Archery and rotator cuff surgery

[Wood2Sawdust]

I have a torn rotator cuff and 3 torn tendons, trying to put off surgery until March. Went down to 53lbs on bow the last few years. Would like to hear others experiences with this and how it affected them and their bowhunting. Did it effect draw length, form etc after surgery? I'm 68 and not ready to give up any of my hunting. Thanks I will add to this after recovery  next year

[baldopepper]

Complete tear with retraction on mine. Major tear on another.  Sports medicine doc said I should have surgery, but second opinion from a shoulder specialist and he recommended intensive pt instead.  He honestly told me surgery on older people (I was 75 when diagnosed) is not a good idea. Recovery is long and often very painful and likely hood of a retear is fairly high. I went thru a complete pt program and my shoulder is now about 85% of normal with no pain.  I have two friends who had the surgery (both late 60s) one did retear  within 18 months and the other is still fighting shoulder pain and regrets doing it. Not saying you shouldn't do it, just research it carefully and I'd recommend a 2nd opinion who clearly goes over alternatives. 

[vandeman17]

Complete tear with retraction on mine. Major tear on another.  Sports medicine doc said I should have surgery, but second opinion from a shoulder specialist and he recommended intensive pt instead.  He honestly told me surgery on older people (I was 75 when diagnosed) is not a good idea. Recovery is long and often very painful and likely hood of a retear is fairly high. I went thru a complete pt program and my shoulder is now about 85% of normal with no pain.  I have two friends who had the surgery (both late 60s) one did retear  within 18 months and the other is still fighting shoulder pain and regrets doing it. Not saying you shouldn't do it, just research it carefully and I'd recommend a 2nd opinion who clearly goes over alternatives.

I agree with this. At your age, I would strongly consider a physical therapy/recovery protocol over surgery. It might not be fun but gives you a good chance of being back to close to normal relatively quickly

[Wood2Sawdust]

I will look into the pt option first. Thanks for the replies. I am a workaholic type of person, 40 acres to take care of couple houses, barns etc, plus still work as a carpenter when I can

[baldopepper]

Keep in mind pt only works if you make sure you do it. Doing the exercises has to be a priority every day.

[bornhunter]

Tried injections and PT for my left shoulder with minor tear, arthritis,bursitis and tendinitis. Worked for a couple of years but finally had to hang up the Matthews and went muzzleloader. Just could not keep the bow steady as weak as my shoulder got. Did not even consider surgery. Also my late 60's.

[Stein]

I've never heard of anyone doing it, but would switching your dominant hand work?  I am so left eye dominant (right handed), I had to teach myself to shoot bows left handed.  It really didn't take that long, might be of help to some but you still have to hold the riser so maybe not.

[Wood2Sawdust]

I am right handed and left eye dominant but shoot everything lefty, my right eye is lazy eye and very weak

[jeffro]

I have a big a.. scar on my right shoulder
No pain relief
No range of motion improvements
No strength improvement
Only a huge a.. Dr bill
Can still pull my bow
Can’t shoot a rifle without pain
Doesn’t mean I won’t but I take that extra breath

[fishngamereaper]

Definitely PT
Surgery is no guarantee
My shoulder is trash, 3 different tears and nerve damage. Was talked out of surgery by a very respected shoulder doc and a few of the PTs I know. Scar tissue is a major hurdle.
The daily PT and strength training is keeping it functional. No more heavy weights. Just bands and body weight, range of motion stuff.
The people I know that had surgery had a heck of time recovering and aren't near 100 percent.
I can still pull the bow, she's just tuned down from what it used to be, and allot of it is technique over power anyway.

[Seabass]

I have a torn rotator cuff and 3 torn tendons, trying to put off surgery until March. Went down to 53lbs on bow the last few years. Would like to hear others experiences with this and how it affected them and their bowhunting. Did it effect draw length, form etc after surgery? I'm 68 and not ready to give up any of my hunting. Thanks I will add to this after recovery  next year

Which shoulder is bad…bow hand or release hand?

[Wood2Sawdust]

release hand, but the bow hand is starting to go

[grousetracker]

Try stem cell it worked great until I slipped and blew it out again,surgery is your last option do everything but surgery, I have had 7 surgeries and regret all of them.

[blackveltbowhunter]

PT is a given. You should already have it prescribed and be doing it. Healthy tissue, and strong stabilizing muscles will support and aid in recovery regardless of surgery prognosis.

Learn appropriate technique for drawing and for stabilizing the bow to keep what you currently have and prevent further damage. Draw arm should be elbow high, and engaging lats and scaps for bulk of pull. Low elbow and shoulder head is recipe for disaster.
Bow arm should be set by pulling armpit to back pocket keeping shoulder in socket, rather than rolling out.

[GWP]

Kind of a crap shoot.
The statistics are after you tear one side the other will be 7 years later, then 7 more until the other side again.
My 4 followed that pattern within a year or two. Both tore 'something' again after repairs were made, so are both compromised. Not bad enough to do another surgery, but certainly bad enough I will not be pulling back a bow of much draw weight.
Like I told a friend when he was heading for cuff surgery, "It will never be as good as it was, but it will be better than it is now".
As has been said, it takes a long time to heal. It is also said it is one of the few surgeries that a man can get close to the pain of childbirth, though in a different location.
Best of luck in your decision!