Shooting with a separated shoulder?

[crgaston]

I separated my right shoulder about 6 months ago... popped the AC ligament so my collarbone is just floating out on the shoulder end.  It's not going to re-attach itself without surgery and that isn't in the cards for a while...years, maybe, if ever.

It's healed up to the point that I can do 90+% of what I could before.  I've got full range of motion with out pain.

I have recently started shooting again and dropped down 10 pounds (from 45 to 35) to start.  It feels like everything is fine, but what I'm wondering is if anybody else has had the same thing happen?  Any encouragement or admonitions would be appreciated!

[Bill Tell]

Yep, been there done that.

I can't say that this will happen for you for sure or not but it may give you a little hope.

I blew my shoulder out twenty years ago in a wrestling match.  It popped right out on the mat.  Made so much noise the ref blew the whistle to stop the match.  My Dad - a Dr came out and set it right back in and I went on to win the match.  True story.

From then on I would have problems with pain, ripped muscles, and this shoulder was lower then the other.

Then a crazy thing happened I started to shoot a trad bow and all of the pain and trouble went away.  My shoulders are even again.  I think that it is great rehab for a shoulder.  Now if I have any pain which is rare I ice it for a few days and then the pain will go away.

[ken denton]

I separated my right shoulder when I was 21 and wore a sling for 6 weeks. After that I made me a lemonwood longbow 30# and wood arrows and became real accurate with it. A few years later they sliced it open and overlaped the muscles and no problem since. I am 71 now and shoot a longbow of 47# everyday. It is a very painful thing when it dislocates, but I was going down a river of 20 miles and turned the canoe over. I was shooting birds with my longbow and my buddy was rowing. I had to get back in and go on down the river until we found someone fishing to drive me to the hospital. Most people don't know to get someone to take there shoe off and put there foot in the arm pit and pull straight out and it will slip back in place. Ken

[mambashooter]

I broke my arm just above the wrist on father's day. Had surgey 5 days later. The doc inserted a metal plate.Then about four weeks later I started to have severe pain in my shoulder. The doc says I have a frozen shoulder. I was shooting a 55 lb recurve before the injury. Now I can pull it back maybe two inches. Know how you feel.Do exercises 5 times a day.
I have plans to go to Canada this spring to hunt black bear. Man..I hope that I am well enough by then to shoot my bow. If not I will be very disappointed.
Hang in there. I am.

[coaster500]

I'm with you brother  :(  

I have battled shoulder problems my whole life and shoot lite bows.

for me....

1 .. I shoot as often as I can
2 .. use a slow deliberate draw cycle
3 .. if the bow arm shoulder starts to pop or move I STOP and rest !!!
4 .. I warm up before I shoot

The main thing is don't give up even if you have to shoot a 20# bow, stay with it and you will win  

[reddogge]

I dislocated mine a couple of times but now the latest wrinkle is when I pull a bow my right drawing shoulder area around the collar bone will pop and snap. I can feel it inside my body. Not a whole lot of pain but a major distraction when shooting.  Kind of like a clicker that goes off at random times.

Anyone had this?

[Tyler2045]

Mine is basically the same as yours only way to fix it is surgery and they wont do that with out my rotator cuff tearing. My physical therapist told me the best thing for my arm was to shoot my bow and to slowly go up in weight to build my muscle up. So yes you can still shoot just take it slow and work into the larger weights. Which mine is not my drawing arm it is my holding arm, right handed left shoulder. God Bless, Tyler

[kadbow]

I separated my shoulder (draw arm shoulder) years ago.  Tore two of the three ligaments completely and the third one was hanging on by a thread.  It took time to heal initially and I have never had surgery.  Have been shooting for years with no real problems.   I have also broken my collarbone on the same shoulder and broke the top three ribs right off of my spine on the same shoulder (different incidents).  The only thing all my shoulder damage has done is shorten my draw a bit.  I would avoid the surgery if possible.

[Bonebuster]

I have dislocated my right shoulder three times.

The first time was a few days after turning seventeen. I`m 44 now.

If you can do most of what you could before, you are well on your way, especially after only six months.

By now you have figured out what NOT to do.
Do NOT do things that cause you pain. Learn to identify a situation before it happens. To be pain free, you`ll have to learn to recognize things you CAN NOT do, BEFORE you do it.

Bill Tell mentioned that shooting his bow actually helps with pain, and I find the same to be true.

I was told that surgery was necessary to regain any type of normal use, and I have never had surgery. However, healing from the first time was a long process. After a while it just became learning what not to do. I truely believe I am way better off than if I had surgery.

If you can shoot a bow of 35 lbs pain free, you are nearly there.

I`m not sure of your age, but if you are old enough, you already know things don`t heal as fast as they did "before". If you have come this far this quick, you are either young or healthy.

It just a matter of taking baby steps...and a positive attitude. Worked for me.

[Toklat1]

Had my bow shoulder replaced May 24th. Feels better than it has in a long time. Looking forward to the season.

[J-dog]

Have dislocated a shoulder - man that uis bad news - tore my other shoulder upo though I di not know yet what is wrong with it? do not want to go to doc and the pain ain't THAT terrible yet. Shoulders are nothing to play with - might want to ease up on the shooting or be sure you wont make things worse shooting.

Course I am ignoring my own advice????? Go figure.

[crgaston]

Sorry so late saying thank you, gentlemen. I've been out of town for a couple of days. I appreciate the insight and encouragement. I would really like to avoid surgery if I can.  My only concern is that without that ligament support there, another good fall could really screw things up.  And I'm 40... still too young to quit doing things that might hurt     but old enough to remember when I was more resilient, for sure.

[JamesV]

Reddogge

I had the same clicking in my right shoulder and pain up the side of my neck, eventually went away with a lot of shooting. Now I have a lot of pain in my left shoulder and up the side of my neck, Hopefully this will go away in time. Guess the heavy bows and time is paying me back.

[heydeerman]

I hit a deer while riding a motorcycle about 3 years ago and broke the shoulder socket of my left shoulder. It took me a while to but I am still not 100%. My shoulder is not as strong and pops alot.

[kadbow]

I was worried about the same thing with no ligament support but my shoulder has been through some punishing blows since via snowboarding and dirt bikes and has not separated again.  (separation is totally different from dislocation)  I am glad I did not opt for surgery.

[crgaston]

Thanks Mark.  Is your collarbone still floating around or did it manage to find some way to stabilize?