Hurt my shoulder (deltoid)

[shamus]

I was shooting my 50# bow two weeks ago. I hadn’t been shooting for an extended period of time in about a year. Mostly, I take a few shots periodically, but that was about it. My girlfriend and I went out to the local range and shot a good hour and a half. Near the end, my drawing arm started to shake, but being STUPID, I ignored it. When I got home my deltoid was definitely very sore, and I had no strength in it. There was no bruising or swelling. Two days later, on Monday, I had strength in it and pulled back and shot my bow about 6 times, and there was pain. I knew I better give things a complete rest. The following weekend I saw a doctor and he said there was not a rotator cuff injury and that I should pop ibuprofen and rest it. Now as I approach week two of an injured shoulder I've had time to think about a few things:

 

• If I was shooting a heavier bow, I could have injured myself even worse

I should have stopped shooting before I got tired, and definitely should NOT have kept shooting when my arm started to shake.
 
Just because I shoot 50# periodically does not mean I can shoot 50# for almost two hours straight.
[/list]


This morning I drew my girlfriends recurve, it hit 30# at my 30" draw. I could draw it back, but it hurt a little bit. It worries me, but at least it’s not a rotator cuff injury. I've had no bruising or swelling. My injury, I hope, is a minor one. How long it will take to heal, I don’t know.

[JoeK]

Don't know how old you are but as you age healing takes longer.  Like the doc said--rest.  That means don't shoot until ALL the pain is gone, and then give it a few more days to be sure.  Any less rest and you are setting your self up for more injury.  Your mind's desire to shoot is trumped by your body.   It wins every time.  When you return to shooting, pace yourself--gradually over a long period of time, or you are back to more lay offs, or worse.

[shamus]

I'm in my early 30s. I hope my healing ability hasn't slowed down that much.

[Artur]

It sounds like just a muscle strain. But do as the doctor said: Stay off your shoulder until it is healed!

That means do NOT do any archery, even with your girlfriend's "wimpy" 30-pounder. No archery for a month or so is a heckuva lot better than no archery for the rest of your life.

[shamus]

yeah, I'm laying off the bows for awhile.  :(

[rt2bowhunter]

Please take it easy dont shoot. Untill your sure its ok.I dont no what you done to your sholder but i did the same thing. I was in my early 30s shot to much one day got up the next morning pulled back my bow let it down fast an bam. I never hurt so bad after 2 days of hurting an weakness went to the Doc he put me in a sling told me to come back in a week an when i went back i couldnt move my arm. After a lot of tests nerve damage. They told me i would never shoot a bow agian. But after a lot of work an just plane hard headedness Im shooting now but it took me 2 years an i still cant do any thing over head for very long.
Sorry about the long post.
Take care Joe

[Bill Turner]

I would listen to your doctor(MD) but if the pain continues have an orthopedic specialist take a look. Find one that is experienced with athletic related injuries. If you need a reference check with your local high school or college football coach.