I having left shoulder problems,

[osage1]

I shoot right handed, the left shoulder, has pain more like musle pain. I have been told it is the rotar cuff, being going on for 2 months.


I use exericse bands regular, the pain will go away and come back, it starts, when i draw the bow.

I can shoot 5 or 6 arrows and the pain will decrease, but it is worse after shooting.

I would appreciate any help with this problem.

[GRINCH]

I'm no Doctor,but it's obvious you need to see on,I doubt any on here will give you advice without am exam.

[Lefty]

Don't take medical advice from a stranger over the internet reguardless of the forum.  Go see a doctor for a proper exam and diagnosis.

[Bill Shepard]

After nursing what I thought was a left shoulder problem, for over a year, I finally went to the doc and had an MRI done. I found out I had two herniated disks in my neck. Last Monday I had surgery and they took out the disks and fused 3 vertebrae with a titanium plate and six screws. I woke up and the pain was gone.

The down side is I won't be able to draw a bow for several months. However, I should be stronger than ever after the appropriate rehab.

My suggestion is get it properly diagnosed and research all of your treatment options.  

Good luck and I hope your remedy will be simple.  

[TheFatboy]

How is your posture? And have you ever had similar shoulder problems before?

[Larry247]

Go to the Doctor my friend.

I finally went two weeks ago and found out i've torn my rotar cuff.

I'm hopeing PT will take care of it, if not surgery is the next step....

Take care of yourself...and don't over do it....

[osage1]

I am waiting to get a appointment with a doctor at the VA hospital, but that takes time.
The Occupational Therapy Dept, told me it was a rotar cuff problem.

I have had a broken neck in the past myself, but no shoulder pain that want go away, untill now.

I am going to lay off shooting for a few days and do the exericse, as much as i like to shoot every day.

[TheFatboy]

Exercise? Which kind?  

[osage1]

I do the therapy exercise with rubber bands, side pulls and the push and pull, nothing overhead and weight lifts with a short bar for each hand.

[osage1]

TheFatboy, The posture is good for a old man with a broken back, only minor shoulder pain in the past. I could always work it out with exercise and shooting the bow.

[TheFatboy]

A rotator cuff injury won't work itself out. But with rubber bands, you can strengthen it when the injury is gone. For the most, your doctor won't be able to tell you what's wrong. For that, you should have him send you to a physiotherapist.

I'm not trying to mock you, or tell you what to do - but I really am speaking from experience!

[osage1]

TheFatboy, I am not sure, if they have a physiotherapist at the VA. I have been using the bands for over a month with up and down success. I am going to the VA tomorrow to see a Chiropractor about my back and neck.

I will ask him about the other, i shot 10 or 12 arrows this morning with little pain after warming up with the bands.

[jack benson]

I had a similar problem a few years ago. Turned out I had an impingement problem. Turned out that I had almost 50% less mobility in that shoulder than my right! A course of physical therapy "cured" me...although I do continue to do the prescribed exercises and stretches to prevent re-occurrence.

See a doctor.

And if you end up seeing a physical therapist: TAKE YOUR BOW WITH YOU SO THEY CAN SEE WHERE AND HOW YOU STRESS YOURSELF! My therapist told me that because they could see me pull the bow, they were able to design a specific regimen for my problem.

[osage1]

I can shoot left handed with no problems, no trouble pulling the string, just pushing.

I am going to try to see a doctor tomorrow.

[TheFatboy]

How did it go at the Doc?

[JoeK]

Get it checked out by a shoulder expert-an ortho surgeon. In my case I had to have surgery. Without getting technical, shoulder bones come in 3 basic shapes, flat, slightly curved,and curved with a spoon shape at the end. The spoon shape(mine) rubs the tendons and frays them. Only surgery that removes the spoon like nob at the end of the bone will prevent further damage. I had tried PT first but it only aggravated the injury and made it much worse.

[osage1]

TheFatboy, They put me on a muscle relaxer,pain pills and did a exray of the shoulder.

I am doing the exercise with the bands and shooting some.They told me to come back in a few weeks and they might send me to Orthopedics.

[JoeK]

The x-rays revealed my condition.