Shoulder Surgery

[Eric Krewson]

Here is my experience with shoulder surgery on Jan 2. Bar none the worst recovery I have ever been through and that includes falling out of a tree and breaking my back and wrist.

I just passed the 6 month post op phase. I have never stopped doing rehab and did 6 hours a day for the first month and a half, 4 of those with a passive motion machine.

I started out with 25lb bow at the three month stage, shooting wasn't fun. Moved up to a 38lb bow at 4 months, 45 LB bow at 5 months and will mix shooting the 45 pounder and my normal 54 pounder today. My surgery was on my right or drawing arm, if it had been on my bow arm I would probably not be shooting much at all at this stage.

I do rehab with weights at the gym three days a week and mild rehab at home 3 days a week.

I had lost a bunch of mobility and had adhesive capsulitis so I gritted my teeth a couple weeks ago and broke myself loose by forcing my arm back over my head with my good arm, it wasn't a fun thing to do. Since I broke myself loose I am progressing again and can see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I don't have any pain free movements with my arm but the pain is letting up some now. My aggressive rehab keeps everything inflamed.

Most of my friends who have had this surgery say it took them 8 or 9 months to start feeling close to normal again.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Good luck Joe, it sounds like you are coming along..

[Terry Green]

Joe...we will talk this week.

   

[smokin joe]

Thanks for all of the good wishes. I think that getting the bone spurs removed before they did too much damage was a lucky move on my part. There were no major tears in the tendons, just the fraying, and the surgeon took out the debris from the fraying.

I shot my bow this morning. It was not particularly comfortable or accurate. I could really feel the weakness and soreness, but I am encouraged that I was able to draw it. My goal is to be shooting comfortably and accurately within another month. I think I'll make it.

I think the lesson to be learned from my experience is to have the bone spurs removed before they cause a major tear in the rotator cuff tendons. An early fix results in a faster recovery.

Its time to stretch and ice again. I'll check back in in about a week or so with another progress report.

[smokin joe]

This week I saw the doctor, and he told me that my healing progress is going perfectly. He also said to keep stretching and that I should continue the strengthening exercises as tolerated.

I also started shooting my hunting bow more seriously. The accuracy is there and the stamina is not -- at least not yet.

I think I have plenty of time to get comfortable in my shooting before the start of bow season

I believe that it was a good decision to get this fixed before major damage was done to the rotator cuff tendons.

This is my last post for this thread, but if any of you fellow archers out there get shoulder problems and have any questions, I would be happy to help out with information based on my experience.