Dr. says- DO NOT SHOOT THAT BOW

[Al Dente]

Besides following through with your PT, and your appointment, look at the Manuka Honey website:   www.manukahoneyusa.com  
They sell a product that includes bee venom, that has helped myself and several family members with inflamations.  Granted, they were not chronic, such as your case, but the bee venom cream helped a lot.

Good luck on your recovery.

[lt-m-grow]

I had this same issue last year and I think I have it beat.  This is what I did.

1.)  I exercise on my offside by pulling a bow of the same weight 10 reps x 3 every other day

2.) I do arm circles like this  http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/arm-circles  but I do them with my palms up!

3.) I do tennis elbow exercises like these  http://www.tennis-elbow-treatments.com/pages/tennis_elbow_exercise.php  especially the stretching with the palm up.


I am not a Doc, nor therapist.  But I tried all sorts of stuff, including getting some advice from Docs like you and this is what helped.  I also think that number 1 is what helped the most.

Good luck. Dave

[Autumnarcher]

Al, interesting stuff, might have to give that a try. lt-m-grow, in talking with the chiropractor, he said assymetry in muscle development is common among archers, and doing just as you said, working the opposite side will help keep from having the back and shoulder muscles pulling things out of alignment. I was shooting right handed quite a bit before my elbow flared up, and for sure when I can resume I'll be shooting both left and right to keep the muscles happy.

Im not opposed to trying anything I can.

[dsc]

I have the same probs.I've been fighting it for 2 years now.first year went to 45pds.and didn't have a prob. Last year went back to 55 and couldn't pick up a cup of coffee by augest.I had a hard time not shooting all those sweet bows at denton but talked to ron pittsley from predator bows,said he had a few peaple order bows with 2 sets of limbs.light for practice and heavy for hunting.trying it this year with my t.d.   Dan

[seven crows]

Do not know if anyone has mentioned it yet but you could try acupuncture. My girl is a TCM( traditional chinese medicine) practitioner and  acupuncturist I occasionally over do it and get a bought (sp?)  of tendonitis, acupuncture , chinese herbs and time always seem to work. But be aware acupuncture is not a quick fix miracle cure. The more chronic (long term ) the challenge is the longer and more sessions you will need. But eventually your body will get back in balance and "heal itself". Which is the only thing that eventually happens with any type of medicine. Good luck,7C

[Autumnarcher]

Started taking Glucosmine w/msm 3 days ago, its definitely helping. MRI/PT tommorrow.

[Mojostick]

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned it yet...find another doctor. LOL

[Autumnarcher]

Amazing how a multi-tiered game plan is showing results in a hurry. In a matter of a few days, Im seeing good improvement. Doc put me on a steroid dose pack to knock the inflammation down. That, along with rest, glucosimine, and the PT and I see good things on the horizon.

I'm doing PT 3x/week for the next month, along with home stretches. Couple that with some chiropractic treatments,as of right now my elbow is pain free. Still have some tightness, and some scar tissue to work on. PT consists of cold laser, ultrasound, deep tissue massage, stretching and exercises.

My therapist knows being onthe archery disabled list for bowhunters is akin to a pitcher being out of the rotation. I made sure they understood fully the importance of archery to me.

For now its recommended to not even touch a bow at least till I finish PT. From there, continued home exercises, and stretches. Resume shooting with a light bow, and just afew shots a day, and work up to the hunting bow. I cna surely follow that.

As a side note, I researched a lot of info online, and downloaded an exercse program several months ago. When I showed the PT girls what I was doing ( and it was written by a PT) they said OH NO- what you were doing actually made it worse!

[Al Dente]

Good luck and contiuned progress.  Patience with it and do not rush it.  A few more weeks or months will do a world of good, instead of running back and making it worse.  Remember your long term goal, getting back to shooting your bow.  And not too many 12oz. curls while watching TV either.

[Arwin]

Take your time John!!!  Rest that thing so you can chase elk.
 If you do end up having to shoot wheels, don't let it bother you.    I would much rather see you hunt comfortably and not in pain. A medical condition may take away your longbow but it will never take away the hard core traditionalist inside.  

[Missouri CK]

John,

Sent you a PM

[bucksbuouy]

I went ten years without being able to draw a bow due to severe, chronic shoulder dislocations. Hang in there and sit it out for a few seasons. Tendinitis can take a few years to subside, but subside it will. Hang in there.

[Spectre]

And there is always the camera. Just limit yourself with glass a bit, then you have to hunt pretty hard to get close enough for good shots.

[paoloi]

If you drop way down in weight, say 30# even, you would at least be able to keep your form up and not get too rusty. My friend has a bad elbow and he uses one of those bands, it seems to help.

[Autumnarcher]

Chris, got it, and replied. Thanks.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Autumnarcher:
Started taking Glucosmine w/msm 3 days ago, its definitely helping. MRI/PT tommorrow.

The glucosmine is great stuff. a natural WD 40 for the joints.... just don't take it on an empty stomach.

here is another idea for you when you get back into exercising with a light weight bow. try rotating your grip hand in different positions when applying the pressure. high wrist vs low palm pressure. then do the same with rotating your grip putting more pressure on the life line vs the thumb pad....

This is something you could do at you doctors office, or PT guys too. take a bow into their office and show them how you like to grip the bow, then ask them what position you can place your hand on the grip when applying pressure that will use a different muscle configuration.

like a few other guys here have already mentioned using a different bow with a different kind of grip location could be the answer to prayers.

This doesn't mean you need to go out and buy another bow either.... although it's going to take a light weight bow to get started.

The point i'm trying to make is that getting a grip custom shaped to your hand that forces you to hold it where you are not re injuring yourself may be the ticket.

i have been building custom riser shapes to fit an archers hand to exact specifications for quite awhile now. i would gladly volunteer to provide you with a lighter weight "PT" bow and do some grip alterations until you come up with something you can draw putting the pressure in the right spot. it may take a bit of shipping a riser back and forth. but I'll bet i can get you fixed up with a trainer bow that you can shoot comfortably.
And would be glad to do it pro-bono to help a fellow archer out.

if this works out well it may be possible to reshape the riser on your hunting bow and drop the poundage a wee bit too.....

Please let me know if i can help out. I've built "PT" limbs for a few guys in the past, and can fix you up here I'm sure.


BTW... Sixby mentioning that a static tip recurve bow could benefit you in higher poundage, is spot on..... these static tip bows put a whole new meaning to the description of a Smoooooth drawing bow. Without getting into a bunch of technical stuff, they feel like you are getting a let off in weight half way through the draw, and are smooth drawing right out to anchor. A standard long bow draws 2.5 - 3 pounds per inch increase through the draw. these static tip curves dip down to as low as 1.5 PPI. A 53 pound bow actually feels like you are only drawing 47#... i kid you not.

[kadiak kid...]

at 61 if it comes to i cant use a recurve,i mean i physcally can not do it ...i will use what i have to continue hunting in the archery season...my challenges will be still very tough as i hunt 140s and up basically and they will be shot at around 20 yds...i love my recurves here more than anybuddy and have since i started hunting with a bow in 1964...but i love hunting the early season too...its not all about killing for me,never was and more so now...i enjoy getting up close while hunting...i enjoy the fall woods...and i enjoy deer camp but most of all i enjoy finding and getting within 20 yds. of a bigboy buck,for me thats great satisfaction...hopefully i'm able to shoot recurves til i'm gone...but i will be hunting in the fall woods one way or another...

[Autumnarcher]

Kirkll. thats a mighty generous offer, and I thank you for it. I shoot 1 piece bows, so switchin limbs isnt gonna work. Found out today I have a torn tendon, partially detached. I meet with a surgeon next week to see where it goes from here. But Lookin like a date with the knife.

 I will see if the PT therapists can make some recommendations, and go from there. I have several lighter recurves, I used those after shoulder surgery a few yrs ago to build back up. Only took a couple weeks to do it.

I'll certainly keep your offer in mind, and thanks so much for your generosity.