shoulder injury

[rpm4463]

I've been shooting a bow for over 3 years and have suddenly started to have pain in my right shoulder when I draw my bow.  There is not popping or cracking, but I don't think it is a sore muscle.  I stopped shooting for 10 days and reduced the bow to 55 lbs, but the pain has come back.  I've heard of this happening to other bow hunters but don't know a good solution.

[OlympicElkJunkie]

right handed or left handed bow?

[DoubleJ]

Mine does that but I have a torn labrum.  A SLAP tear.  Got it in the military.  This will be my final year of bow hunting before switching to crossbow.  I'm down to a 50lb pull and it is even a struggle.

[pianoman9701]

I've been shooting a bow for over 3 years and have suddenly started to have pain in my right shoulder when I draw my bow.  There is not popping or cracking, but I don't think it is a sore muscle.  I stopped shooting for 10 days and reduced the bow to 55 lbs, but the pain has come back.  I've heard of this happening to other bow hunters but don't know a good solution.

Good solution=See the doctor yesterday.

[wormfood]

I have scar tissue on my shoulder and should shoot a 28" draw but when I do it hurts like hell. I switched to a 29 1/2" draw and changed my anchor point so when I am at full draw I  am pulled passed the point where it used to hurt. Since doing that I have not had any more issues with my shoulder and I still shoot 70 pounds. Might not be the cure for you but it is something you might want to try.

[rpm4463]

Right handed.  Funny thing is when I'm at the gym with weights I don't feel any pain or discomfort

[OlympicElkJunkie]

had a similar problem which ended up being a bone spur which was tweaking a nerve and wearing the rotator cuff, but that was aggravated when lifting weights too so sounds different. Orthopedist will figure it out. Good luck, hope you don't need surgery ... shoulders suck. You'll need at least 6 weeks of recovery so better get on it soon if you do.

[sakoshooter]

Mine does that but I have a torn labrum.  A SLAP tear.  Got it in the military.  This will be my final year of bow hunting before switching to crossbow.  I'm down to a 50lb pull and it is even a struggle.

You could switch from RH to LH.

[DoubleJ]

Mine does that but I have a torn labrum.  A SLAP tear.  Got it in the military.  This will be my final year of bow hunting before switching to crossbow.  I'm down to a 50lb pull and it is even a struggle.

You could switch from RH to LH.

Rather switch to crossbow

[OlympicElkJunkie]

my buddy switched from RH to LH due to an injury and became a much better shot. go figure

[coyotehunter]

Sounds like a rotator cuff injury. You said you had no pain in your shoulder when doing weights in the gym. Try going to an edge of a wall or a door opening, put your right arm down to your side and lift your hand and forearm at the elbow so there is a 90 degrees angle at the elbow. Your bicep should be locked by your side. Now go to the edge of the wall and put the back of your hand against the wall and push out to your right but keep your elbow lock to your side. If there is pain in your shoulder then its an injured rotator cuff. Had the same injury a couple of years ago. Next step.... go see a doctor.

[RadSav]

I've been shooting a bow for over 3 years and have suddenly started to have pain in my right shoulder when I draw my bow.  There is not popping or cracking, but I don't think it is a sore muscle.  I stopped shooting for 10 days and reduced the bow to 55 lbs, but the pain has come back.  I've heard of this happening to other bow hunters but don't know a good solution.

Good solution=See the doctor yesterday.

Even a good PT should be beneficial.  You just need to make sure you don't make things worse.  Dwight Schuh used his teeth until his shoulder got better.  That's hardcore!

[Buckhunter24]

my buddy switched from RH to LH due to an injury and became a much better shot. go figure

I know a guy that switched due to an eye injury and he shoots just as well if not better too 

[HoofsandWings]

It is flustrating when you want to shoot with a bow but can't. I injured my shoulder back in the 60's and couldn't draw without shaking.

[bentley30-06]

The best thing for you to do is to get an MRI and maybe see a physical therapist.  They have excercises to strengthen the muscles that you would use to pull back a bow.  I myself had a bad football injury and broke my clavicle and had a 3rd degree acromioclavicular tear and ripped all three ligaments at the shoulder joint.  Had to get surgery and repair everything and the broken end of my collar bone.  I bow hunted prior to this and when I picked up my bow again I had to go through 3 months of physical therapy and four years later my shoulder is operating at about 85% and will never reach its full potential again.  Its better to get it checked out then to wait to long and to a lot of damage if it is something seriours like a tear.  I havent had any issues with shooting recently though, no pain or anything.