Rotator cuff surgery

[PA deer hunter]

Sitting here recovering from rotator cuff surgery. Wearing out the floor pacing from one end of the house to the other. Therapy starts Monday, twice a week for 15 weeks, off work for 6 months. They assured me I’d be good to go for my late September antelope trip to Wyoming. A little worried about shooting a rifle,since part of the surgery involved relocating my biceps muscle. Therapist doesn’t think it will be an issue. Anybody have any experience with this? I know shooting a bow is out for this year, more concerned about the rifle aspect of it . Congrats on your successful elk draws! Will be following along with you from home this year !

 

[A-5_Guy]

Listen and follow your restrictions EXACTLY. I had a biceps tenodesis in addition to some work on my acromioclavicular joint and I accidentally bumped my arm into my desk about 2 weeks after surgery and ripped the long head bicep tendon out of the anchor. I opted not to have it put back, as that surgery is pretty intensive and involves moving other muscle insertions. I know have what's known as a "popeye" bicep tear (basically the bicep belly rolls up towards your elbow).

You'll know if you tear it...

Good luck with the recovery and DON'T rush into anything.

 

[PA deer hunter]

Jeez, that looks rough. Will definitely be following post op therapy instructions. Thanks for the advice!

 

[OzzyDave]

Good luck with the recovery. Trying to avoid surgery myself if i can

 

[300stw]

been thru 4 surgeries 2 on each shoulder, front and back tears, cut off the end of the bone, rasp inbetween the joint ect,, i had the biceps tendon cut, and not reattched, on the advice of both surgeons, at my age i wouldnt be effected they said, dont know the doctors words for all the work,

any way i wish i had not let them cut the biceps tendon and made them reattach them, popeye issues, bad cramps in the biceps, and painful, went thru all the therapy last 2 therapy started 4 days after surgery,,,, talk about pain, i have great mobility, most pain in shoulder is gone, cant shoot 70 lb bow anymore,,,, 50 lbs barely, no problems shooting long gun ,, wouldnt let me shoot long gun for 6 months though,,,

 

[JohnCushman]

I'm looking at shoulder surgery in the near future. I have a labral tear, bicep tendon tear, and bone spur as well as degeneration in the joint and some sort of rotator cuff issue. The doctor swears he can do it all with a scope, but is leaving the option to open me up as a possibility. I don't know if I'll be able to hunt at all this fall if the surgery gets pushed into May.

 

[A-5_Guy]

been thru 4 surgeries 2 on each shoulder, front and back tears, cut off the end of the bone, rasp inbetween the joint ect,, i had the biceps tendon cut, and not reattched, on the advice of both surgeons, at my age i wouldnt be effected they said, dont know the doctors words for all the work,

any way i wish i had not let them cut the biceps tendon and made them reattach them, popeye issues, bad cramps in the biceps, and painful, went thru all the therapy last 2 therapy started 4 days after surgery,,,, talk about pain, i have great mobility, most pain in shoulder is gone, cant shoot 70 lb bow anymore,,,, 50 lbs barely, no problems shooting long gun ,, wouldnt let me shoot long gun for 6 months though,,,

Not to derail, but the cramps from the popeye'd bicep tendon were/are the worst!!!

 

[sbhooper]

Just had my second one done two days ago. It is no fun, but shoulders do not heal, but get worse, if not fixed. At least my dominant one was done a few years ago, so i am not quite as crippled.

Pain pills and whiskey are wonderful! PT starts on Monday.

 

[crock239]

Good luck on your recovery! I've got a procedure scheduled for my left acromiolavicular joint for early June...fortunately not my dominant arm. Hoping to be recovered for muzzleloader elk hunt in Sept. Supposedly to be done via scope. Good luck to ALL with recoveries, draws, and hunts this year!

 

[PA deer hunter]

Sounds like you guys been there, done that! 300,your a better man than me. I had all that done on mine, couldn’t imagine doing it 3 more times! I couldn’t work or sleep, had no choice. Had to get it done now to hit that 6 month recovery window for hunting. Priorities, after all. Sbhooper, best wishes for a speedy recovery. I like the medicinal whiskey idea! Cush, good luck, know you’ve been through worse. Wish I could of had the scope, h are recovery time a little quicker. Thanks guys!

 

[devon deer]

I have had 12 months of physio therapy, and 2 steroid injections, I am in a worse state now than I was 12 months ago!
It was a problem with my right shoulder, the exercises have made the left shoulder flare up, and I also have golfers elbow in the right arm after using a weight.
I am being advised to avoid surgery at all costs but I am getting a little frustrated with it now.
At the end of this month I get to see a physio shoulder specialist, I will keep you posted.
Cheers
Richard

 

[Scarey]

Sitting here recovering from rotator cuff surgery. Wearing out the floor pacing from one end of the house to the other. Therapy starts Monday, twice a week for 15 weeks, off work for 6 months. They assured me I’d be good to go for my late September antelope trip to Wyoming. A little worried about shooting a rifle,since part of the surgery involved relocating my biceps muscle. Therapist doesn’t think it will be an issue. Anybody have any experience with this? I know shooting a bow is out for this year, more concerned about the rifle aspect of it . Congrats on your successful elk draws! Will be following along with you from home this year !

My father in law had a whole shoulder reversal last spring. He was healed up enough to go out and shoot a deer with his .270 win this last fall. Just follow your Dr's orders and you should heal fine. You might invest in a recoil pad for shooting with until fully recovered. Best of luck on the surgery

 

[PA deer hunter]

Encouraging, thx ! Surgery was easy part. Therapy hurts like a b#%ch !

 

[sbhooper]

I have had 12 months of physio therapy, and 2 steroid injections, I am in a worse state now than I was 12 months ago!
It was a problem with my right shoulder, the exercises have made the left shoulder flare up, and I also have golfers elbow in the right arm after using a weight.
I am being advised to avoid surgery at all costs but I am getting a little frustrated with it now.
At the end of this month I get to see a physio shoulder specialist, I will keep you posted.
Cheers
Richard

Injections and PT never work, if your problem is bones spurs and/or tears. They do not heal, but instead get worse. The surgery makes you one-handed for quite awhile, but it is well worth it. My left shoulder is now essentially 100 percent. Shoulders are no joke, but worth the misery. Always follow what the doctor/physical therapist says to do and DO NOT PUSH IT! The only thing that heals a shoulder fix is time and light PT.

 

[Jim/Wa]

I had a SLAP repair along with rotator cuff repair in mid-December several years ago. I was able to bow hunt elk the following September but just barely. In fact, I wasn't able to draw a bow back at all until maybe 10 days before the trip. It took about a year until my shoulder felt totally back to normal and you're right, the therapy sucked. On the plus side, I don't think shooting a rifle will be a big issue if the surgeon gives the ok. The repair will be permanent by then. Regaining range of motion takes forever.

 

[BMF11]

I'm looking at shoulder surgery in the near future. I have a labral tear, bicep tendon tear, and bone spur as well as degeneration in the joint and some sort of rotator cuff issue. The doctor swears he can do it all with a scope, but is leaving the option to open me up as a possibility. I don't know if I'll be able to hunt at all this fall if the surgery gets pushed into May.

I just had surgery on March 4th with the same basics as you describe John. The surgeon was optimistic that it could be done via scope only. When I woke up I was informed that they had to perform 2 “open procedures” meaning incisions rather than scopes. Recovery time will be longer because of this but I am hopeful to see the mountains of Montana again this fall with bow in hand. Time will tell. Of course my follow up appt with surgeon isn’t until the 19th...4 days after I must apply for licenses. Good luck to all in health and healing.

 

[PA deer hunter]

Make sure you take your pain meds before you go to therapy, it’s pretty rough at first!

 

[BMF11]

Make sure you take your pain meds before you go to therapy, it’s pretty rough at first!

Yes it is! I have had 3 PT sessions so far and they are moving my arm for me in very small motions and it hurts like heck. Thanks for the advice. Good luck with your recovery PA.

 

[PA deer hunter]

I’m 4 weeks into this cluster, it gets a little easier to deal with your therapist moving your arm as it heals, doesn’t seem as sore. Doing your stretches religiously at home and getting out of that sling occasionally seems to help a little. Good luck, one day at a time!

 

[JTHOMP]

I had a SLAP repair along with rotator cuff repair in mid-December several years ago. I was able to bow hunt elk the following September but just barely. In fact, I wasn't able to draw a bow back at all until maybe 10 days before the trip. It took about a year until my shoulder felt totally back to normal and you're right, the therapy sucked. On the plus side, I don't think shooting a rifle will be a big issue if the surgeon gives the ok. The repair will be permanent by then. Regaining range of motion takes forever.

Had this same surgery done in April of 2016 and was able to draw a bow and hunt mid November. Surgery was on the right should. Shoot a bow right handed but gun left handed. So not sure how you'll do with a gun. Really took about a year before it felt good. I'm a side sleeper, and try not to sleep on it too much or it will get aggravated.

Therapy was the worst, and painful. Best advice I can give is don't compare your progress to others. All the therapy people said everyone heals at different rates and I believe it's true. My progress was much slower than everyone else there that was post shoulder surgery and only seemed to progress after the first month when I went from 3 days a week to two. But after getting over the hump it kept getting better. Good luck with it and just remember to not do anything stupid with it like using it outside of your restrictions.