No Hunting For Me

[red rick]

It looks like I am not going hunting this year . I have been having shoulder pain since July and it progressed 3 weeks ago to waking me up all night . I saw the orthopedic Dr. and he saw a tear in my rotator cuff on the MRI . He scheduled the operation next week and told me my arm will be in a sling for 6 weeks and 3 months of physical therapy .

I just retired in September and had big hunting plans this year . I wanted to take kids hunting and people that have never been hunting before . I bought 2 new shotguns for this recently to lend the new hunters .

I was going to wait until after hunting season to get the surgery . But since everything is set up already and I can't sleep very well and my insurance deductible has been meet and it is such a long recovery time ( 6 months ) I am going to get it done now . I want to be able to cut my grass and my dad's grass this spring .

I still hope that after my arm comes out of the sling I can take kids and new hunters hunting and sit with them and teach them . There will be four weeks of deer season left and 11 weeks of small game after my arm comes out of the sling . I don't know how much that I am going to be able to use my arm after it comes out of the sling though , so that might not happen .

 

[luffy100]

S Sorry Red rick, good health first. you can always get back to the league. hope your surgery goes well.

 

[red rick]

Thanks ,

 

[CoRoMo]

There will be four weeks of deer season left and 11 weeks of small game after my arm comes out of the sling .

That's it, look on the bright side.

I can tell you that this has been a very rough year around my household; financial setbacks, health issues and the subsequent bills, family relational troubles, and on and on it goes.It's just too easy to start a pity party, but we gotta snap out of it, get out of bed everyday and keep our head above the water. You'll get to go hunting soon. It might look different from what you once knew it like, but you'll adapt.

In the mean time, tinker around with whatever you can. Find ways to get ready for those weeks of deer and small game hunting, reload some ammo, scout the hunting spots, etc.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Well that is a bummer. Why not delay your surgery plans for 3 weeks or so in order to get a chance to get that buck?

 

[red rick]

I hope your rough times are behind you and your family can stay together .

Here I am crying about missing 1 hunting season .

 

[red rick]

Double Naught , I still might do that , but everything is setup . I think about delaying it everyday , but yesterday I couldn't hardly raise a rifle with my right arm .

 

[Flintknapper]

Double Naught , I still might do that , but everything is setup . I think about delaying it everyday , but yesterday I couldn't hardly raise a rifle with my right arm .

Switch to shooting left handed, its not a hard transition. You can practice it with an unloaded weapon at home, so that the mechanics of it become natural (enough) for you to hunt that way. Waiting a few more weeks will let you hunt at the peak period. Yes, you'll continue to have some shoulder pain until then, but guess what....if you have your surgery now...you are also going to be in pain, hope they told you that.

And unless you are one of the rare exceptions, you'll be closer to a year before you have 'normal' usage of that arm/shoulder. It gets better after about 6 months. You will quickly learn to hate your physical therapist, it hurts!

If it were me....I'd take advantage of the upcoming season first and get the surgery later, you are going to be in pain either way, no way around that, no arguing it, no wishing it away.

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I had the same deal, except I put it off until after the Fiddler's Convention. The Doctor told me to come back when I got tired of the pain, it didn't take long. Not trying to throw cold water on your plans, but it took a full year for the pain to go away. The Doc told me when I had the surgery that it would be 3 months, he lied. When I went back for my 3 month checkup, he said a year, he was right that time.

 

[luffy100]

Switch to shooting left handed, its not a hard transition. You can practice it with an unloaded weapon at home, so that the mechanics of it become natural (enough) for you to hunt that way. Waiting a few more weeks will let you hunt at the peak period. Yes, you'll continue to have some shoulder pain until then, but guess what....if you have your surgery now...you are also going to be in pain, hope they told you that.

And unless you are one of the rare exceptions, you'll be closer to a year before you have 'normal' usage of that arm/shoulder. It gets better after about 6 months. You will quickly learn to hate your physical therapist, it hurts!

If it were me....I'd take advantage of the upcoming season first and get the surgery later, you are going to be in pain either way, no way around that, no arguing it, no wishing it away.

no time to learn left hand shooting, take care of your health first IMHO

 

[maxxhavoc]

Some tips; I won't pretend to be a doctor, I promise. I have had rotator cuff problems first in my right shoulder, then 10 years later in the left. The first doctor said "Surgery - I see a tear on the MRI." Someone suggested I get a second opinion from a Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) - which I did.

He said "You have a tear, but so do a lot of people your age that have no pain." Yeah, I'm paraphrasing. The D.O. told me he recommended therapy before surgery. The rationale was that the damage is done, it wasn't going to get worse without outside influence. Physical therapy would be needed either way, and the tear wasn't enough to prevent me from doing light exercise. So I did it his way. He offered a cortisone shot to get me through some pain at therapy, but I declined...I figured pain was what was going to keep me from doing it again. I went to the prescribed torture (PT) sessions and got just about all of my range of motion back after a few months. The pain gradually got better, but it took more than a year to go away.

So I went back to my no-exercising ways.

And 10 years later, same stuff, (not as bad) different shoulder. So I started my own PT using the old exercises before the pain got bad. After I got my range of motion back, I started exercising religiously.

So my advice:
-See an Osteopath for a second opinion. Take your MRI. An Osteopath will recommend surgery as a LAST resort, an MD will often recommend it as a FIRST step. If it is a bad tear, surgery may be inevitable. An Osteopath specializes in musculoskeletal problems, which is what you have.
-When the time comes for PT, make it your favorite hobby. If you don't keep up with it, you will be back in the same boat, surgery or not. This is for the rest of your life, although not as much as during recovery.
-I assume you are a side sleeper. Get a fat pillow, sleep on your good side, keeping your arms below the shoulder. Wrap both arms around the pillow, hugging it like it is your favorite gal. Try this tonight. Don't roll over (good luck). If I put body pillows on both sides, I tend to not roll over as much in my sleep (and they make great hug pillows.) If this works for you as well as it did for me, let me know. Seriously.
-Don't use narcotic painkillers unless you have to. Hydrocodone takes the edge off enough to get by. Usually.
-Find a comfy sling and use it. It might help to lash a towel or something thick to your side to keep the bad elbow away from the body.
-Don't try to lift a rifle with that arm. Don't shoot heavy recoilers against that shoulder.
-You can shoot a shotgun from the hip, if you are careful and let your good arm and side take the recoil. With a sling, I could still shoot. And yes, I got good enough at it to bag a couple of rabbits.

 

[Mauser lover]

Depending upon the size of the tear, you might really NEED the surgery though too. Do it and get it over with, start your recovery. Obey your physical terrorist, do your pain and torture. Be religious about doing your stretches and exercises, even ask if doing more is okay (always ask, by the way, about everything). Most people don't like doing their exercises (duh) and then complain about how long their recovery took. And wear your sling when prescribed!

+1 On seeing someone who actually specializes in muscular and skeletal problems.

Options... Wait until next year. Or, go with the small game, see if you can use a small bore pistol with your left (I'm guessing) hand. Be careful though, everyone tends to stress their other shoulder even when in a sling by being strenuous. Don't go using your small chainsaw because you think that using it one-handed is okay! Another option... If you are a really good patient, and behave yourself, you might be able to "take" someone hunting even if you don't do any shooting, carrying, etc. Ask your "best friend", the physical terrorist, and your doctor if it is okay though. They will know if you tend to "over do" it when it comes to activity. If you have a fast recovery... Who knows? You might get to do a little more than planned!

 

[maxxhavoc]

physical terrorist

Ha! Nailed it!

 

[red rick]

My uncle had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders . He said when he went for physical therapy a little skinny girl came up to him and said I am going to make you cry today and she almost did .

 

[david58]

Second opinions are always a good idea. I was fortunate that the guy doing my shoulder was team doc for the local University sports teams (shoulders and knees), and that his kid was one of my soccer players (they moved me up the schedule since if it had been done later I would not have been able to coach that year). I would recommend that you find a sports doc, and get a PT outfit that is known for rehabbing sports injuries. Their biz is to get the patient back out there asap. It still was over 10 months before the pain was gone - I had it done about 7 or 8 years ago, and would never have known I had a problem. But it hurt like the dickens at the time!

 

[Mauser lover]

My mom is a physical terrorist, and my dad had both rotator cuffs done before I left for college, so I know all of the insulting "pt" names

He said that the "worst" thing about the surgery was that he was living with his therapist (all in good humor, of course... Kinda). However, because his therapist knew when he was skipping out on certain exercises and would always chew him out... He currently has full and essentially normal range of motion and use of both arms.

My mom might have been that PT who said she was going to make him cry. She is 4'11" and has been known to make her patients cry!

Anyway, just know that they aren't trying to hurt you! If you do what they say and don't complain, they will probably even like to have you as a patient. If they like you, they might let you do some things they wouldn't let other patients! Like hunting! Just be a good patient and all will go ... Umm, better.

+1 on the sports therapists. You probably aren't limited to the therapist that your doctor recommends. If you ask about a sports therapy place he might be totally fine with it. Hunting is a sport, right?

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

OP I am wishing you the best and for a speedy recovery.I am in the same boat you are in. I am 24 days out of my sIoulder surgery and I am trying my absolute best to not miss hunting season this year. It is my shooting shoulder also I can not return to work until at earliest Dec. 5. I started physical therapy 2 days after my surgery and it was NOT fun. I second the suggestion to going to a sports therapy place. I am seeing a long time family friend as my therapist who is a hunter so he understands. Also do EXACTLY what the doctor and therapist tell you and do your daily exercises. Wish you the best and speedy recovery friend.

 

[entropy]

You don't have a handgun you can use?

 

[LoonWulf]

Sorry to hear bout your shoulder Rick, best to get yourself patched up tho. Even slung up you can still probably get out for a while to hang out or even observe on a hunt, just take it easy. Anyway best wishes on a speedy recovery, and good luck on any hunting you do get in.

 

[red rick]

I can't use a pistol for deer in my county or a rifle .

I'm a little worried about the long recovery time that I have been reading about here and the long lasting pain .

I don't even know what I did to tear it . It was like I woke up with shoulder pain one day .

My Dr. is a sports Dr. for our local soccer team . He did minor surgery on my knee about 3 years ago and I was back at work doing a physical job in 1 month . He told me this was going to be different . He also told me that if I do not get the surgery I will be worst off later , the muscle will draw back and I will have arthritis in my shoulder .

Thanks for all the well wishes , I appreciate it .

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Crossbow. You have to change your hunting style a bit, but the recoil is really pretty minimal, more of a fast acceleration than an explosive jolt of a firearm. You could aim and shoot it CQB style off the center of your chest instead of your shoulder. Check with the doctor, but that should negate concerns of causing more injuries.

Just trying to keep you in the game...

 

[Nature Boy]

That rotator cuff surgery takes a long time to heal. I have issues there as well but I spend a lot of time working it out and stretching to avoid going under the knife for as long as I can.

I'd be in the camp that says put it off till after the season if you can bear it

 

[kscharlie]

I can't use a pistol for deer in my county or a rifle .

I'm a little worried about the long recovery time that I have been reading about here and the long lasting pain .

I don't even know what I did to tear it . It was like I woke up with shoulder pain one day .

My Dr. is a sports Dr. for our local soccer team . He did minor surgery on my knee about 3 years ago and I was back at work doing a physical job in 1 month . He told me this was going to be different . He also told me that if I do not get the surgery I will be worst off later , the muscle will draw back and I will have arthritis in my shoulder .

Thanks for all the well wishes , I appreciate it .

I had rotator cuff surgery about 8 years ago. The surgeon that did this operates ONLY from the shoulder to the fingers, and he is dang good! The tear was pretty significant and I could not lift up my right arm more than about 45 degrees. He was very emphatic about not using a sling. Said you needed to start using the shoulder immediately. Leaving it in a sling allows too much scar tissue to build up. For the first several days after surgery, I used a "machine" called an Iceman. It looks like a very small cooler and has a circulation pump in it that circulates ice water through some tubes and a harness that fits the shoulder. Whenever my shoulder started hurting, I hooked up the Iceman and let it take care of the pain. It sure did work and it kept the swelling way down. Took a few pain pills over the first 3 days and did not need them after that. Started physical therapy 7 days after surgery. Yes, it did hurt, but improvement came quickly and the pain was more of a nuisance than an intolerable issue. Even though the Dr. told me I would not be able to go turkey hunting (turkey season opened about 60 days post surgery), I went out on opening morning and killed two longbeards. At that time, I probably had about 75% use of my shoulder. Now, in all fairness, it did take me about 15 months to make a 100% recovery, but I can now throw a baseball better than I could for years before the surgery. Absolutely no pain or discomfort at all.

I would suggest you question your Dr. about using a sling and maybe starting PT sooner. This same Dr. also did carpal tunnel surgery on my wife on both hands. Did one, then a week later did the second. Same deal, no splints, immediate PT and she has had no issues since.

I cannot stress enough the importance of doing your therapy religiously!!!!!! Don't know what your age is, but I was 59 when I had the shoulder repaired. It ain't fun, but it's not as bad as some make it out to be. Good luck with your surgery and hope you are out hunting with the "kids" soon.

 

[red rick]

kscharlie , Do you think that I will be able to cut my grass the first week of April with a push mower if I wait and have my surgery in January and what about my dad's yard with a riding mower ? I am in pretty good shape other than the torn rotator cuff .

My shoulder hurts , but I can raise my arm over my head today and most days . It hurts the most when I get in the bed , no matter how I lay . It not as strong as normal and I have not been able to throw a ball or rock without pain for many years now and I use to be a starting centerfielder .

They are going to start my physical therapy 1 week after my surgery , but the Dr. said I would be in a sling for 6 weeks .

 

[Mauser lover]

Ultimately you need to ask your doctor, what you have might be different than what others have had, and because we have not seen the innards of your shoulder, we cannot make a decision for you; where your doctor can. I have not heard of anybody abstaining from a sling with a rotator cuff repair. Not that it doesn't happen, just haven't heard of it. However, if your doctor doesn't do it like that... you get the picture.

Apparently what happens (second hand info here, so take it at as offered, at a reduced rate) is the PT will stretch you at first, and will put you back into the sling. You won't help at all to start with. At least, that is what I am familiar with. That is why you can start PT one week after surgery, but wear the sling until week six.

In any case, ask your Doc about anything you want, but do what he says. Odds are, he doesn't want to operate twice on your shoulder, so what makes him happy eventually makes you happy. Recovery times vary, but make the best of it, however you can! Like already suggested... handloading is fun if you can't actually get out and find that deer.