Shooting after shoulder surgery??

I've known a few guys, archers, that have had it Tom. It's a long process with the PT/recovery portion but they were back shooting their bows after they'd healed up.

Sniper66 asked:
Obviously this will put a big cramp in my shooting style. Has anyone out there had this experience?

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Yes.

Was your surgery successful?

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The question is not whether the surgery was successful; that has to do with the damage to your shoulder and the skill of the surgeon.

The question you should be focused on is whether or not the rehabilitation was successful. In my case it was, but it took longer than predicted.

Is the predicted 6 months about right? Will appreciate correspondence on this issue.

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For most people, yes. In my case, it took longer - about a year. The six months is predicated on two things; 1) you are going to faithfully follow the doctors orders and do the rehabilitation exercises even when you start to feel better, and 2) you don't cheat by sneaking out to the range "just to see how things are going".

This is a procedure that cannot necessarily be re-done if you abuse yourself during rehabilitation, so focus on the fact that you'll be away from shooting for six months, but that will be better than being away from it forever.

My father had the same surgery. His recovery was every bit of 6 months. But he did his physical thereap like he was supposed to and followed his surgeons recommendations to a T. That was at least 10 years ago. Has never had an issue sense. Just do it like you’re supposed to and you’ll be fine. Or cheat and run the risk of having to do it all over again.

Sniper66 said:

The doc is telling me....6 weeks in a sling, 6 weeks of intense physical therapy, 3 months on my own with recommended exercises, complete recovery in 6 months... total.

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According to my wife, the doc told her the exact same thing - "complete recovery in 6 months." However, she healed a little faster. She was back to normal in less than 5 months.
But I'm not sure my wife's experience with torn rotator cuff surgery is the norm. She remembers there being a guy going through physical therapy for the same surgery, at the same time she was. And she says he was a "real athletic" type of guy, but he didn't progress nearly as fast as she did. Maybe the tear in his rotator cuff was worse or something.
Anyway, the ironic part of my wife tearing her right rotator cuff is that my wife actually did it when she was out deer hunting with our grandson. They had just gotten back to the truck, and my wife reached up to pull herself in when it tore. It popped so loud our grandson said, "Wow! Did that hurt grandma?" My wife said, "Yeah, it did, but not all that much."
They went ahead and hunted the rest of the day, and my wife actually tried ibuprofen for 3 or 4 weeks before finally breaking down and going to the doctor.

A good friend just had a (benign) tumor removed from the area of his right shoulder, and he expects perhaps 6 months before he is ready for recoil against that shoulder. He is recently out of the Marines so he is used to some pounding on that area. He missed the entire hunting season but we're planning on his full recovery for next season.

I had shoulder surgery, six (6) months, tomorrow. I had two (2) tears in the rotator cuff, and an additional tear, which ruptured, in the bi-cep. I have performed all of my exercises, both formal and home. I am making progress, but it is a long, haul. My doctor allowed me to shoot my pistol, one handed. I did this about one month ago. I may be able to use my left arm in about 3-4, weeks. I like golf, as well. I am able to putt, and will start chipping, soon. Good luck.

Sniper66 said:

I'm scheduled for surgery to repair a tear in my rotator cuff. It's in my right shoulder and I'm a right-handed shooter. The doc is telling me....6 weeks in a sling, 6 weeks of intense physical therapy, 3 months on my own with recommended exercises, complete recovery in 6 months... total. Obviously this will put a big cramp in my shooting style. Has anyone out there had this experience? Was your surgery successful? Is the predicted 6 months about right? Will appreciate correspondence on this issue. Thanks. Tom

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Sniper66,

I had open right shoulder surgery 11 months ago. Am right-handed. They did an open procedure, as opposed to minimally invasive, because in addition to repairing my rotator cuff, they also reattached my biceps tendon and shortened my clavicle due to nerve impingement. Used a sling for 6 weeks and the surgeon had my wife do passive range of motion twice daily while I was in the sling. After the sling came off I started active physical therapy 3 times weekly and twice daily at home. My right hand was very weak after coming out of the sling and was not able to safely handle a pistol for about 5 months from surgery. I patterned a new turkey barrel using 3" magnum shells 7 months after surgery, only shooting 2 rounds, and I had a sore shoulder for 2 weeks; never should have tried that. I was still plagued with limited range of motion. After retiring in December I finally had time to workout and I joined a gym. Sprung for 12 sessions with a personal trainer and it has done wonders for my shoulder. Am now working out on my own and the strength in my right shoulder is about 90% of my left. My range of motion will never be 100% but I can easily do everything I want at this point.

Good luck, Sniper. Hope this helps.

I had rotator cuff surgery on Nov. 5, 2017 on my left shoulder. Mine was classified as a massive tear. I am still going to therapy once a week plus on my own at home everyday. I do not see doctor again until April 25, 2018 and am limited to lifting no more that 5 pounds with affected arm which is the one I shoot with so no shooting for me. Hoping for full recovery one year after surgery. I had the right shoulder done in 1999 and had full recovery in about 9 months but that one was not torn as bad as this one was. When I get this one healed out I need to get the other one repaired again for what is classified as small tear. That one should go a little quicker.

Don't push your luck on trying to shoot too soon. As I am finding out there is more to life than shooting. Good luck.

If you just gotta try shooting before 6 months, try shooting left handed. It's not as hard as you might think. Just focus on the fundamentals. It may surprise you how quickly you relearn to shoot.

I had the surgery on my left shoulder about 10 years ago and it is still working properly. DO WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS about physical activity with that arm. In the first week after surgery I tore the anchors loose and had to have the surgery over again. I used my shoulder when I shouldn't have and suffered for my stupidity. It doesn't take much at all to undo what the surgeon did. I was in a sling for 9 weeks and had therapy for a few weeks after and it took all of 6 months before I felt right with the shoulder. I want to say again, don't do anything stupid and do what the doctor says about physical activity. Don't even try to comb your hair with that arm.

All great advise. I had my L done in 2007 and R in 2010. Both work related injuries. My L is starting to bother me a lot again so I might have to have to go back in. Couple things. Do as the doctor says and don't rush things. The early movement after surgery, pre therapy is important so your shoulder doesn't freeze up from scar tissue. Unfortunately I'm a fast healer and both shoulders partially froze. So I had to go in for a "manipulation". Thats knocking me out and pulling my shoulder to break up the scar tissue. You DON'T want that. That hurt worse than the surgery. I was out of work a year for each shoulder. Work didn't want me back until 100%. Once your healed up make sure you continue to do the strengthening exercises. This will keep the muscles strong that protect the rotator cuff. Thats where I screwed up. I'm on the road driving most of the day and my upper body muscles aren't what they used to be. I need to get back to exercising. As far as shooting I started out light with .22s and worked my way up after a year. I've been shooting milsurps and shotgun off the bench with no problem but I have a PAST recoil shield I use when shooting heavy recoil like shotgun slugs. Make sure you have a comfortable chair to sleep in a week or so. Fresh batteries for the remote. Oh and start practicing with the TP in the other hand. Theres a "wiping curve" you have to get used to. Best of luck.

Sniper66 said:

I'm scheduled for surgery to repair a tear in my rotator cuff. It's in my right shoulder and I'm a right-handed shooter. The doc is telling me....6 weeks in a sling, 6 weeks of intense physical therapy, 3 months on my own with recommended exercises, complete recovery in 6 months... total. Obviously this will put a big cramp in my shooting style. Has anyone out there had this experience? Was your surgery successful? Is the predicted 6 months about right? Will appreciate correspondence on this issue. Thanks. Tom

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I've had both of mine done and I think your doctor is over optimistic, seriously over optimistic. I had a big tear in my right shoulder. The scar is about three inches long, the left is much smaller. My doctor told me rotator cuff surgery is probably the most painful you can have and I won't argue with that statement. I was warned what and what not to do during recovery and did exactly as told. I did ten weeks of pain and torture on each shoulder and that's exactly what it was. Hurts like a SOB. I told him I was going fishing six months after the right shoulder and I was a lure caster, not a bait fisherman, and he agreed that I could handle that OK but I wasn't to do any heavy lifting or pulling on my boat. I did OK but had to take frequent rests. Complete, pain free, recovery took over a year for each shoulder but I did get 100% movement back in my right shoulder and 95% in my left and still have it five years after the surgery. I credit that to having very good therapists although I sort of hated them for a few weeks on each shoulder and doing exactly what they told me to do at home during therapy. I do NOT have the strength in either shoulder that I did before tearing them but they are pain free unless I overload them. You will quickly learn where that threshold is and what not to do.

I can still shoot rifles with quite a bit of recoil. I just have to be very careful where the butt is placed on my shoulder. Get it just a little over on those anchors they place in your shoulder to hold the ties and you will regret it.

Most physical therapist will release athletes to start practicing again after that type of surgery at about 80% recovery. How long that takes depends on how you respond to therapy. Getting to 80% can be fairly quick, but getting the last 20% usually takes about a full year.

Talk to the therapist once you get started. I'm betting you get the OK to shoot once the therapist releases you after the 6 weeks of therapy. That is the point where you should be about 80%. You might want to avoid heavy kickers for a while. Maybe forever.

Been there, done that. I took a full six months off. (Although I did cheat and go to an indoor range a couple times and shoot a couple hundred, mostly unenjoyable, rounds down-range one-handed, left-handed.)

A hunter of my acquaintance went from a .300 Win Mag to a .270 to spare his repairs.

I'm gonna be honest, you're going to be too worried about getting your shirt on and making sure your sling fits post-surgery well before you ever think about shooting a gun.

Shoulder repairs are pretty rough. But if you listen to your doctor and therapists, you should be able to get back at it eventually. DO NOT RUSH THROUGH THERAPY!!! Listen to your PTs and OTs!!!

^^^^^ Very accurate! Getting showered and dressed will be a two person project for a while. Shooting with other hand may be one thing but loading gun and or mags will be something totally different, and the there is racking a slide. Hurts to think about it now.

I am mow 72 years old. About five years ago I had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders about six months apart. The first and most serious one was 6 weeks in a sling and be aware some slings are more comfortable than others depending on the repair area, and the second shoulder was arthroscopic and I needed a full sling for just a few days and was able to cut the grass with care one week later.
To be honest it took about about one year to COMPLETELY recover. That sounds terrible but it is nowhere near as bad as it sounds. You will quickly have motion with that arm even though it is in a sling. After a couple of weeks when I went out for a walk I just stuck my thumb in a paracord loop around my neck and it worked fine. By completely healed I mean at the end of one year from the date of my first more serious repair I bought a compound bow and still shoot it 60-75 times per session at 56# draw wt.
My recommendation,
1. Get a very comfortable recliner that you have no trouble sleeping in as it will be your bed for a few weeks. The Swedish models with movable footrest worked best for me.
2. Do your PT without fail. Even after five years, every other day I lift very light weights in the specific exercises given to me. It takes no time and you can stand in front of a TV the 10-20 minutes it takes to do them properly.
3. Don't listen to the horror stories on the internet. I have counseled a number of friends through this surgery and it is a no brainer. The last being an 85 year old man that is back in his kayak again.

Good luck and don't fret as this is pretty much a routine out patient surgery. In at eight, out by noon. Attitude is everything.
Sorry for the long rant.

I had my right shoulder done about 15 months ago . For me the first 3 days were hell , a lot of pain . I was off the oxy in about 7 days though , but it still hurt like hell if I moved wrong and at PT for a lot longer . I barely could sleep for about 2 1/2 months , but I was not tired and I was only sleeping about 3 hours a day . I went to PT from the first of Nov. until the middle of Feb. twice a week and did my exercises at home like I was suppose to . I asked my Dr. if I could shoot a shotgun in Feb. and he told me that he didn't want me to shoot one until 6 months and then a 20ga. gas shotgun . I went anyway and tried left handed and I could not hit a standing rabbit with a 870 youth shotgun , but it didn't hurt .

It took me a little over 9 months before I felt like I could do most things again and get my range of motion close to full range before surgery . I still will not split wood or lift anything real heavy for fear of hurting it again . That surgery is still in my mind and I do not wish it on anyone . I hope yours will be better than mine , some are . I think mine was a success , it doesn't hurt anymore and I almost have full range of motion . I shot at a buck this year with 3 1/2" OO buckshot and it didn't bother me using my SX3 and I got a buck using my muzzleloader . I think your shoulder will tell you what you can do and listen to it .

I bought me some tee shirts and sweat shirts that were 3 times to big for me and on a couple of them I cut off the sleeve and cut a slit in it about half way down so I could wear them with the sling and make it easier to dress and undress . You are also going to want a good soft ice pack . I bought one from the PT office , paid more , but at the time it was worth it . The name of it is Colpac , I liked it over what I saw in the local stores .

Practice left hand wiping , that and left hand shampooing were the hardest things for me to do .

Best of luck too you .

Sniper66 said:

I can't thank you all enough for your encouraging responses. My surgery is scheduled for mid May so I have some time to practice left-handed tasks. I'll buy an electric razor among other preparations. Having had numerous surgeries....3 major foot/ankle reconstructions, both hands and kidney stones, I almost had a PTSD attack when the doc told me that the only option is surgery. But, I'm also very persistent and will get through this too. Thanks to all of you. Tom

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You are welcome. I hope you have a significant other of some sort to help you through this as you are going to need someone for sometime. I don't know which was the most difficult thing to do, left hand wiping, shampooing, shaving, or brushing my teeth. I was getting pretty good at each by the time I got the use of my right arm back. My wife did shave me, shampoo me, and put toothpaste on my brush for the first two weeks but that's as far as she would go in that department.

Here is a little tip that made things much easier for me. MY wife took three tee shirts and split them up the side and underarm, hemmed them, and added some velcro spots for fasteners. You can just drape them over your bum arm and fasten the velcro. without moving that arm much at all and my therapists really appreciated it. I donated all my tee shirts to the therapy department at the request of the head of the department when I was done

My wife recently tore her rotator cuff. She has a pacemaker so no MRI but a dye scan. Dye scans aren't very precise on the amount of damage. He told her her options were surgery or being very careful of what she did with the arm. So far she has opted for the careful option and is doing well with it. I do anything that needs reached or that's heavy for her to lift. He also told us that recent studies have shown that almost all people that make it to 80 have rotator cuff tears, many not having been repaired.

I'm not a doctor, but it would seem that things like positions used and caliber(s) would put some caveats in the situation. For example, I think firing prone supported or from a bench with a 223 would differ vastly in comparison to firing a lightweight 300 win mag standing offhand.

I had C4 and C5 fused in my neck in 1995. My doctor said no heavy duty shooting and PT will last 4 months until you can get max movement left and right of your head. I took his advice and went out and bought a Ruger 45/22 pistol and 6 mags for it. Works like my 1911 with safety and trigger close to the 1911. Did all the PT and was back in shape in 6 months as I also did not want to rush it. Been great ever since.

jmr40 said:

Most physical therapist will release athletes to start practicing again after that type of surgery at about 80% recovery. How long that takes depends on how you respond to therapy. Getting to 80% can be fairly quick, but getting the last 20% usually takes about a full year.

Talk to the therapist once you get started. I'm betting you get the OK to shoot once the therapist releases you after the 6 weeks of therapy. That is the point where you should be about 80%. You might want to avoid heavy kickers for a while. Maybe forever.

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I'm glad you brought this up. Many people compare athletes to everyday people on injuries and recovery. Thats apples and oranges. I'll bet most of us are in nowhere the condition of a athlete. jmo. So it takes a lot longer for the average person to heal and build back the muscle and strength. I was fortunate to have the Orthopedic doctor who takes care of all the local sports team and Syracuse Orangemen program the last 20 years or more. Plus Pros that come back to him. You may have seen them beat Michigan and now in the Sweet 16 playing Duke. He told me my right shoulder was shredded and the worst he had seen due to the way I damage it. But he told me don't compare my recovery to anyone else. Everyone is different and just do what you need to do to get back. So don't be frustrated if it hurts more than you thought and it takes longer. Because it probably will. Main thing is to focus on you. You'll get back to doing most everything normal but it won't ever be 100%.