Bummer, hurt bow arm

[spurdude]

I've been really practicing and getting really good out to 30 yards. Then yesterday doing house chore dragging a garden hose around I tripped over rock and did a faceplant. Broke glasses cut up my nose, but the worst was landing on my bow arm. The bones and joints are okay thank God but the muscles, Bicep and the ones in the back opposite the bicep must have gotten stretched . they hurt. I tried to draw my 30# practice bow and I can't pull it back, at all . no strength, hurts. There is no bruising so I don't believe there is any real damage but I hope in 6 weeks I can deer hunt. bummer.

[McDave]

Good luck Spurdude.  I'm sure that if it was only muscles, you'll be back in the game pretty soon!

[Bowguy67]

Imo some depends on lots of things like how old the archer is. I know when I was younger I was really beat up one day, next it was like nothing happened.
Also depends on fitness level. Someone on good shape tends to heal lots quicker. I’m not sure bout this but it may be the body recovery thing. When you work out constantly you don’t get sore and are good as new minutes afterwards even if older.
I saw something one time they tested Randy Couture, he was a UFC guy, they said the lactose acids in his body, I think it was, actually got less when he worked out his body so efficiently moved them.
I’ve hurt myself lots of times, never missed shooting or even working out but often when you work “support” type muscles, (muscles around the injured area) you’ll strengthen the damaged area so to speak so that might be an option. Another only my opinion,  you need fresh blood to speed healing. I know whenever I hurt myself I never stopped doing whatever I always did.
You may have just pulled a muscle or so, hopefully it’ll heal quick but just resting things means it never heals. If so why do they send guys to rehab to work what they injured?
I don’t know how you are but id rest it a few days than try whatever you can with the support type areas. Stay away from any pain killer/aspirin. You need to feel pain to know what not to do not mask it and injure it worse.

[Captain*Kirk]

Sorry to hear of your troubles. I somewhat disagree with the "no painkillers" statement to a lesser degree based on the fact that an NSAID like Ibuprofen will actually help bring down swelling. Totally agree that masking the pain can invite further injury.

[spurdude]

Thanks guys it's nice to have support. I'm 69, I like to think I'm in pretty good shape. I walk at least a mile everyday, Last week I did 3.15 mile back country scout with a 15 pound pack. My hunting bow is light compared to some. 45#. I was really reaching full draw the day and it felt good. So I probably will recover. What it did though is give me a wake up call to be more careful. If I would have had this happen a mile and a half from the truck in the mountains where i live, Colorado, It would have been a little scary being alone. I can only attribute it to being in a hurry and not thinking about what I was doing. I'm just glad there wasn't an object in the way of my head on the way down. Gotta be careful at my age and don't take chances hunting.

[Bowguy67]

Well God Bless ya for being able to do what you do and for it not being worse. Hope it heals quick for you and you have a great and successful season!

[tradslinger]

I feel for you, I am 65 but have gone down a hard road. The tripping and falling has been part of my life for the last 20 years due to a bad right foot. And yes, I have messed up both shoulders. also less feeling and strength in my right hand. But, I can somehow still draw and shoot a bow, it just has to be no more than 45# at 26". I tell people that I am the President of the "Thousand Fall Club," as I have done it as much as 3 times a week. Today I am all about using a cane or a walking stick.