Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

[Charlie Lamb]

It seems like an eternity since I was in a normal state of health. What it has been is a little over 2 years of pain and frustration.

It started out with low back pain that inspite of physical therapy and Chiropractic only seem to increase in intensity.
By last fall at this time I was having pain that even Morphine wouldn't touch.

I made the  mistake of driving west for my annual antelope hunt/mountain hangout. I got there and was almost totally incapacitate.
Always generous, my buddies Tippet and Whip convinced me that a flight home would be prudent... they didn't give me an option. (it's good to have friends like them when you are as hard headed as I am)

Within a couple weeks of my return I underwent a 3 hour surgery to remove a cyst that was causing the problems to my spine.

I managed to arrow one deer before the 2009 season closed, but was moving slow. My expectations of being 100% in a couple months was a little less than realistic.

Then this spring after a grueling turkey hunting season I had surgery on my right wrist which was bound up tight by arthritis. More set backs.
     


I'd resigned myself to learning to shoot my bows from square one and suspected I might never regain strength to shoot my beloved 65# recurve.
             (cont.)

[PAPA BEAR]

hang in there brother.you may surprise yourself.

[ChuckC]

Sorry guy.  

I'm gonna place a bet that you get better and better, but for now, get a 50 pound bow and learn to love holding that one.  

One day pretty soon you will surprise yourself and grab the "ol bow and shoot just fine.

Get well.
ChuckC

[Dave Bulla]

Hope all goes well with your recovery Charlie.  Slow and steady does the trick quite often.  No point in tearing up the doctor's work by getting in a hurry.  Better to drop a few pounds and hunt close than to push it and go backwards on the recovery.

Judging by the last word of your post  "(cont.)" there is more to the story.  I hope it's all good!

[Clay Hills Bill]

Hi Charlie,

I had Neurosurgery on my neck for bone spurs 5 weeks ago and am recovering slowly.  The docs all say that as we get older, we just have to be patient with the recovery time.  I hope that it all heals up for you soon and you can start pulling her back again!  

Bill

[Killdeer]

I bet I have lots of bows that would fit you!
Now, let's get this story rolling again. I would hate to think that it won't get told, that you had taken it on the lam, so to speak.

Don't be sheepish!
Killdeer  

[BMN]

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Hang in there Charlie.

[Pete Arthur]

Hi Charlie.
Sorry to hear of  your recent medical run ins. I have an old Ben Pearson recurve that I believe draws 40# or so. You are welcome to it if you'd like to borrow it during your recovery.
I've enjoyed reading your posts over the years, so it's the least I can do.
Hang in there and get well soon!

[JEFF B]

yup yup yup. getting older aint much fun at all Charlie speedy recovery man  

[Bill Turner]

Hope you have a speedy recovery. Take your time and listen to your doctors. I'm betting there is a critter with your name on it out there. God bless.  

[Charlie Lamb]

OK everybody, this  wasn't intended to draw sympathy... though I have to admit it feels pretty good!
Pete.... I sure apprecitate the bow offer, but I've got it covered.

Killy... that was just Baaaaaa-d.

I'll write a bit more after I add this.

[Charlie Lamb]

Well, after the surgery, the Doc told me not to do ANYTHING for the first ten weeks after the wrist surgery. I'd follow those rules to the letter but was champing at the bit.

Three days after surgery I took a Conceal and Carry class and shooting a strange pistol I surprised everyone by tearing up the target left handed.

Everyone knows me as "the bow guy" and don't make a connection between me and guns... and I like it that way!
It's a Matthew Quigley thing. "I said I never had much use for the things. I never said I didn't know how to use them".

Not being able to resist the lure of my shop I even built a longbow totally with my left hand. It only took 3 times as long.
It turned out pretty nice and 49#@28".

As soon as I got clearance to start using my right hand again, I came straight home and pulled one of my light bows off the rack.
Early in my first marriage I'd gotten a nice Herters bow for the wife. At 25# I figured it was a start... I wasn't about to hurt myself.
     

I was surprised by the weight. Normally with a bow of that weight my fingers would tend to come off the string one at a time.
I found that now I could just barely get to full draw with it and it felt like it was ripping off my fingers.
Though I had to snap shoot it at first, accuracy was surprisingly good.

                    (cont.)

Gonna go take some pics to put with this part.    

[Guru]

       

[Over&Under]

This could end up going so many ways....I hate venture a guess, so will bite my tongue and wait like I do on all your stories Charlie...    

Looking forward to the rest, and sorry to hear about your hardships.

[toppredator]

You'll get there man just hang in there.

[Hud]

After recovering from a few injuries, and surgeries, I have found the doctors advice is usually better than my own. I have also found therapy very helpful during the recovery, and in most cases you come out feeling much better. Good luck.

[snag]

Good to see you can send an arrow down field. Just listen to your body and follow it's lead...slow and steady wins the race! I have had back problems and other concerns over the past several years. After feeling bad you can't believe how great feeling good feels!!!

[Dave Lay]

Charlie I dont know ya but have read alot of your stuff and viewed ya on the trad gang dvd, you seem like a tough but smart guy. listen to your Doc and especially your body.
   I had back surgery last summer and was really worried about it and my bow shooting (60lb bows) by huntin season i was back climbing trees and shootin my regular bow. a year before that i ripped my left bicep tendon in half, and just knew I was done for a long time since I shoot left handed. like a DA i continued to hunt, (and killed a couple deer,) for 2 months with it broken because i didnt want to miss bow season and i figured i couldnt hurt it any worse..I was badly mistaken, my repair surgery was much more comlicated and i have a huge scar. I really took it easy after the surgery and did exactly as the doc said and did all the PT. even duplicated it at home with his ok... but by mid summer i was able to shoot my 60lber ok, i have alot of years behind me and it does take longer to heal, but you will heal. just take it easy and keep the goal of shooting your bow in mind....    good luck to ya!!

[Sixby]

Wow Charlie you sound just like me. I have had to miss the last couple of elk seasons because of basicaly the same thing. Only in my case its old age and years of concrete work which destroyed my knees and back. people have a hard time understanding not being able to sleep or even find a comfortable second without pain unless they have suffered that.Butttttttttttttt. Hope and faith Brother. so I build my bows and enjoy othere peoples stories until I can do it again. God Bless you Sir and get well. Steve

[Whip]

It's been awhile since I've had the pleasure of savoring a Lamb tale.  I'm enjoying your style Charlie, even if it isn't about hunting. (Yet    )