How much poundage are you back to

[valleysniper]

I've had four shoulder surgeries two on each buddy else had multiple surgeries and what poundage are you back to shooting ?  and do you do anything special such as warm up ice after shooting etc

[smokin joe]

I have had full replacement of both shoulders. The last one was a year ago. I am consistently shooting 43 pounds -- and I do a little practicing with 49 pounds. I have a series of stretch cord exercises that I do several times a week to keep my shoulders strong and flexible.

The type of shoulder surgery you have will influence the amount of time it takes to bounce back. Be patient and follow the orders of the surgeon and physical therapists, and you will be able to work your way up to a hunting-weight bow in 6 to 9 months. Fail to be patient and you will have multiple setbacks that will make things take much longer.

[Terry Green]

Must have been a glitch Joe looks like your posts are sticking around now.

 I found no issues why your other ones didn't stick.

[valleysniper]

Ive had rotator cuff surgery 3x. Both biceps detached. Had a torn labrum and my AC joint removed in my draw shoulder. Just wondering about everyones draw weight after injury. I'm shooting 43#

[Rob DiStefano]

too many shoulder issues from misuse and plain stupidity.  way down from the 65lbs of my waaaay long ago youth to 47# on good dayze and 43# on not-so-good-days.

[Macatawa]

too many shoulder issues from misuse and plain stupidity.  way down from the 65lbs of my waaaay long ago youth to 47# on good dayze and 43# on not-so-good-days.

I can echo that...53# from the early 70's....47# a few years ago and now...41# max for 100 pokes or less.  I'm prolly lookin' at less for sure these next few years as my construction work and abuse of my arms and shoulders related to that is takin' a toll....still gotta work.  Have some new responsibilities to cover soon,  I hope.

Surely can't complain!  been shootin' trad since forever and still love everything about it... My buddy Roy: sent me a dozen stained and sealed shafts to build some new arras.  Just recently received the components from Three Rivers ....archer2

[MnFn]

So far, no surgery but I know something is going on.  I’ve been getting a shot in the shoulder once a year and that helps a lot- really good afterwards for about 8 months or so. I am 66 and am trying to build up to 55 lbs. I  usually shoot 49, 50# lately.  Trying to get ready for moose if drawn this year.

Should I be concerned that is all we are currently doing about it?  I know I have lost some overall strength. I really noticed it when I was carrying a new toilet into the house, for instance.

[dbd870]

 Not shoulder but arm; 18mo later. 30#

[valleysniper]

I too worked construction for the last 25 years, very unkind to your body. I also got injections fpr many years untill finally I couldn't take it anymore. I have some nerve damage in my neck from a. Break abt 10 yrs ago. I think this contributes to my shoulder weakness

[limbshaker]

I'm 31. Started with 45# and now shoot 55#.

After looking around and hearing about all the old timers being all broken down and having shoulders replaced, I believe I'll stay where I'm at. No sense in going up for the stuff I hunt. Besides, I'm a wormy lookin little feller.

[1Arrow1Kill]

Wormy lookin little feller . . . now there's a new one.  LOL     Oh, you're 31 years young.  Just give it a decade (or 2). 

I went from a tight 6 Pak in my 30s - to a Pony Keg in my 40s - to a full fledged Kegerator in my 50s - to 2 heart stents, 2 AFIB cardio-versions, and an arterial heart ablation operation in my 60s.  Can't hardly wait for my 70s, 80s and the REALLY old years after that!  I'm staying around 45 pounds draw weight as long as my body cooperates.  Not much to prove at my age, I guess.  (Well Shut-The-Front-Door - Did I really just say that?)
 

[pavan]

A friend of mine had both shoulders done, he hurt them shooting compounds, first one left handed and then because of his first injured shoulder, one right handed.  He went from compounds to a 65 pound longbow and has had no trouble.  He thinks it was because of where the draw peak came on the compounds that injured his shoulders.

[longbowman]

Been at this for a few years now (Started in 1966), did go wild for awhile and shot the 80# stuff but now in my twilight years I shoot my little 72# longbow or recurve.  Tore my right rotator once, separated my shoulder, broke my right hand boxing, but it was just a matter of focus and work and was able to shoot hunting weights again.

[Biathlonman]

 Had drawing shoulder Labrum fixed late July.  Pretty comfortable in the high 40s, starting to ease into low 50s.

[Sam McMichael]

I had less severe shoulder issues than some of you guys - torn labrum, as well as torn ligament on one pectoral muscle. In a matter of a few weeks after surgery, I was able to shoot 40# bows. Within a couple of months, I could again pull my hunting bows at 53#. I can shoot my 65# bow, but just don't feel like I need to do the extra work to be able to shoot it dozens of time in a single session. One thing for sure is that with any injury, you need to stay in tough with the doctor and work out a treatment plan that accommodates the archery activities. The same goes for any physical therapy. Sometimes, it seems that the recovery time is too long, but it simply takes how long it takes. Be patient, and work out the time frame that suits your situation. You may need to permanently drop down in draw weight, but that is o.k. True, I can no longer handle my 78# bow, but that's not a major hassle. I do a few exercises to loosen things up before shooting, something I should have been doing from the very beginning.

[76Aggie]

I never did shoot high poundage.  My max was 49lbs.  When I was able to shoot again, I started at 40 and have shot 46 for the last couple of years.  I like the 46 but want to try to work up to 55 this year.

[BAK]

I used to shoot 65#, then tapered down to 50# before I had my surgery.  After that I worked my way back and shoot 45 to 50 again.  I'm 69.

[Squirrel Hunter]

I shot 60-65 lb before two shoulder surgeries, one on each. I am now shooting 55-60lb comfortably. The key is stretching immediately after the surgery, and weight training, starting very light then slowly ramping up about a year after the surgery. I'm 63.

[Steelhead]

I would recommend that you take a look at this training program designed almost exclusively for shoulder rehabilitation,maintenance and strengthening for the entire  shoulder area.

www.gocrossover.com

[altaberg]

I also struggled for two years to get back to what I like to shoot.

I had surgery in both wrists and could not shoot anything for two months. Then I went back to my wife's 35# recurve and after 4 months to my own 45# recurve. Took me a year to shoot my Patriot Longbow at 57 again regularly.

I have a 65# Mongol bow and could shoot it again this winter. Had to be very careful with that.
I also at that time tried getting into the whole thumb release shooting, but I could not manage to learn with the 65# bow.
Got myself another 40# horse bow to work on that.

That's on hold now anyways until we loose the last foot of snow around here. Not shooting well and reliably with the thumb release was too frustrating while the ground is frozen and there is snow. Constantly looking for arrows and repairing arrows.

16 months after the last surgery though I'm reliably and well shooting my Bear Patriot again. Frustrating how long this takes but you need to be patient.

And yah, I'm an idiot thinking I can master the thumbring with a 65# Mongol horse bow.