Guys, wondering who else has had multiple surgeries on their shoulders. I've had 3 rotator cuff surgeries, AC joint removal in my drawing shoulder 2 completely torn and detatched biceps. I have finally made it back to shooting. Any problems or advice ?

I have had one surgery that completely corrected a 100% supraspinatus tendon tear, minor bicep tendon tear, and removal of large bone spur under clavicle. Very good surgeon did excellent job. No issues whatsoever at 4 yrs. post surgery. Was shooting bows again at 13 weeks, as surgeon promised. PT was rough, but worth it. Have been shooting better than ever. For anyone looking at this issue, find the best sports medicine surgeon you can. Mine worked with college teams and pro baseball pitchers. Good luck. Mike

Have had both shoulders done, right one first. It was a breeze compared to the left shoulder. With the right shoulder, the surgery was minimal and I was shooting months later. With the left shoulder....torn bicep, anchors were put in, etc. Five months of therapy after the August 3oth surgery and I just started to shoot about two weeks ago.

So what did you do to get and stay in shooting shape? What exercise was most important to you? I'm recovering from shoulder surgery.

Bone spur impingements both shoulders. Left in '07, right in '10. Had both done in January and was shooting within 4 months, hunting in Sept. I believe rotator cuff repair would take a bit longer.

It's taken me a very long time to get back to shooting. Longer than most, I think because of nerve damage in my neck and the loss of strength that came with it. I sat in my recliner watching hunting shows for motivation, and pulled a saunders exerciser over and over. Then started on a recurve, just drawing first 5 times, the 8 the next then 10 and so on. I'm now shooting 52#. I just have to limit number of shots because of fatigue. I ordered a new bow and am going to drop down to about 46#, hopefully I can shoot more arrows

I had both my rotator cuffs repaired with open technique, not artho, in 1999 and 2000. The surgeon ground down my acromions which were type 3. The worst he had seen, and the root of the tears. No problems since then. Perfect shoulder health.

Oh yeah, and when the surgeon repaied my left cuff, he also reattached my left bicep tendon at the forearm, using a new surgical technique. That was repaieds two weeks after I ripped it loose building our house. That too came out great. I was tested for strength one year later and came in at 95%. Don't get a whole lot better than that.

Wanted to have my bicep reattached but was told that I waited too long after the injury to have the surgery.

That's true. The cat that repaired mine said do it immediately as the tendon will atrophy if you wait. Plenty guys haven't had thiers reattached, but then again they don't have guns like me either. lol

3 arthroscopies, two right one left. I'd have another if I needed it. I'm 60 now and they were all over 10 years ago and I recovered pretty quickly back then, but I'd start w/low poundage and slowly work up.

Had left shoulder rotator cuff surgery three & a half weeks ago (on Mar. 27),...one massive tear (with retraction)and two one-half tears. Started PT today (4-21). Told the therapist I wanted to be shooting at least a light weight bow by 9-1, he said, "Maybe."

Sure hope to bowhunt this fall. If it does not happen it will be the first year I have missed since I began in 1957. Fingers crossed! Plan to do my PT religously to try to speed healing & repair & regenration of muscle strength. Am now 72 & heal slowly, but am still hopeful. We'll see....

I have had both of my shoulders done, both RC tears and other stuff done. My left one was the worst of the two. I had a torn labrum, RC and biceps tear. It took me almost a year before I could shoot my hunting bows again. This past February I had the right side done. I just today pulled back and shot my 50lbs longbow. I am still going to wait another month before I get to carried away.

4

I have had 3 and all involved pretty bad labrum tears and a C5 separation of my collarbone. I heal very well and the longest it took me to be up and shoot again was 13 weeks. I now need a total shoulder replacement in my left shoulder. My ortho tells me I will be back to shooting my normal weight in 4 months tops. I am postponing it as long as possible by having injections under X-ray every 3 months. It seems to be helping quite a bit and I am hoping to do these for 2.5 more years til I retire. Shawn

Had open rotator cuff surgery back in the 80's. Best surgeon in Boston. Did it after hunting season by Summer was shooting my 69# Groves. Twelve years ago had labrum repair done to same shoulder. Was shooting my 66# Groves by turkey season.No problem shooting but working our and doing yard work I just have to be careful about knowing when I've reached my limit. BTW. both were on my drawing shoulder.

I would think twice about shooting heavy bows, even after a long spell after surgery. A little common sense as to what you are hunting would help there. Of course, if it goes bad again, I'm sure it won't be the heavy bow weight that caused it.

I've had surgery on my right shoulder twice both were very invasive with lots of recovery time. They key to keeping healthy shoulders is to understand how the shoulder works. You want a strong strong back. This aligns your joints properly. My problems was too much bench pressing making me have a large strong chest and a weak back. Recipe for disaster. I'm babying a left shoulder issue which I'm sure is a bone spur. Excercise your back !

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