Traditional Archery Discussions on the Leatherwall


Am I toast?

Messages posted to thread:
Gator1 04-Feb-25
4nolz@work 04-Feb-25
N-idaho 04-Feb-25
Gator1 04-Feb-25
pdk25 04-Feb-25
1buckurout 04-Feb-25
Scotsman 05-Feb-25
Tool maker 05-Feb-25
snowman 05-Feb-25
Trying hard 05-Feb-25
Runner 05-Feb-25
Mike E 05-Feb-25
Jon Stewart 05-Feb-25
Supernaut 05-Feb-25
Leathercutter 05-Feb-25
RonG 05-Feb-25
N-idaho 05-Feb-25
Wildhog 05-Feb-25
HEXX 05-Feb-25
Babysaph 05-Feb-25
Harleywriter 05-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 05-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 05-Feb-25
Supernaut 05-Feb-25
Krag 05-Feb-25
AK Pathfinder 05-Feb-25
B.T. 05-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 05-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 05-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 05-Feb-25
WYMANTR 05-Feb-25
BEARMAN 05-Feb-25
TGbow 05-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 05-Feb-25
Supernaut 05-Feb-25
Bernie Bjorklund 05-Feb-25
Skeets 05-Feb-25
Phil 06-Feb-25
David Mitchell 06-Feb-25
BEARMAN 06-Feb-25
Supernaut 06-Feb-25
BEARMAN 06-Feb-25
RedOak 06-Feb-25
N-idaho 06-Feb-25
bodymanbowyer 06-Feb-25
Ryan Rothhaar 06-Feb-25
firefighter 06-Feb-25
Sasquatch73 06-Feb-25
Babysaph 06-Feb-25
Phil Magistro 06-Feb-25
petemc 06-Feb-25
Bob Rowlands 06-Feb-25
David Mitchell 06-Feb-25
Babysaph 06-Feb-25
Babysaph 06-Feb-25
hud 06-Feb-25
From: Gator1
Date: 04-Feb-25




Had X-rays yesterday and have bone on bone In both shoulders. I'm gonna be 63 and 2 old For shoulder replacement. Not Enough miles Left

Anyone have any luck with PT and be able To shoot 40 lb bow?

Thank you

From: 4nolz@work
Date: 04-Feb-25




Not too old for surgery ask around

From: N-idaho
Date: 04-Feb-25




Just had mine replaced a couple months ago and hope to be shooting by the end of February

From: Gator1
Date: 04-Feb-25




Feel like I need both done to shoot again.

From: pdk25
Date: 04-Feb-25




Plenty of people much older than you have had shoulder replacement

From: 1buckurout
Date: 04-Feb-25




A friend of mine,76, had shoulder replacement a year and a half ago. He placed 2nd in the IBO Championship in the senior traditional class last August. He had the other side done in the fall and is again planning to shoot the IBO circuit this spring and summer at 77.

I'm thinking you might reconsider.

From: Scotsman
Date: 05-Feb-25




See another surgeon. I had shoulder replacement at 74 and was shooting 3 months later. My Dr. was very encouraging about living to your fullest. Pay attention to sticking to a professional P.T. routine. Get a 25-30# bow at first and build up gradually as you regain strength and confidence. I

From: Tool maker
Date: 05-Feb-25




You are not too old

From: snowman
Date: 05-Feb-25




I wouldn't give up just yet, I would be making appointments to get more opinions.

From: Trying hard
Date: 05-Feb-25




I know a number of people that have had shoulder operations well into their 70s

From: Runner
Date: 05-Feb-25




Didn't Ron LaClair have his done when he was almost 90?

From: Mike E
Date: 05-Feb-25




My father had reverse shoulder replacement surgery at 83 yrs. It went fine. Other health issues have a lot to do with any surgery also. Good Luck.

From: Jon Stewart
Date: 05-Feb-25




not too old. My friend Kathy just had it done at 67 yrs. After one month she is driving and walking the desert, carefully of course.

From: Supernaut
Date: 05-Feb-25




My mom had a reverse replacement on her shoulder when she was 70 (3 years ago) and she is as good as new.

Go find a GOOD surgeon and follow their advice and your post-op therapy to a T.

Good luck!

From: Leathercutter
Date: 05-Feb-25




Sure don't know who said you are old for replacement. I had mine done at 81. three years ago. It sure is nice to be able to continue things like archery, pickle ball, bowling, etc. I gave up hunting a few years ago because of knee replacement but I am still walking and enjoy my light target bow and being on the range. PLEASE check with another doctor.

From: RonG
Date: 05-Feb-25




Hey do you guys know if anyone is doing brain replacements, I think mine is worn out.

From: N-idaho
Date: 05-Feb-25




I thought they usually tell you that you are too young for shoulder replacement. I had to have a ream and run because I am only 52 and they don’t recommend the standard tsa due to longevity issues.

From: Wildhog
Date: 05-Feb-25




Hey Ron I'm right there with you. I've had everything else replaced already:)

From: HEXX
Date: 05-Feb-25




I had two MRI's and I have torn both rotator cuffs. I decided to go the P.T. route at home and at a facility. It takes a full year to recover. I shoot a 40# bow and after the first two weeks it was painful shooting the first six shots than it was bearable. Your results may very but I am happy I didn't go for surgery.

From: Babysaph
Date: 05-Feb-25




Not too old for surgery

From: Harleywriter
Date: 05-Feb-25




I’m the scheme of things you’re a young guy yet. I’m 74 and had knee replaced and bow arm shoulder rebuilt. Knee was a tough one. Doc said five or six months before you’re back to good. He was right on. “Don’t go gentle into that goodnight.”

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 05-Feb-25




Replacement, standard or reverse shoulder, is less pain than a rotator repair. Recovery is aLOT quicker. My right reversal is a year old tomorrow. BMB

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 05-Feb-25




PT does NOT heal a torn rotator. Eventually it will retract and scar. SMALL minor tearsPT will help you build up the other muscles to help YOU COMPENSATE for the small tears. Eventually more will tear. I just had this discussion with the surgeon and his PA. I was telling them about so.e arm chair doctors, of course they both laughed. Said they actually here all the time fro. Patience saying they had a friend tell lol. So go and actually talk with your Orthopedic surgeon. Only listen to them, not the armchair doctors. The last thing you want to do is make it a lot worse. I work for very large Orthopedic Group here in the Quad Cities Iowa. Illinois. These doctors are the Best Around. BMB

From: Supernaut
Date: 05-Feb-25




Great advice BMB.

In know you and I have walked some of the same road with rotator cuff surgery.

From: Krag
Date: 05-Feb-25




Latest issue of TBM has a good article about shoulder injuries for bowhunters. Don Thomas,MD (in case someone didn’t know) and TJ Conrads relate their experiences with shoulder injuries and surgeries. I don’t have shoulder issues yet so never looked into the subject but there is a lot about anatomy, causes, prevention, treatment options and PT and recovery experiences. TJ’s recovery from surgery was incredible - even his surgeon was amazed. And yes for the skeptics Don does not dismiss the importance of seeing a specialist when it gets to that point. Overall a very informative article. One simple preventative tip mentioned, other then a reasonable DW, is to reduce amount of time at full draw something I had just started doing myself before reading the article.

From: AK Pathfinder
Date: 05-Feb-25




I'm 70 and scheduled for shoulder replacement on the 17th. My neighbor is 78 and had his done 2 weeks ago. It has nothing to do with age.

From: B.T.
Date: 05-Feb-25




What exactly do they replace?

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 05-Feb-25

bodymanbowyer's embedded Photo



This is reverse shoulder replacement. BMB

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 05-Feb-25




That's my right shoulder. BMB

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 05-Feb-25




Your other large upper arm muscles will be what holds it all together. Since the rotator is gone. Right now my Deltoid is developing more strength Since it's a main muscle to come around more and does more work now. BMB

From: WYMANTR Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 05-Feb-25




63 is not too old for anything! Get fixed and rehab. Putting it off would be the worst option I would think.

From: BEARMAN Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 05-Feb-25




If you can still see, hear and walk you are not toast by any means. Start doing dead hangs every day, even if it’s for 5-10 seconds at a time. You will be amazed on how much it will do for your money in your shoulders and upper body. PT is a waste of time and money. They will string you on visit after visit. I am only 42 but I have enough screws in my back from an old injury years ago when I was a young Marine. I know without a doubt PT is hogwash, and so are many doctors. Start doing different grip dead hangs and throughout the day you will regain strength and mobility. Don’t give up .

From: TGbow
Date: 05-Feb-25




No sir, don't give up. Lots of people older than you have shoulder surgery.

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 05-Feb-25




Don't take armchair recent above advice. That will lead you to worse shape. You are never to old for a better life, without pain and living life and enjoying what you want. Obviously the above poster about hanging, doesn't know squat. Typical arm chair doctor. BMB

From: Supernaut
Date: 05-Feb-25




I think there’s bad PT, bad surgeons and bad patients.

I had excellent PT when I had my rotator cuff surgery and give them a lot of credit for my excellent and expedited recovery. I’m lucky.

From: Bernie Bjorklund
Date: 05-Feb-25




There are probably good and bad PT's just as there are good and bad anythings. I can only go by my experience. Almost nine years ago I was nearly on death's door due to a horrific motorcycle accident.

The surgeons saved my life, but my PT literally gave me my life back. I will eternally be grateful for her professional work which lasted almost six months.

Bernie

From: Skeets
Date: 05-Feb-25




Go to Mayo Clinic. Or a good sports doctor. Or what I call a teaching hospital. Those places have the latest technology. They work on football players and hockey players, etc. Get second and third opinions that are based on X-rays and MRI's and whatever else they may have invented now.

From: Phil
Date: 06-Feb-25




Gator1 ... it might be a good idea to get a second opinion but be mindful of the fact that not all patients are suitable for shoulder joint replacement. Because of the architecture of the joint and it not being a ginglymus joint,the quality of the residual bone is paramount to the succsess of the surgery.

Good luck

From: David Mitchell
Date: 06-Feb-25




No way on earth would I do dead hangs unless a competent doctor told me to. I have had pt in the past for rotator cuff tear that was not severe enough for surgery but was extremely painful. The physical therapy did great and now I have full range of motion and function in that shoulder without any pain. Medical advice is best obtained from competent medical people.

From: BEARMAN Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




Doctors can’t make money off of you doing dead hangs and PT yourself.

From: Supernaut
Date: 06-Feb-25

Supernaut's embedded Photo



BEARMAN, It sounds like you had some bad PT experiences and that sucks.

When I went for my PT for my shoulder I met with my therapist on my initial visit and he reviewed my xrays, MRI's and surgeons notes with me. He asked me what my goals were. I wanted to be able to shoot my bow ASAP and be able to hunt with it by our September 2023 opener, I had my surgery in January of 2023. He told me they were lofty goals but if I put in the work he thought it would be doable. He laid out my entire therapy and progression plan for me on the initial visit. He asked me questions and answered all of my questions. He let me know that he would be communicating with my surgeon weekly at a minimum to discuss my progress and would adjust my therapy as needed and or recommended.

He also told me that his job was to give me the tools (exercises) I needed to get better. It was my job to use them. It was not his job to keep me coming back for the same thing long after I should've be recovered. In fact, he said that would be considered a failure. He let me know that a good therapist has no interest in seeing a patient have to continue to come back over and over for the same issue. He also let me know that there was no shortage of people getting surgeries everyday that need therapy to recover so the money I paid for my copay had no bearing on my recovery time. In fact, he recommended I cut down coming in to once a week instead of 3 times a week to save myself some $ since I was faithfully doing my exercises at home and recovering at an accelerated rate. He was a no BS guy which I liked. He was also very invested in my recovery and got just as stoked as I did when I hit a milestone.

I would say if you or anyone else has a bad experience with therapy or a particular therapist that you should find another therapist. There are good ones out there.

I was shooting my 50# Bear Grizzly by April and killed these 2 deer that season. The doe on our season opener in September and the buck in October.

From: BEARMAN Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




Some of you guys are huge babies. Jeff Freeman I am not an armchair anything. I speak from advice after having multiple issues and dozens of different doctors tell me I “needed” surgery and they were all wrong. You can cry about that if you want but it’s the truth. 90% of doctors are full Of crap, we’re all so soft these days we need a “doctor” to tell us what to do because we can’t think for ourselves and heal our own bodies and fix our own problems. The OP has nothing to loose but to try? Don’t give up.

From: RedOak
Date: 06-Feb-25




Has anyone had a gel injection in their knees or shoulders? The cortisone shot only made my pain worse for a short while and did nothing for any relief. I hear the gel injections work good in the knees but I need some relief for my shoulders.

From: N-idaho
Date: 06-Feb-25




Can’t pt bone on bone.

From: bodymanbowyer
Date: 06-Feb-25




I've had the Rooster co.b injection in my knee twice. I bought me time until I got my knee replaced. Cortisone doesn't work on my joints. BMB

From: Ryan Rothhaar Professional Bowhunters Society - Qualified Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




From: firefighter Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




I’m 65 and had a total shoulder replacement in October. I’m doing the PT now. Looking forward to shooting in the spring or summer.

From: Sasquatch73
Date: 06-Feb-25




Have same thing both shoulders at 69. Steroid shots here now for past few years. Easy lasts 4-6 months pain wise. But down from 62 pounds to 40 pounds bow wise. But like usual talk to Doc. Surgery stories on knees and hips seem good. Shoulders?

From: Babysaph
Date: 06-Feb-25




I always get a kick out of all the patients that say they had a tear repaired without surgery. LOL.

From: Phil Magistro
Date: 06-Feb-25




A lot of times grade 1 and 2 tears will heal on their own. Complete tears seldom heal without surgery.

From: petemc Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member
Date: 06-Feb-25




I'll be 76 in May and have a total reverse replacement scheduled for mid April. Looking forward to shooting this summer. Tried PT and 2 cortisone shots - minimal help.

From: Bob Rowlands
Date: 06-Feb-25




What doc said.

Off topic.

I had open surgery on both my cuffs ~Y2K and a cobalt prosthetic hip replacement in June 2008. I also had PT on three fractured ribs and two pelvic fractures from a wicked bicycle crash on concrete in 2021.

I followed three different therapist advice to a 'T' in all these cases and had good results.

From: David Mitchell
Date: 06-Feb-25




JR, my doctor told me after doing an MRI that I had a tear in my right rotator cuff but he didn't think surgery was needed. I did PT and it's as good as new.

From: Babysaph
Date: 06-Feb-25




But if it was torn the tear is still there .

From: Babysaph
Date: 06-Feb-25




Some tears from overuse can be treated with PT to strengthen other muscles in the the shoulder but tears from an injury that are worse usually need surgery.

From: hud Professional Bowhunters Society - Associate Member Compton's Traditional Bowhunters
Date: 06-Feb-25




I had an impinged rotator cuff 15 yrs ago. The physical therapist said, due these exercises to strength the muscles in both shoulders and within 5 month it was no longer a problem. He said, to continue doing the exercises to prevent it from happening again. The body produces Synovial fluid to lubricate and protect the joint. The fluid comes from the Synovial membrane that surrounds the joint. No exercise, no fluid. Shooting a bow, throwing a baseball, football, or playing tennis or golf by itself is not the right kind of exercise, your therapist will give you.

Ask your doctor for a referral to good therapist and then follow his advice. Good luck.





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