Any rotator cuff recovered shooters?

[Matabele]

I was going to post this in the recent shoulder replacement thread, but thought I better start a new topic.

I've suffered from a rotator cuff injury for years and even had the cortisone injection in the joint (not cool). What with starting a family, and life getting in the way I havnt been able to shoot much at all and I thought the injury had healed up. Only occassionaly was my shoulder painful and usually when I had a cold or something and all the joints were achy.

Now my new custom bow has arrived finally, and the old injury has flared up again. It's making drawing the bow really painful and the shoulder just isn't giving me the strength and stability I know I should have. Super bummed at the moment!

Just wondering if anyone has had any of the invasive surgeries and if you think it's a good idea? I'm going to see a doc anyway and find out the options, I'm tired of this now.

[Wind D Ranch]

Yep, I had surgery on my right shoulder back around 2004.  I somehow tore the rotator cuff on both shoulders and I had the worst one fixed.  I wish the doctor would fix my left shoulder but he says I should wait until it tears more.  Anyway, I couldn't shoot my bow for a while after surgery but I only missed one deer season.  Anyway, I have no regrets.  Good Luck with whatever you decide to do.

[Jerrynocam]

I had my right shoulder repaired in 2010. I have no regrets, the surgery went good and just as important the physical therapy did too. I had the surgery in February and was shooting a 40lb bow in august. The main thing is to listen to your PT and do your exercises. It's going to be painful but if you stick to it you'll be good as new.

[Mike Bolin]

Get checked out by a good surgeon to find for sure what is going on with your shoulder(s). You may get positive results from physical therapy, depending on what the surgeon finds. In late April I couldn't draw a 35# bow more than a couple of times. My surgeon prescribed physical therapy, 3 times a week for 4 weeks, then 1 to 2 times weeks for up to 3 additional weeks, at the therapists discretion. After 4 weeks I was shooting a 43# bow. Within a month of being released by the therapist I was shooting 50#+ bows again. The exercises I did in therapy seemed kind of worthless to me at the first session, but I could tell a difference in my flexibility by and had less pain by the end of the first week. The exercises are simple and can be done at home.
Best of luck! Mike

[Mike Bolin]

I should have stated that I have an impinged rotator cuff in both shoulders. I also suffered from pinched nerves in both shoulders. I still do my PT at least every other day and everyday if I don't get much activity, like when doing a lot of driving ect.

[Scott Barr]

I had shoulder surgery last February.  Back to shooting 45# bows now.  Now I make it a point to not shoot anything heavier.  Want to get as much mileage out of both shoulders. As others said:  do the PT.  I also highly recommend getting a recliner (I slept in mine for two months after surgery) and get and use an ice machine to keep the pain and inflammation down.

[muth]

I had surgery 2 weeks ago.  so I can't answer your question yet.  by the feed back I have read the prognosis is good.

[Roy from Pa]

Yupper, tore a rotator cuff completely off and had a bone spur. Had the surgery and was shooting in 6 months. Shoulder feels like new now.

[snag]

I'm with on this Mike. I got referred to an outstanding PT and within a month of doing exercises I was feeling pain relief. In 2 months I was back shooting my 52# bow. Be careful with what's diagnosed. Second and third opinions are good to try before you buy.

[BAK]

Yup, had mine done in A February back in 2002, but was back shooting by July.

[Roy from Pa]

I had an MRI done on my shoulder and it told the story.

[DMM]

I had surgery. My rotator cuff was almost torn completely, I also ruptured my bicep tendon and due to impingement they cut a 1/2" off my collar bone. PT is terrible but you have to get through it. My surgery was two years ago, I missed a year and a half of bowhunting, bad timing on the surgery, but I was able to take a nice buck during the late season last year. I can now shoot bows daily in excess of 60 lbs.

Look into stem cell injections. A friend of mine had them and completely avoided surgery.

[Workaholic1]

I had shoulder surgery in march of 2015.  Small tear to the rotator cuff and a "moderately large" bone spur.  Add to that nerve impingement from years of working hunched over on aircraft.  No issues with shooting or lifting weights since.  I did have to take it slow for a bit after pt was done.  I think my total downtime was about 3 to 4 months.  Do the pt afterwards and make sure to do the exercises at home as well.  Remember them so you can fall back on them as needed.  If possible get that 2nd opinion or two.  If you haven't yet, get an mri to take with you.

[Greg Dearth]

I had a 80% tear in my right rotator cuff, that was repaired a year and a half ago. After the surgery I followed the doctors orders to a T, completed my PT and was shooting my recurve in 2 months. I started out with 35#'s and soon worked up to my 56# bow. The surgery was done in late Feb. and I was able to go on a spring bear hunt in late May.  My shoulder is doing great. Have the surgery done, it will not heal on it's own. With out getting it repaired you could actually damage it to the point that it cant't be repaired.

[Matabele]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I can tell you I feel so much better knowing there is often a good outcome after the surgery, and that recoveries are pretty short too. Appreciate the encouragement  from everyone    

[Bowguy67]

I didn't let em cut me. I did physical therapy and it helped. They wanted to do surgery though. I just wouldn't let em

[Kresnik]

Yep, I recovered just fine and I would even say I found it a bit of a blessing in disguise simply because I was not focusing so much on my shoulder when holding and I was able to get to more or less a full hold with all of the archery muscle groups.  

The one thing I did have a hard time on though was carrying a heavy pack.  It shortened my scouting season to nearly nothing during recovery but I was out slinging arrows after 3 months.

[Ray Johnson]

I've had surgery on both shoulders a few years ago. Long recovery but I can shoot now. I couldn't before. I still have some issues with both but surgery in my case was necessary because I had massive tears with pain and weakness. I'm much better overall.

[Bill from NJ]

Readers Digest version.

Was seriously hurt at work.
Both shoulders and left elbow had surgery done in June 2016 and October 2016. Even had bicep muscles cut, moved, and re-anchored and attached into the bones.

With lots of Physical Therapy, I retained most of my original range of motion.
Began using dumbbell weights for a few months.
Then slowly began exercising my arm/back muscles using a very light bow.

I was practicing with my 45# longbow in the back yard.
But, I will not be able to bow.hunt this season, due to not being accurate enough to take game cleanly out to 20 yards (60 feet).
With proper practice at a slow pace, I should be back into the game.

My advice would be to get the surgery done.
Cortisone injections will not be a proper long term solution for your needs.
Most times the cortisone injection, is a waste of time.

Bite the bullet, get the surgery. You will not regret doing it.

[KSdan]

Prolo-therapy strengthened left.  Right shoulder full rotator cuff surgery in April. . . back shooting full weight (55# @ 31") Aug 1.  Feeling great. . .

Dan in KS