side eventually.  It's tough for a while.  I still remember trying to adapt to temporarily only having one functional arm.  Recovery was a b....  It took me quite a while in the gym after I got the ok from the surgeon to get my strength and mobility back.  The upside is the surgery was completely successful.  You will get through it and feel younger and stronger on the other side...   :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Duker on January 14, 2012, 04:34:00 PM

Alf:::Best of luck with your rehab  :pray:

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: guk on January 14, 2012, 05:00:00 PM

hang in there keep your chin up. had neck surgery in sept and missed bow season for the first time in over 30 yrs. listen to the doc dont rush it. thats the hardest part the waiting.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Thumper Dunker on January 14, 2012, 11:37:00 PM

Good luck and hurry and get well.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: stujay on January 15, 2012, 12:26:00 AM

Best wishes on your rehab.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Rookie@51 on January 15, 2012, 09:10:00 AM

I had that same operation on my right shoulder last Feb and it didn't go too good. I sold my 55# bow but still have a 58# that I can't shoot yet. I am rehabing it with some rubber bands and a wheel bow set at a lower poundage. I think it is almost back to where I need it to be. I'm going to be looking at another longbow soon. Hope things go your way but don't rush it.......Dusty

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on January 15, 2012, 09:11:00 AM

One shoulder 7 yrs ago and another 3.  They had to grind impingements of arthritis out on both sides, grind off spurs that were shredding tendons to look like friz sticks for campfire starting, and one was a torn 3-corner rotator tear.

I constantly beratted my surgeon till he got the message: "Tell me the difference between pain and damage... Let ME decide how much pain in rehab I can take, but YOUR JOB NOW is to make sure I know where the line is between pain that is discomfort and pain that is potentially causing damage!"

We finally communicated and I had surgery Aug 27 and was shooting a 50+ # bow by November but I worked at home daily once I was allowed to do excercises on my own.

Those weeks where only the PT could move my arm, were weeks of tears rolling down my face it hurt that badly...

KNOW...then DO! Not the other way around!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on January 15, 2012, 02:05:00 PM

Good luck with your recovery!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 16, 2012, 07:11:00 AM

The hard part is just to stay cool and not rush things!
It's only one week ago that I made this surgery, feels pretty good actually, but it's easy to rush the rehab and that comes with a price, more pain!

Orderd a set of 30Ibs limbs for my Samick Redstag, just to be prepared when it's time to pick up the bow again.

It's good to hear from you guy's that doen the same thing and hear that it's a way back to archery, keeps the positive attitude easyer to withold.

Thanks for your support

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on January 16, 2012, 02:33:00 PM

Dude,

Not just more pain if you screw around and rush things...but you can mess up the repair and then... scar tissue, more surgery...worse conditions and a long, long, rehab!

It's just not worth it! You've got months till warm ...wait...you're in Sweden, what the heck do I know about your seasons...nada!

Regardless, TIME is your friend and impatience is your enemy!

Be smart or, you can repent at your leisure...  :(

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Rookie@51 on January 17, 2012, 11:21:00 PM

That is  great advice from Doc. That is what I did to mine. I got to feeling so good I didn't take it slow enough and now I'm a year later still working it back into shape. Some of us (ME) are smarter than the Dr's or so we think. Be smart and give it the time it needs to heal. For me it's time to remember that I ain't no spring chicken any more. Things heal slower than they use to. They also hurt more as well. LOL! I will continue to pray for healing and you continue to go slow and easy.......Dusty

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 18, 2012, 02:16:00 AM

Feeling quite sore at the moment, but that's due to that I'm not taking as many painkillers as before, trying to cut down on thoose. Rehab goes quite fine, got good mobility in my arm after all, will meet my PT next monday for more exercises.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Right Wing on January 18, 2012, 11:07:00 PM

Good luck with your recovery.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on January 19, 2012, 08:33:00 AM

Slow and steady.... wait to get too rambunctious till you see the PT, eh?

Good for you managing the pain meds!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Barry Rowland on January 19, 2012, 01:26:00 PM

Like Doc says, better slow and steady and get it done once than to have to repair and go thru it all again.  Prayers to you brother!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 20, 2012, 04:29:00 AM

I'll take out the stitches on next monday and meet my physiotherapist to check my mobility and to get new rehab exercises.
Went down to my hunting and fishing room in my garage yesterday, outside hangs my longbow with quiver, longing for being taken care of, but I didn't even take her down, she'll have to wait some more before I even think of trying to make a drawback.

This is my mental picture and goal, to be able to to shoot again.

Managing without painkillers now, it hurts at the wound it self and certain woment of course hurts like hell, but it's not that bad after all.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on January 20, 2012, 08:12:00 AM

You WILL shoot again....sooner than you think... but you need to clear it with the surgeon first!

Then slowly...use bands...build strength...test it according to his suggestions/directions...then even borrow some lighter bow to shoot...

Pulling isn't often the issue...the "recoil" of letting go of the string causes all sorts of things to jump around inside the shoulder...THAT is when things "let loose" if they're not fully healed!

Keep the Son in your eyes!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 21, 2012, 03:33:00 PM

A bit of two steps back today, cant move my arm du to pain today, back on painkillers in other words :/
Been very causius with the rehab, this must be something else, maybe it's a natural process in the healing overall?

Been feeling so good this week, freezing cold by the right hand to.
Well well...ups and downs are a part of it I guess...

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: CoilSpring on January 22, 2012, 03:38:00 PM

Alfie, follow the doc's orders on meds. If your painkillers are "anti-inflamatories" (like Motrin/Ibuprofen) you may not need to stop using them for a while- ask your doc.  Inflamation is not your shoulder's friend. Even during Phys/Therapy, you need the anti-inflamatories, and ice pacs (20 minutes max each time on the ice).  

Take your time & follow the P/T's excercises.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on January 29, 2012, 04:16:00 AM

3 weeks after surgery now, after the little setback last weekend, it feels like on on the track again.
Been of the heavier painkillers since friday, can sleep all night without any problems, rehab training works fine, I do apply a cold bandage (got a lot of snow here, that helps) after the exercises to my shoulder to prevent swelling and that helps.
Will meet my physician this week to check my progress and get some new exercises I hope.

Thanks for your support out there.

// Alfie who longs for shooting my longbow and recurve soon

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Barry Rowland on January 29, 2012, 10:43:00 PM

Hang in there Alfie and keep up the good work!  Prayers for you and yours brother!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Rookie@51 on January 30, 2012, 12:13:00 AM

Great news. I shot a 50# Bear I bought off this site last week a few times Friday and it didn't bother me too much. So maybe things are coming around. I had to warm it up before I tried it but all in all it didn't hurt too bad. Just take your time and follow the Dr's advice and you will be back to your old self (without the shoulder pain) in no time.......Dusty

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Barry Rowland on January 30, 2012, 07:04:00 AM

There ya go!!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on January 30, 2012, 03:16:00 PM

PRayers for a pleased surgeon's report--that's the real measure to go by!

Keep the bow on the rack!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Flt Rck Shtr on February 01, 2012, 06:57:00 AM

I have had 3 surgeries on my right shoulder, the last two of them the same thing you have had, a clavicle resection. I hope that yours gets better and stays better, but mine hasn't. Hopefully you don't have to go back to the same repetitive things that caused it like I have had too. 25yrs. in the Illinois oilfiels haven't been nice to me !! After my last surgery I stated shooting light poundage bows in about two months. I was a stubborn knucklehead about a month aftewards and went dove hunting ! Not a good idea, the 12 guage was a little too much too soon ! My Doctor told me to feel things out and do a little as things started feeling better.  
        Prayers sent for a speedy recovery,
                             James

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 01, 2012, 08:41:00 AM

Been to the physician today, got real good mobility in my shoulder, maybe due to the fact that I trained alot before surgey?
Got new exercises to practice and a rubberband, hey! I'm allowed to put on some resistanse!

Time to go and pick up my Easton Leagcy 2117 shafts that i orderd and start making some arrows  ;)
Waiting for some blunts and judos from 3Rivers to, must be ready when it's time to pick up the bows again  :D

// Alfie that's more hopeful now

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Right Wing on February 01, 2012, 11:19:00 PM

Good news!  You'll have your bow out of the garage before you know it.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 02, 2012, 09:08:00 AM

(http://***********.bowsite.com/tf/pics/00small73560779.JPG)
The scar is quite ok.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 02, 2012, 12:02:00 PM

That tight cropped shot makes it hard to know what I'm looking at, but I know you had your shoulder worked on. My scar was on top...and 3 pin holes where they did the preliminary arthroscopic stuff...then cut me open to do the rotator cuff repair!

The pics they took INSIDE my arm were amazing... I got a set of them they were just too cool! INSIDE my shoulder...totally flippin amazing!

Heal well...don't get too rambuncious! Those bands are a long way off from a bow! What color did they give you?  

Stay smart and go slow but steady!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 02, 2012, 12:53:00 PM

I'm on the yellow bands at the moment, and yes I will try to be smart and take i slow, I can feel that I've been doing my exercises, would I push it some or use more weight it would hurt, I'm right at the borderline now so I'll take it real slow and easy.
The photo got on it's side, the scar is on top, so if you lean you head to the left side it would be right  ;)

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 04, 2012, 07:50:00 AM

-35 outside today, a fire in the fireplace feels good.
Cant practice more than twise a day or else I will strain the shoulder, nice and easy now....

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 04, 2012, 09:22:00 AM

Sounds like you've gotten the message that patience now will reap dividends in healing in years to come!

Keep up the good and patient work, patient!  :)

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 04, 2012, 12:20:00 PM

Tought of taking a walk earlyer today to get the blood pumping some...at -35 outside I decided to make a fire in the fireplace and take a lazy day instead, a good dinner and some TV time will round of this day, only one training sesson today with the rubberbands.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 07, 2012, 01:22:00 AM

Rehab has it's own time, it's boring!
I'm a manager at a waterpark so I have the luxury of using a warm jaccuzi to do some of the exercises, nice when it's -30 below outside.
One of the harder things is not to try to rush things! I want to try to draw my longbow, I want to try just one arrow, just to try....
Patients or lack of is my biggest enemie at the moment.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 07, 2012, 12:59:00 PM

One word from an old geeze... whenever they'd put me in the pool to do rehab, I'd get knocked down a day or so later for a few days.

Figured out in that warm water, it's VERY EAZY to overdo it! Feels good...no pain...just go...then---BAM!

We decided it was better to do the exercises moderately and then sit the jets for a few to just uncoil the muscles...

Leave the bow unstrung, dude! Geeze!  They'll tell you soon enough it's ok! Then... then you can "push!".   :)

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: CoilSpring on February 09, 2012, 11:09:00 PM

DON'T do it Alf, don't draw that bow and mess up that surgeon's work. NOT worth it. Listen to Doc and the Doc. Bands and range of motion exercises like the Dr. ordered; then ice 20 minutes max (not heat).  

In 6 weeks, then ask the Dr. what's next; "boring" is good for your shoulder and your bowhunting.
God bless..

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 10, 2012, 09:51:00 AM

The cold have gone on the retreat for awhile here, now just about -10 out side, real nice!
I've manage to stay away from the bow, easyest way is just not to go into the hunting&fishing room! that way I'm not reminded that much...but I do hear the woods calling for me, just think about getting my snowshoes on and get out there hitting some stumps..*sigh*...in time I guess..

Rehab going quite well, mobility good but I do some movemenst with out thinking some times and that I have to pay for now and then :/

My goal is to be able to get the arrows in the air some time during spring, may at the latest...fingers crossed..

// Alfie that tries to be patient about things

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 10, 2012, 01:39:00 PM

It WILL happen Alfie. And the restraint you generate now will pay dividends in a longer shooting career and a more pain-free life!

Keep the Son in your eyes!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 11, 2012, 10:09:00 AM

Been out in the woods today, snowshoes on and my german hunting terrier as company, we found some fresh hare tracks that we tried to figure out but all the snow falling from the trees messed up the tracks, a pity that I didnt found the camera charger    there where some nice pics out there.
Feels good being out and get the blood flowing, nice warmup before rehab bunges at home.
And yes, I missed my longbow (and I think it missed being out with me), alot of nice targets waiting for my arrows out there.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Rookie@51 on February 11, 2012, 11:39:00 PM

I have been shooting a little more with the Bear I bought here on here. It still hurts if I go too long but for the most part it feels great.  You jut take it from someone who went at it too fast and take it easy. Shoot now a little or wait and shoot a lot later if you know what I mean. I am still praying for you to have the mind set to give it time.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Sawpilot 75 on February 15, 2012, 11:02:00 PM

I feel for you. I fractured my left shoulder in December of 2010 and was back shooting in June. It has been a full year recovery but i hunted last fall and feel the rehab was what gave me my strength. All the best to you. Those rehab bungees don't seem like much but they work!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 19, 2012, 01:17:00 PM

Been working out my rehab routine 2-3 times a day now, will see fysiotherapist tomorrow to measure my progress, I even tried to make a draw with the bungecord and it feelt real good, no pain or something, but even though I where greatly tempted to string up the longbow and try, I didnt, no need to hurry things.

Hanging in there and have high hopes to be able to make a draw soon, as it feels now it will be sooner than later.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 20, 2012, 07:57:00 AM

Alfie,

Drawing, from what I was told and memory allows me to recal at this age, isn't the big issue...it's the rebound when you let go!!

If the muscles aren't healed enough...you can ease it back, but when you let go, all sorts of muscle fibers start flapping around inside and can tear loose.

Bam. You loose! Check it out... start w/ a light bow...When THEY SAY!  :)

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 20, 2012, 11:34:00 AM

Been to my physiotherapist today, good mobility and some new exercises, still some time before I can handle a bow though :/
She reminded me that it's only 6 weeks ago since surgery, to early yet to expect more and she's right of course, even though I want it to go faster.
Just take it easy and do my mobility training and other exercises.
Still winter here, I got time to heal and wait....

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 20, 2012, 12:23:00 PM

Good news on the great report. Don't screw it up!

Hide the bow and just do the grunt work!  :)

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on February 29, 2012, 03:02:00 AM

Mobility are quite ok now, time to start buliding some strenght now, new exercises to do, almost painless now just medicating to prevent inflamation.

Still some time until I can make my first draw this year though, spending my time "picking out the right spot" on things  :D  
Got my new Easton Legacy 2117 shafts with some feathers and things so I can spend some time making arrows atleast.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on February 29, 2012, 08:36:00 AM

Great to hear of your good progress... Sounds like you're being smart, heeding the doctor's orders and keeping the long-range goal in focus.

Moments of frustration pass, but mistakes sometimes haunt forever.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on March 05, 2012, 03:20:00 AM

Been to the therapist this morning, the physio one that is  ;)

Good progress, I mentioned the archery thing and we did some tests....and I'm now allowed to start muscletraning as if I'm shooting!
No pains during the draw with the rubberband.
But I have to wait until I make a full draw with a release, but it's ok to start with short draws with release....I'm on track boys and girls!!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on March 05, 2012, 07:40:00 AM

Congrats!  Now is not the time to try to shorten the rebuilding curve!

Excellent news and a just reward for doing the smart thing to date! Keep working. Keep listening! Keep the Son in your eyes!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on March 08, 2012, 01:09:00 AM

Well, monday morning on my way to the car, I slipped on an ice patch resulting in a mix from a ice skate number an effort to send flagsignals.
Not good for the shoulder !
Some pain since that and stiffness of course...damn!

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: BenBow on March 08, 2012, 07:40:00 PM

Not good so praying that this doesn't set you back.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on March 09, 2012, 09:04:00 PM

I got my boot laces tangled after my rotator surgery and took a direct hit on the opposite shoulder full force... was sore for a few weeks, but it was several more years before I had to have impingements cleaned out on that one.

Prayers that you will feel only what all of us would after such a fall and no damage...get back to the surgeon to check so anything done can be addressed before it amplifies! Go!  :)

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Alfie on March 10, 2012, 03:12:00 PM

Some sore muscels, that's all...*pjew* where a little scared that my impression of a windmill would have made some damage but I'm ok and have green light for my training and finaly! I'm ok to train with the bows!!
Must be cautious not to over do it of course.
So I've let loose three arrows today! And that where so nice!

I'm back!!

Neighbours better start practising taking cover  ;)

Thank you all for your support and kind toughts.

Take care and stay safe everyone.

Title: Re: Down for the count awhile
Post by: Doc Nock on March 12, 2012, 10:07:00 AM

EXCELLENT NEWS! Glad to hear you didn't do anythign of permanent damage to the surgical site...

Good news on the shooting... Amazed you're back at it so soon... actually! You did good to wait!

Continue slowly... time is your friend... bodies don't heal over night! They DO get wrecked more quickly though!   :knothead:  

Thank you Lord for Alfie's progress!