Had to go to a light bow

[shot2high]

I hope this is the right furum. The gestapo has placed a password on the shooters forum and I do not know what it is.

How many of you have dropped in bow weight because of shoulder problems. I recently went from 60# to 42#. If any one has had to drop down did you have a work out to build the shoulder back. My shoulder may be too far gone, I tore it up in a triathalon 22 yrs ago and I have lived w/ it ever since. Now that I am 40 the pain has become constant and I hate to go to the DR. Any suggestions......On the upside I am shooting a lot better with the light bow. How have you guys done w/ the pigs and deer and light bows??????? Thanks

[amar911]

Jimmy,

Just a little friendly advice -- if you shoulder is torn up and you leave it for long periods of time like that you may be doing permanent damage to it. Better to go to a good surgeon and get it fixed then do rehab to build you strength back up afterwards. If you prefer to get a new shoulder joint at 50, then just keep doing what you are doing now. I was in your situation and almost let it go too long without medical attention. If won't get better just with exercise if something is really torn up in there. Better safe than sorry. Get some recommendations from other people in your area who have actually had shoulder surgery to find a good surgeon. All orthopedic surgeons are not created equal and you want the best you can find.

Allan

[Guru]

"any advice".....you should have had it fixed 22yrs ago    

[Chris Surtees]

I dropped from 65 to 45 after shoulder surgery. It has been a challenge to build back up in bow weight but I am getting there slowly.

First thing go see your Doc and get it fixed. I lived with the pain and kept on doing things I should not have. Long story short is I did way more damage by trying to be hard instead of taking care of myself.

As far as hogs and deer no issues at all. I am shooting 45@26 with 550 grain arrows. Still can not wait to get some bows that are back up in the low to mid 50's. Maybe just maybe I will recover enough to get up to high 50's and low 60's but I am not holding my breath on that one.

Good luck,
CS

[Apex Predator]

Shoulder problems forced me down to 44#.  Had no problems with deer or hogs.  I did shoot a high FOC carbon weighing 650 grains, but would have felt confident shooting moose with that set-up.  Now I'm back into the lower 50s, but still like heavy, high FOC shafts.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by shot2high:
I hope this is the right furum. The gestapo has placed a password on the shooters forum and I do not know what it is. ...

"Gestapo"?  No, we're not even close to being that and I don't appreciate your remark.  

The Shooter's Forum has been quarantined for awhile and will return shortly.

[SteveB]

Originally posted by Guru:
"any advice".....you should have had it fixed 22yrs ago      

:D    :D  

Steve

[Target Panic]

I dropped the weight of my bow from 50 to 40lbs about 2 years ago. I must be a wimp because I tried to go back up and found I could; but I did not enjoy shooting as much. So I am staying at 40 enjoying it more and shooting much better, thank you.
Get your shoulder looked at by a good Doc.

[Rob DiStefano]

Methinks that, as has been said many times over, a sharp broadhead with good shot placement is paramount.  For deer and smaller game, I don't think the engine horsepower is all that important.  Accuracy and a sharp pointy front end is where it's at.  Use the highest draw weight you can comfortably shoot.  If that be 40# at yer draw length, that'll do just fine, IMO.  YMMV.

[frassettor]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
Methinks that, as has been said many times over, a sharp broadhead with good shot placement is paramount.  For deer and smaller game, I don't think the engine horsepower is all that important.  Accuracy and a sharp pointy front end is where it's at.  Use the highest draw weight you can comfortably shoot.  If that be 40# at yer draw length, that'll do just fine, IMO.  YMMV.

      I agree with Rob

[Doc Nock]

I had arthritic impingements in both shoulders that got worse and worse..finally letting mine go, at 55, I tore the right one...out of the blue! Talk about pain..! I had it surgically repaired, and was back shooting my hunting bow at 54# in 2.5 months!  I dropped back to 48# and upped my arrow weight..switched to carbons to get the most retained energy vs. all that "noodling" eating up ft/lbs of alum and wood going down range...and killed several deer and a hog.

I just had the other shoulder impingement surgically repaired March 5th and was shooting in 3 weeks..but got some tendonitis that set me back and now I'm fine...

There is never a good reason to let it go..it only gets worse and invites my best friend, Arty-Ritis to come set up housekeeping!   :eek:  

I 3rd the motion to go see a doc quick like and you'll be ready for hunting if you do your part..start by listening to limits and then... when they give you the green light..hit it hard!

[Bjorn]

Not all bows are created equal, nor are the strings etc. At that weight deer should not be a problem. But hogs over 100# will require tuning to the Nth degree, and all the usual about 'the good sharp BH etc' advice.
If your current injury is from that event long ago don't expect any miracles from the medical field; instead if it were me, an exercise program of light weights and stretching and icing done with a really good sports PT, and see how it goes from there-BTW I dropped from a 58# to a really good 49# and after some tuning did not loose any performance at all.

[T Sunstone]

I injured my bow shoulder 12/21/07 dropping out of an attic onto a washing machine. It hurt like hell when I did it but the pain went away fast.  Went hunting that afternoon and when I pulled the bow back to warm up the pain stopped me at half draw.  I went on a pig hunt at the end of Feb. and my doc loaded the joint up with cordizone that didn't help.  I was taking 8 Advil a day just to shoot.  I went on a bear hunt last month and did the same routine. I could do most exercises without much discomfort I was about to go to the surgeon until I pulled the bow back 4 days ago without pain.  It still hurts a little doing some things like sleeping on my left side.   I hope this is the end and I don't have to have surgery.

[DeerSpotter]

Deer fall dead at 42# also, but I have a shoulder looked at to make sure there's no permanent damage.

And like someone else said,"shot placement and sharp broadhead"


Carl

[buckeye_hunter]

Get it fixed my friend.  I have gone to lighter bow due to tendonitis in my bow arm.  Even that did not help.  Now I have to just lay off my shooting for awhile, rest, ice and take anti-inflamatories.  Go easy and see the doc!

-Charlie

[smokin joe]

Living with a bad shoulder is not necessary these days. Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder is so advanced that it is usually performed as a "same day" procedure. You go to the hospital in the morning and you go home that afternoon. I had arthroscopic shoulder surgery done to repair an old baseball injury and I am absolutely certain that I would not be able to shoot a bow at all had I not had the surgery.
That being said, age and arthritis limit me to bows in the 50 pound and under range these days. With good arrow flight and sharp broadheads anything over 40 pounds can get the job done at bowhunting range.
Do yourself a big favor and get the shoulder fixed. Once it is done and you have your strength back you will be happy with the outcome.
Good hunting.
Joe

[bentpole]

I used to shoot 55# to 57# Trad Bows I have a torn Super Spinatus muscle in my right shoulder. One torn muscle out of three that make up your rotater cuff. I can't afford to be out of work for at least three months. I went for a second cortisone shot and went to physical therapy for two months.I do the excercises and work out 3 times a week minimum.The PT said it won't heal but we can build up the other 3 muscles.Muscles need protein to grow so I added alot more protein in my diet[found Muscle Milk]  I dropped my draw weight to 42#s to 45#s at first,my bows average around 47#s now.Switched to Traditional style Longbows[just feel better] Shooting carbons and tapered cedars with a SHARP 2 blade head [Ace Super Express,Zwickey Eskimos, and Muzzy Phantoms]I know if I hit them in the right spot they'll drop.

[George D. Stout]

I've not had many physical problems, but I did have an onset of common sense awhile back that told me to get back to fifty pounders.  A bow of 45 or 50 pounds will shoot clear through any North American game providing the arrows are flying perfectly and you have a good broadhead attached to the killin' end.