Shoulder surgery

[Jock Whisky]

Tore the supraspinatus in my rotator cuff last winter. It basically totalled my ability to shoot a bow.  I normally shoot in the 50 - 60 lb range. I can pull 40 lb now although it feels like 60. My GP wouldn't line me up for an ultrasound so I went to the backup plan and headed to a sports medicine clinic. Had the ultrasound within a week
The long and short of it is I have a 1.25 inch tear that will be having surgery this fall to bolt things back into place. Oh joy.

For those that have gone thru this what has been your experience? What advice do you have? What kind of strength recovery did you experience and how long did it take. Grateful for any input you have.

JW

[DeerSpotter]

I did not have a tear , I had was called a frozen shoulder , It was four months of therapy 2 to 3 times a week , And I did not shoot my bow for a whole year, but realize everybody is different.

Pay attention to your therapist, and do what is necessary and don't push it, I thought I would never shoot a bow again. You don't wanna get aggressive with the type of injury you have ,proper healing is really important.

I know there are many on here that I've had similar injuries that will pipe in.

good luck

Carl

[BigArcher]

I had a rotator cuff tear a couple of years ago.  It is very painfull for quite a while. ( weeks).  And you have to push the therapy when they say it is time.  I finally had to tell my physical therapist to do what I couldn't make myself do.  I think she enjoyed it.
I am good now.  Followed the doc's and the therapist's orderes.  
Good luck.

BigArcher

[khardrunner]

I had mine tear pretty bad and left it like that for a year. I ended up with surgery which fixed it for a little while and I was back shooting 50lb bows within 6 months. Then it tore again, likely due to a birth defect in my shoulder. So now I shoot lefty!

[JPE]

I had a torn r-cuff , the tendon that runs from shoulder to elbow was torn length ways, took 5 cm off my coller bone and took the joint apart and ground it down. Had it done on Nov. 1 Had a hunt planned for Feb. Had to swithch hands but made my hunt. Still pained alot when I first started to try to pull. Did not relise how much pressure you put on your opposite shoulder. I had tears at first useing a 20# bow. Now several years later I have complete use, if not better than I ever had, of my shoulder. Do what the doc tells you and push your therapy. It hurts but will pay big dividends in the longrun. Was back at my regular job in about 5 months. ( building solid block retaining walls). Good luck and I will keep you in my prayers.    Jim Pyles

[vermonster13]

Been there twice now. Am recovering from artho on my left shoulder this time. I heal fast though and will be back at it within two months of my surgery if they can figure out what is wrong with my back. MRI next week. The most important thing is to keep on your range of motion therapy. Strength is much easier to get back than flexibility.

[SS Snuffer]

I did something to my shoulder last Tue. at work. Now it has quit hurting but I have no strength in it at all (draw arm). I am going to get a MRI as soon as they can get me in. Just can hardly lift it above my shoulder. Any one else had something like this?
Doc said he would say what it is till after the test and I'm going nuts wondering if my season is over!!
Shots 100 arrows Monday , Tue. I can't even pull it back 10in.

[SS Snuffer]

tt

[arrow flynn]

Without flexability in the shoulders sooner or later something will give. You can build strength and flexability w indian clubs. It helped me with my tendonitis. My left shoulder has torn cartiledge my doc sez they can operate but the danger of infection is high. I can still shoot a 50 lb bow lefty however.

[Jock Whisky]

Thanks for your info people.

JW

[wapitirod]

Good luck on your surgery, I'm new to the site but not to surgeries.  You may be surprised how well you do.  A few years ago I went in to have a total of 5 tears fixed in my right shoulder (I am right handed) I had labrial, bicep and rotator tears and when they got in there they found a sixth tear in the sack around the shoulder socket that I guess holds fluid.  I was shooting both traditional and modern equipment at the time so I sold my modern hoyt and kept my Brack and Wallace bows just too have.  Within the same 8 year period I had 3 neck, 4 low back and 3 wrist surgeries with the last one being the removal of three bones, re attachment of the ligaments and removal of one of the major nerve bundles in my right wrist.  I just figured I'd never shoot again so I concentrated on my other passion which is handgun hunting.  Last year I decided to pull out the bows and to my surprise I was drawing and shooting like I'd never quit and it felt better than I remembered.  My Brack is 72# and My Wallace bow has two sets of limbs in 66 and 74# and I draw 30" so add a few pounds to that.  It is amazing what your body can come back from as I can attest to.  This will be my first season in a dozen years hunting with traditional bows as my primary equipment.  Again good luck with the surgery and getting back to shooting full poundage.

[smokin joe]

I had rotator cuff repair surgery many years ago and was playing baseball again the next season. It took six months to be able to hit and throw and one year to be able to be back to full strength.

My bad shoulder became my good one.

The most important thing is to obey the directions of your physical rehabilitation therapist. Go slow in your rehab and you will heal just fine. If you rush things and injure it again you will have to start over again from zero. Ask your therapist to treat you like an athlete for the purposes of the rehab.

Be patient. Give your body the time it needs to heal properly.
Good luck.