Rotator Cuff Surgery and Bowhunting?

[Dr. Death]

Mike, I wish you a speedy recovery! I go in on April 30th for mine....cutting it close for recovery time till archery season, but they can do mine othoscopically, so hopefully quick recovery....

[MichaelJ]

Mike, I wish you a speedy recovery! I go in on April 30th for mine....cutting it close for recovery time till archery season, but they can do mine othoscopically, so hopefully quick recovery....

Same story with mine... thanks I hope ur surgery goes as well as mine! 

Mike

[Dr. Death]

Mike, how you doing? I just got a new date for my surgery, of the 16th.  Met with the Dr yesterday, says all will go great as long as it's just the bone's getting fixed, however he now thinks my labrum might be 1/2 detatched. If this is the fact, will delay recovery by 2-3 months! Ugh!

BKR, how are you doing?

Sean

[Johnb317]

I've got a couple tears... was looking at surgery, got 2 opinions..
One guy said staples, other said no... need  to drill and thread (lasts longer)

Then went hunting... when getting off the horse I grabbed the saddle to slow myself down.
 ripped something, hurt like crazy for about 3 minutes... then things were much better.

Couple months later got 3rd opinion at  University Hospital... gave me some awesome stretches
which I've been faithful with.... 

No surgery so far, and I can still pull my bow. 

[Missing]

Hey Billy,

I don't know your age but I shoot right handed and when I was 42 I had rotator cuff surgery on my left side, I had the surgery on May 15th and was able to hunt the late season that year. Don't get me wrong for the first 3 months I thought it was the biggest mistake I had ever made, it hurt everyday and I could not sleep very well but around the end of the 3rd month everything got a lot better and 6 months latter I was near 100%. The next year I had a herniated disc between L-4 L-5 and was back at work in 1 week. that was the end of January and I was back to snowmobiling in March. I look back on both now and I wouldn't do anything different!!!!!

If you go to the Gym after PT ask a trainer for some exercises for shooting a bow thats what I did to get back to shoot a bow.

Just remember to do the exercises and don't be to macho and re-injure yourself.

Best of luck Randy

[MichaelJ]

I'm doing very well actually.  Been 2 weeks since the surgery and I'm only taking a pain pill at bed and first thing in morning.  Doc says I'm healing ahead of schedule.  Going back to work tomorrow...

They gave me a sling to wear with a pad between my arm and torso. Wore it a week with the pad  before I swapped it for a small pillow and most of the time I just wear the sling.  More comfortable that way for sure.

I can bend over and do small circles with my arm hanging down and can "finger walk" my arm up a wall a little ways but not much!  Doc says I'll be back bow hunting this year for sure.

I asked the doc if injuring my rotator cuff from a blunt impact instead of using it in a lifting or twisting motion could be a reason for my enhanced recovery and he said that it makes sense!

Mike 

[billythekidrock]

I'm doing very well actually.  Been 2 weeks since the surgery and I'm only taking a pain pill at bed and first thing in morning.  Doc says I'm healing ahead of schedule.  Going back to work tomorrow...

They gave me a sling to wear with a pad between my arm and torso. Wore it a week with the pad  before I swapped it for a small pillow and most of the time I just wear the sling.  More comfortable that way for sure.

I can bend over and do small circles with my arm hanging down and can "finger walk" my arm up a wall a little ways but not much!  Doc says I'll be back bow hunting this year for sure.

I asked the doc if injuring my rotator cuff from a blunt impact instead of using it in a lifting or twisting motion could be a reason for my enhanced recovery and he said that it makes sense!

Mike 

Glad to hear you are up and about.
They had me wait until 4 weeks for pt and "circles".
They made me wear the sling with pad for 6 weeks and I think that is a huge part of my current problem. I still can't raise my arm very high without pain and it is still very weak.

[MichaelJ]

Yeah thats too bad...one thing they said is that my cuff hadn't retreated up into my shoulder very much if any and that can be a big problem causing extended recovery. Mine was also only a partial tear...  I iced frequently the first week and make sure its good and warmed up before I do any movements with it...

Mike

[Alaskan]

Hey guys,
I have been reading alot of your posts and I would like to offer some advice if possible. I am new to the forum. I am a bow hunter, but also in the Medical field. I am an athletic trainer that now works as a medical device sales rep, selling rotator cuff implants to Orthopedic surgeons. I have been in the O.R. for almost 10 years with Orthopedics surgeons, and have seen it all. Would be happy to offer advice to guys like you who go under the knife.

I have seen great surgeons perform this operation and some not so good.

Please let me know if I can help with any Physical Therapy questions and or help explain what some of your doctor's are telling you regarding the surgery itself. I would love to help out where I can.

[Dr. Death]

Tomorrows the day! wish me luck!

[pianoman9701]

good luck.

[MichaelJ]

First couple days weren't bad... just slept and ate and watched TV.  The worst for me was probably days 5-15.  Pain got more annoying than anything!

Its also kind of trippy.  When you have a broken bone, you still have the muscle power to move, but the pain tells you not to!  When you have this surgery, I couldn't lift my arm even if I tried!  I'm slowing getting the muscle control and power back but its only been the last few days to do anything against gravity and I'm not pushing it!

Good Luck Dr. Death!

Mike

[Dr. Death]

Thanks guys! Surgery went well. did not have to repair my bicep tendon, just had slight tear that will mend. shaved off bone spur and arthritus of ac joint bones and trimmed injured parts off the bursa sac. will keep you updated..

[MichaelJ]

Glad to hear it!  Doesn't sound too horrible I bet you'll mend quickly. 

Mike

[billythekidrock]

BKR, how are you doing?

Thanks for asking...but I am still not happy that I chose to do this operation.

Today was my 3 month check up and after weeks of physical therapy I was told that I have a "froze shoulder". Basically meaning that I am not getting the expected mobility. Now I have to go to pt 3 times a week for a month and I am limited to 10 lbs with my left arm.

The toughest part is the muscle spasms and constant pain. I still can not roll over or lay on my shoulder and I wake up numerous times a night due to the pain. Definitely way worse than the pain I was in prior to surgery.

I was also told that they don't want me shooting a rifle or bow until I have more mobility and less pain.