Shoulder injury......

[cmh]

Well, it was good while it lasted . I had not been able to shoot for several years due to back problems but things finally worked themselves out and last summer I purchased a new Mohawk longbow and again was pulling a string. A couple of years ago at work I was carting a piece of 10 cast iron pipe on my shoulder along with another journeyman and lost my footing on some gravel and ice and went down with the pipe on my shoulder. Hurt good for quite awhile but never sought medical attention for it. Towards the end of archery season I could feel something pulling bad and it got painful in my shoulder.Now my shoulder hurts so bad it keeps me up some nights. Unfortunately I have been layed off for five months so doctoring is not in the family budget right now. I have been doing some reading about rotator cuff injuries. Have any of you ever experienced this? DO you necessarily have to have surgery or could I do special excercises for it to possibly strengthen it up again? I just started back to the bow and do not want to have to give it up again so your help would be appreciated. Regards,  Craig

[amar911]

Sometimes rehab will work, but significant tears in connective tissue rarely heal without surgery. Even after surgery things often do not return to normal. In my case they didn't, and I live with some degree of pain in both shoulders every day. After surgery and lots of rehab I can shoot my bows again, but I have to be careful and still injure them easily. When even a relatively minor injury happens now, my shoulders can hurt a whole lot. I feel your pain. Sucks, doesn't it?

Allan

[Downsouth]

I'm no expert, but have had shoulder issues myself and gotten them to heal by light exercise and being careful not to re injure them in the mean time. What poundage of bow are you shooting? I was constantly straining my drawing shoulder with a 57lb bow and dropped down to a smooth drawing 50 lb bow and I haven't had any further trouble with it! Surgery should be a last resort!

[Craig Warren]

Craig,
Get it checked out.  Doesn't mean you have to go through with expensive surgery, but at least you will know what is going on.  If it is torn, you will most likely need surgery, but if it is not, you can probably strengthen it over time with exercise.  

I am 5 weeks into my second shoulder with the surgery.  First one was 4 years ago and is really pretty good now.  Second one is a bicep tendon tear and should heal more quickly.  I can already raise my arm and hold it in shooting position but can,t start shooting for another couple of months.  

Good luck with yours.  You need to know what the problem is so try to find a way to at least get it checked out.

Good luck,

Craig

[houseman]

I just went through that surgery in October.  My wife is a doctor and we worked on "rehabing" it at home for about 8 months.  (I hate doctors and going to see them) The surgery for my shoulder was my only fix.  I am so glad I had it done.  For what it's worth.

[xtrema312]

If it didn't hurt at the time when you shot your bow and just came on and got worse I would think there is a good chance you have something out of whack, and it is just all messed up and strained.  If you did something and really hurt it and couldn't pull the bow then maybe you tore something.  You can get inflammation in any connective tissue and it can really mess you up, and it is hard to get out.  I would talk to a doc and then maybe see if you can get some kind of do it yourself rehab exercises or some once a week PT visits with homework.  I got my elbow all messed up a few years ago and had a bad time with it, but basic PT got it going.  The year before last it was the shoulder and I did PT.  I have a little something there sometimes when I have my arm over my head for a while, but I don’t have any trouble with the bow now.

[xtrema312]

Also, did you report that you hurt the shoulder a work?  Do you have a witness that you were hurt?  If so then I would claim workman's comp and get it taken care of now while you are off work.  I think if it is work related it is still covered even if you are now off work.  I am not sure, but it is worth a shot.

[LKH]

Actually, follow Craig's advice.  Until you find out the real problem, all the above is speculation.  

Good luck on the workmen's comp.  May be timed out.

[ses]

http://www.orthop.washington.edu/uw/tabID__3376/ItemID__223/mid__10313/Articles/Default.aspx  
   
   its all ways best to get it check by a doctor
   but if not the link above might help

[cmh]

Hello, thanks for the replies. I will get it looked at soon I guess. Its been almost 3 years since I dropped the pipe on it. Should of done something then but you know how that goes.........brush it off and keep going     Hopefully I can get somehting worked out $$ wise if it needs cut on. Thanks all    

[KSdan]

Check out Dr. Dan Reeves MD and prolotherapy. . . He works for KU Med in Kansas City.  He is in a network of Docs around the world who use this amazing treatment.  Really not a new or a wierd thing but continually refined.  I know of one orthopedic who left a 30 year surgical practice to perfect this treatment for the next 20 years of his career.  I would bet A LOT of joint problems could be solved with this treatment that costs little, has no side affects, and heals MANY people with joint/soft tissue who have otherwise thought they needed to live with injury and pain.

It is amazing stuff. . . read about it on line.

[Don Thomas]

I've given my little shoulder talk a bunch of times here but I'm glad to do so again. The first thing you need is a diagnosis. There are many potential causes of shoulder pain in this setting and the outlook and treatment options vary considerably. This can usually be obtained simply by a good examination in the office by an experienced physician. Plain x-rays usually don't help much; MRI's are accurate but expensive, but shouldn't be necessary unless a problem demanding surgery seems likely. Your problem may indeed be due to a rotator cuff injury (or simple tendonitis of the cough), although there are other possibilities including degenerative arthritis, impingement syndrome etc.If you can lift your hand all the way up over your head you don't have a complete rotator cuff tear and a trial of conservative (non-surgical) therapy is always reasonable: gentle range of motion exercises, strict avoidance of heavy overhead lifting, heat, and over the counter anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. If you have lost significant range of motion in the arm, a more serious problem is likely. Surgery may be required, and the sooner the better to avoid "frozen shoulder". Get it looked at, and let us know how your hunting season goes! Cheers, Don

[cmh]

Well, that last bit of information is a good one. I can lift my arm completely over my head although its painful. Will get in to see the sawbones before long and see what I need to do to get things back on track ASAP    Thanks again,  Craig