rotator cuff

[BigArcher]

Well, I am sitting here typing with my left hand with my right arm in a sling. I started wondering how many others have had a tear in the  rotator cuff repaired and did they get back to shooting as before the surgery.
  Just had the surgery day before yesterday.  I am not expecting to be shooting for several months but was looking for a bright spot on the horizon.
 Anyone with experience in this area?

BigArcher

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Yep, I had alot more than the rotator but took 4 months off after surgery and started back slow and stuck with the PT. Surgery was is June and I was hunting by November.

Hang in there, There's nothing fun about it but you will be back before you no it.  

Tracy

[PV]

Well Big Archer I'm typing with one hand. Second left shoulder surgery in 8 months
     First surgery April last year. I was back to shooting a light poundage bow 6 weeks post op as part of my PT program. Aside from weakness in the shoulder due to inactivity I had no problems with the bow as the elbow stays below the shoulder.My original problem which may be different than yours was with overhead motion.
I did 10 weeks of PT with the shoulder getting worse each week. If you have any sharp pains or tearing in the course of rehab stop and make their presence known to the therapist and surgeon. I cannot stress this enough!!!

Unfortunately the first surgery did not correct the problem. A four month post op MRI showed I  had a torn cuff and an ac joint and some bone that had to be removed.
Second op (cutting rather than orthoscopic,different surgeon)went well and 2 weeks post op I was able to remove the sling. Unfortunately 2 days later I was in an auto accident that fractured my collarbone above the left shoulder. Back to typying with one hand

[Mint]

I feel for you. I haven't shot since I hurt my wrist getting the deer in my avatar up on the atv. I just pulled back the bow today and I still have some pain but not bad at all. Next week i am goingto shoot a 43lb bow I have and should be ready for my hog hunt at the end of Feb. Hang in there I know how hard it is not shooting.

[SpankyNeal]

I've had the left repaired twice and the right once. I'm back to shooting 60lbs with no problems but I now only regularly shoot 53-55 to take of them for the future. Stick with the PT and start back slow and lite and you should be ready for next season no problem! Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Ken

[Shawn Leonard]

I have had both shoulders done in the last 18 months. Slight tear in rotator cuff in left shoulder and a torm labrum, right shoulder torn labrum and enough arthritis the doc said it looked like a spider web in there. I was shooting 52-53#S 6 weeks after right shoulder and the same after 3 months with left. Follow docs. orders and you should be fine. Shawn

[Dan'l]

[Tommy Leach]

Be sure and let the Doc know you shoot and what your goal is. I had mine done (rt side) in Nov 07 and didn't get to shoot until Apr 08. But all is well now as I was able to harvest two deer this past season and miss a few others. Do exactly what they tell you no matter how good you feel. Good Luck

[L. E. Carroll]

In 06 I had the bicept detach in my right shoulder.  They repaired it by screwing a Hella [sp]coil into the socket then screwed a post with an eye into that. Dr. then pulled tendon attached to bicept back up and tied it to post with kevlar thread. Immobilized shoulder from any movement for 6 weeks. Then after 6 1/2 months of extensive therapy. It was pretty good.  Therapy hurt way more than the surgery on this operation as arm froze up pretty bad after immobilization.

Here's where it gets better!! Dr. reccomened I retire early, but I needed 6 more years with the RR for a full retirement, so went back to work.  Repairing rail cars...lots of heavy lifting, hammering with "sledge hammers' and welding.  Not to mention climbing in and out of the 200 ton crane I operate to lift rail cars when the occasion arrises.

When he found I was going back he said "Well come back and see me in 2 months" He new what he was talking about for by that time I had torn the rotator cuff in my Left shoulder by overcompensating with it to baby the Right one.

Had this repaired in march 07.  This surgery was a "Piece of Cake".  However at this time the RR insisted I retire for at this point I had 29 years and during that time 3 hernias 2 knee surgrgies [each knee once] and both shoulders repaired.

I healed so fast and got movement so easily that by Memorial Day I went out got on my Electra Glide and decided it was "Time To Ride".....Loaded up the bike with camping gear and decided to go to Eastern Ore. for a "Bike Get Together".    

Here's where I got "STUPID" !!! Mixed Mikes Hard Lemonaid [many] with riding swichback roads.  Result, $5500.00 in repairs to bike. I flew over bars and came down on back of head and shoulder I had just repaired resulting in three broken ribs in arm pit. Needless to say my recovery was pretty long considering all that happened.  

I worked really hard to get shooting again and last year was able to hunt the full season for Deer and Elk with My Griffin  pulling 61#@28.  I also am shooting a weekley league with my 55# Griffin.

Don't be stupid and do as the Dr. advises and take your time. IT WILL HAPPEN.

Gene [teenager with wrinkles]

[BigArcher]

It is good to know that everyone got back to shooting.  I will try to learn from your experiences and try not to repeat.  
Follow docs orders
stay with the PT.
Don't push it.
No "Mikes" and bikes.

Thanks for the responses.

BigArcher

[amar911]

It can be a long recovery from the surgery, and your shoulder will never be as good as before the injuries, but I bet you will be able to shoot again. I can, however my shoulder still hurts at times, particularly when I over-work it. Follow the advise of your physical therapist and don't push too hard too soon. You can re-injure yourself and make things even worse than before.

Allan

[BRONZ]

Good advice on here.
Most importantly, make your goals known to the therapist-- Occupational or Physical.  I remind all my patients that, those who are compliant with their home program, are usually the ones that experience the most progress.  This doesn't mean pushing it too quickly-- simply being compliant.

Manolito

[bentpole]

It was a year ago last May for me.I felt a tear,pop in my shoulder.I let it go for months until October. Working and shooting with pain. Came down out of my stand after realizing I couldn't draw my bow anymore[53# had to drop down to 42#s]. I went to a Doc he sent me for a MRI. Received the results.One muscle out of 3 torn. Two options; surgery in a sling for 3 weeks and out of work for 3 months or I can get a shot of cortisone. Give me the shot. Surgery wasn't an option at this point I still have 2 kids to get out of college. .He gave me a shot of Cortisone. I was amazed 24 hours later how good it felt. Well that was OK until January[a year already]. Went for another shot and started Physical Therapy. The therapist told me the tear cannot heal on it's own. We can build up the surrounding 3 muscles to take the pressure off the torn one.I listened to the PT. Went 3X's a week for 2 months. After that I still to this day work out and do the excercises for my shoulder. Went on a high protein diet. Muscles need protein to grow.The shoulder isn't 100% but I can work and can even draw and shoot a 56# bow for a few rounds without it bothering me. Down the road if it still bothers me well, we'll see.The biggest thing you can do is listen to your PT.Watch your diet.Work out and do your excercises.Being lazy isn't an option if you want to get better.

[Big Ed]

Biggest thing is to follow PT and Dr. instructions and do not rush things. I had a rebuild about eight years ago and still continue to do the stabilizing excersizes that I did in PT. I do the excersizes with both shoulders. Also try to take the least amount of pain meds that you can handle. Don't want to cover the pain in turn thinking the shoulder is better than it is. Just delays things if you over do it. Hope this helps,Time heals everything,Big Ed

[nutmeg]

Good advice from all here. I had my rotator done last June 13 and I'm just now getting to the point where I can get a 45# recurve to anchor. I can't and won't try that with my 55# hunting bows yet. I had a real long, rough time with it as it was a "massive tear" according to my surgeon. I have a real good PT and a good friend who is a PT so I get good help and advice. One of them is a trad. bowhunter so he knows the game real well and keeps my enthusiasm in check. As he say's "slow and steady wins this race". They say I'll get back to the way I was. Right now it's a matter of strength with some pain if I over do it. Just don't rush things and listen to your people.(nut)