Rotator Cuff Surgery and Bowhunting?

[MichaelJ]

Wow! That really sucks man....  I can't imagine!  Hope you start seeing better results soon!

[EDT]

Good Luck guys!  I am a physical therapist and have certainly seen a good share of Rotator cuff surgery patients.  Take your time to get back - do not rush shoulder surgery recovery.

[MichaelJ]

How you feeling Dr. Death?

Felt like I turned a corner 4 or 5 days ago and am actually getting some strength and movement back.  Still not pushing it but I'm also not keeping it in the sling 24/7.  I'm making progress... hope to be shooting again by mid July!

Mike

[Dr. Death]

Thanks for asking...   Im feeling good, I went back to work today, it's been exactly 1 week. Luckily I have a good desk job and can take it easy. They only told me to wear the sling 1-2 days unless I needed it. I wore it home and thats been it for that. Been doing the arm pendulim/swing and finger crawl, it's very soar and ROM is way down, but no hurry here. Stopped all my pain meds yesterday and get the stitches out Friday. I just have to go SLOW as I have a tendancy to overdue things... Sean

[MichaelJ]

Good to hear!  Man I was paying attention today, stepped out of the truck and the door bounced back and hit my shoulder square!  That sure HURT!  Its craps like that, that worries me about tearing my stitches on the cuff!

BTKR, I'm almost scared to ask how ur doing!  But, are u seeing any progress?

[Kowsrule30]

My Uncle inlaw gave up bow hunting for this same exact operation..... I know he wasn't the best on his rehab though...

[Annette]

Chin up boys, I had shoulder surgery back in 1970 & 71. It took a year to be able to lift a jug of milk, but within 6 mo. I was rowing a boat steelhead fishing.Had 2 kids , went back to working 2 jobs,  started archery in 1981. In 1982 I started hunting and killed a book bear, Roosevelt bull and a mulie doe.  In my surgery they actually cut off 2 inches at the end of my shoulder bone on each side, removing that joint and reattached the muscles to my collar bone. Archery actually keeps my shoulders in line and the muscles tight.. Yeah, not exactly the same surgery.....but  good results. Just give it time to hear and you can do what you want to.

[billythekidrock]

BTKR, I'm almost scared to ask how ur doing!  But, are u seeing any progress?

I am seeing a bit of progress this week, despite PT cancelling on me. I still wake up in the middle of the night from pain, but I have been able to do some digging and run a chainsaw.

The bummer is that I am still about 15% short on my range of motion. In PT they have been working some muscles around the scapula (they still hurt) and that seems to help the ROM, but when they cancell and can't get me in it is a bit disapointing.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well good luck with the PT. As they say suck it up and grind on.

[pianoman9701]

So, my trainer friend at the gym forgot to mention trying glucosamine and chondroitin to see if that helped. I completely forgot about the stuff, as well. It works. I started using it about 2 weeks ago and the pain in my shoulder has completely subsided. Hopefully, as I build up the muscle around it, it will stay healthy.

[Alaskan]

No matter what happens, don't rush it guys. It takes 6-8 weeks for your torn cuff to heal to bone. If you remember that, you won't "push it" no matter how good you feel.

[Dr. Death]

Went to the Drs Friday for my 1st checkup. They took new xrays and showed me before and after picts. Quite wierd looking at pictures of your shoulder with a bunch of bone missing. Dr said I am ahead of schedule with my ROM (Range of Motion) and doing better than expected. I can start PT this upcoming week. So I am very excited for that, just have to remember to keep things slow and steady and not to overdue it..... Sean

[MichaelJ]

For you guys on here in the medical/physical therapy field...
I haven't worn my sling for the last 2 days.  Today marks the 5 week past surgery date.  I'm going through my daily work routine (just at a desk and driving) and am using my right arm but am not lifting or pushing or using it other than to maybe brush my teeth and use my computer mouse.  I don't have any pain and don't feel like I'm "rushing it" by doing this.  But what are your thoughts?
I know they told me 6 weeks in a sling and I figured if I'm out at 5 weeks its not the end of the world...

Mike

[pianoman9701]

For you guys on here in the medical/physical therapy field...
I haven't worn my sling for the last 2 days.  Today marks the 5 week past surgery date.  I'm going through my daily work routine (just at a desk and driving) and am using my right arm but am not lifting or pushing or using it other than to maybe brush my teeth and use my computer mouse.  I don't have any pain and don't feel like I'm "rushing it" by doing this.  But what are your thoughts?
I know they told me 6 weeks in a sling and I figured if I'm out at 5 weeks its not the end of the world...

Mike

Sure, go ahead. Start throwing a football.

This is funnier than chit. Are you kidding with this here? You're asking for medical advice about a shoulder from someone other than the guy who operated on it or his assigned PT professional? I love HuntWA and all, but when it comes to how to behave after surgery, I don't think I'll be asking a bunch of hunters.

Now, ask how to tune a bow or cape an elk, this is the right place.

[MichaelJ]

For you guys on here in the medical/physical therapy field...
I haven't worn my sling for the last 2 days.  Today marks the 5 week past surgery date.  I'm going through my daily work routine (just at a desk and driving) and am using my right arm but am not lifting or pushing or using it other than to maybe brush my teeth and use my computer mouse.  I don't have any pain and don't feel like I'm "rushing it" by doing this.  But what are your thoughts?
I know they told me 6 weeks in a sling and I figured if I'm out at 5 weeks its not the end of the world...

Mike

Sure, go ahead. Start throwing a football.

This is funnier than chit. Are you kidding with this here? You're asking for medical advice about a shoulder from someone other than the guy who operated on it or his assigned PT professional? I love HuntWA and all, but when it comes to how to behave after surgery, I don't think I'll be asking a bunch of hunters.

Now, ask how to tune a bow or cape an elk, this is the right place.

I haven't even had a PT person assigned to me, and if you noticed, there were two people in this thread that are actually in this field.

Good Luck guys!  I am a physical therapist and have certainly seen a good share of Rotator cuff surgery patients.  Take your time to get back - do not rush shoulder surgery recovery.

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.

With this in mind, I am still posting about my question.  Obviously I don't take things on the net for gospel, but this thread IS about rotator cuff surgeries and recovery times...etc  with both EDT and Alaskan on here with their medical experience, I thought I would ask them.  Do you have a problem with this? 

Mike