Rotator Cuff Surgery and Bowhunting?

[Alaskan]

With regard to your sling, most protocol's will allow you to come out after 6 weeks. That last week can make a difference in healing. Are you going to Therapy at all? Did they do the repair open or through the scope? How many anchors if any?

[MichaelJ]

Two anchors through the scope on a partially torn cuff.  Only PT assigned with arm circles bending over and wall crawls with the hand   they said I can take the sling off around home but to wear it if I'm going out in public. 

Mike

[Alaskan]

Two anchors is a medium size tear. If it was done through the scope, you will feel better faster, but that doesn't mean healing will take place any faster. Hope that makes sense.

If you ever have a question in your head on whether you should perform a certain activity or not, always error on the side of caution. You don't want to compromise the repair.

Before you perform any ACTIVE Motion (you make muscles move/Contract) you will go through a regimen with your PT on ACTIVE Assistive (They help you). Doing the pendulums or swinging your arm with gravity, keeps the range of motion in your shoulder without compromising the repair. There is no stress on the repair, because there is no active pulling on the repair. If you haven't seen them, I could post a picture of what your anchors probably look like.

[MichaelJ]

Yeah makes perfect sense.  They showed me those knarly titanium anchors they used, reminded me of drywall screws!   

As far as what activities I've allowed myself, I've been pretty careful with what I allow myself to do and still wear the sling if I'm going out to be around people or work environments where I know I'll be tempted to work harder.

The working with ACTIVE motion makes a lot of sense and I've been good on that aspect.  Anything where I have to extend my arm away from my body has been assisted with my other arm to keep the stress off of it.  Just trying to improve the ROM without stressing the wound like you're talking about.  Thanks for the info Alaskan, I appreciate it.

[EDT]

Hey Michael, I think Pianoman missed the title of your post when he made his comment.

[Dr. Death]

How goes it all who have had surgery? I'm doing good, been doing my PT faithfully, ROM gets better each day, still keeps me from sleeping good and feels tight at times but has only been 4.5 weeks. I hope you all are doing good and and improving daily! 

[pianoman9701]

Hey Michael, I think Pianoman missed the title of your post when he made his comment.

I didn't miss anything. Whether or not there are doctors commenting on this thread, they don't know Michael's specific shoulder. The only person who can tell Michael when it's a good idea to throw a football would be his own surgeon. That was my only point.

[MichaelJ]

I didn't miss anything. Whether or not there are doctors commenting on this thread, they don't know Michael's specific shoulder. The only person who can tell Michael when it's a good idea to throw a football would be his own surgeon. That was my only point.

Never said I wanted to throw a football this early... so you might of missed that.  Was only referring to wearing my sling at different times and I got a helpful response.  No call for you to be an ass about it either.  There are much more constructive ways of getting your point across then trying to belittle someone else's question.

As far as my shoulder and its progression its doing great.  Had a doc apt last thursday and he gave me some PT stuff to do.  Only ROM i'm missing right now is I can only lift my arm up in front of me to about the 1 O'clock position but its getting better every day.  Biggest problem for me right now is all my support muscles in my back and neck getting worked a lot more than they're used to and are pretty sore.  Doc gave me a prescription for a message though so I was stoked about that! :-)

[JLS]

Michael,

Hopefully you have a good PT, make sure they know that you are a bow hunter and what your goals are.

Once your rehab is complete, you have a life sentence for doing your shoulder exercises.  I've incorporated a lot more pushups and pullups the last several years, and my shoulder problems have been zero.

Good luck!

[pianoman9701]

I didn't miss anything. Whether or not there are doctors commenting on this thread, they don't know Michael's specific shoulder. The only person who can tell Michael when it's a good idea to throw a football would be his own surgeon. That was my only point.

Never said I wanted to throw a football this early... so you might of missed that.  Was only referring to wearing my sling at different times and I got a helpful response.  No call for you to be an ass about it either.  There are much more constructive ways of getting your point across then trying to belittle someone else's question.

As far as my shoulder and its progression its doing great.  Had a doc apt last thursday and he gave me some PT stuff to do.  Only ROM i'm missing right now is I can only lift my arm up in front of me to about the 1 O'clock position but its getting better every day.  Biggest problem for me right now is all my support muscles in my back and neck getting worked a lot more than they're used to and are pretty sore.  Doc gave me a prescription for a message though so I was stoked about that! :-)

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be an ass. It's hard to tell someone's intent on a typed message and that wasn't mine. Good luck with your shoulder.

[MichaelJ]

No worries PianoMan I know exactly what you mean... I ain't always good at communicating my intended message.  I would concede that my post could've been takin as a FNG  (F*** New Guy) question but hey it happens.  Have a good one.

Michael,

Hopefully you have a good PT, make sure they know that you are a bow hunter and what your goals are.

Once your rehab is complete, you have a life sentence for doing your shoulder exercises.  I've incorporated a lot more pushups and pullups the last several years, and my shoulder problems have been zero.

Good luck!

Thanks JLS!  I hope it goes well... Up until my surgery I was doing 40-50 pull ups 3 times a week in conjunction with 100 + pushups of various styles.  I haven't been using very many free weights since I graduated but have been focusing more on getting my muscles conditioned to lots of use instead of just getting bigger.  Thanks for the advice!

MIke

[Dr. Death]

Dr & PT said I could try shooting light weight in two weeks! Woo-Hoo! I have 45-60# limbs coming for one of my nemesis's next week..  Will start shooting my wife's bow at 40 for starters....  

I hope the rest of you are doing good also.....!

Sean

[Dr. Death]

So, I had Martin send me some light limbs for one of my bows and set it up at 42#. Shot 20 arrows last night and shoulder feels good today... 20-30 arrows a night for starters and will turn up the bow a turn each week (3lbs). Should be at hunting weight 1st week of August. I'm so stoked! I hope the rest of you are having good luck with your shoulders also.! 

[MichaelJ]

Thats awesome that you are shooting already!

I'm doing great myself but haven't attempted much more than doubling up on surgical tubing and doing PT once or twice a day with them.  I can pull two surgical tubes to their max stretching point in the form of drawing my bow and have no pain.

Only pain I still have is when I raise my arm as high as it'll go, it still has a little ROM up there that is sore and not healed all the way but its getting closer!  I will crank my bow down and start shooting next month (wanted to give it the 3 month wait like doc suggested).  Not even sure I'll be archery hunting this year depending on what ID tags I draw and my new business not leaving me much time.  Either way I'll be shooting my bow here soon!

Mike

[Dr. Death]

Mike, good for you, sounds like things are going well...I have extra motivation now to get back in shape, due to getting a Moose Tag & Toutle Bull tag...

The big thing that is helping me is that I had to do 3 month of PT PRIOR to surgery, so my shoulder was strong and can support things better. Still gets sore, but I've been doing PT 2xs a week and working out daily, with my bands (red ones) and weights...funny while shooting my shoulder feels pretty good, its my bicept (inside) that has been kinda bothering me, got a wierd feeling in it... my ROM isnt what it should be yet either, but the Dr said I'm about a month ahead of schedule....