Shoulder Replacement Surgery

[Nick Caprinolo]

Has anyone had a shoulder replacement surgery and continued shooting center fire rifles. I am told that I have no cartilage in either shoulder. I get cortisone shots ever three months but they are becoming less effective as time goes by. At the rate I am going, I may have to stop shooting are at least go to rimfire before too long.

What is the recovery like and how long are you incapacitated after surgery? I am 85 years old and have put this off for a very long time. In my entire 85 years, I have never had surgery and am not looking forward to it now.

No one I know has every had this. Guess they all passed away before needing it.

 

[Dub]

no advice but I sure wish you the best Nick. You are one of the good guys

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

no advice but I sure wish you the best Nick. You are one of the good guys

Thank you for that my friend. I am at my wits end over this.

 

[K22]

My mother had one but she was in her early 70's at the time. She made a full recovery - the rehab is critically important.

However she was not a shooter. I would review that with your doctor. I can't imagine heavy recoil calibers would be a good idea but I'm not a doctor.

I had to give up heavy recoil due to a spinal condition. Now I shoot nothing but 223 Rem and 243's and very reduced loads in 308.

 

[rockhound78]

Had shoulder surgery to remove bone spurs and some other damage, but not replacement. Took about 6 months to shoot centerfire riles comfortably and the real thumpers took quite a bit longer.

 

[joshb]

Nick! GO FOR IT!

 

[Tommie]

Any first surgery is scary. You’ll do fine. If you follow the rehab and physical therapy regimen, life will be back to normal in 4-6 months.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

I'm 62 years old......I just had a complete shoulder replacement and 3 muscles repaired July 19th of this year. Waited so long to do it, I had lost a great deal of my range of motion. Was afraid to get the surgery from all the stories of never being able to shoot again. I love archery too.......and was told I'll never be able to shoot a vertical bow again either.

Well, the pain was so bad I couldn't shoot anything larger than a 223 anyway, and I couldn't draw a 50lb bow, so I had the surgery done. Wasn't bad at all for me. Even slept in my own bed the when I got home from 1 night in the hospital. Never used any of the heavy narcotic pain killers they gave me. Tylenol was it.

2 weeks I started PT.......actually started using my arm 1 week after surgery - which is a BIG no-no according the PT folks. Graduated PT 11-5 and have complete range of motion with the exception of reaching for my wallet......and that is getting better every week.

I can now shoot a 60lb draw compound and easily tolerate a 375 JDJ Contender rifle.

Makes me regret selling all my compound bows and all my big bore rifles before surgery. I'm getting my left shoulder done LONG before it gets as bad as my right shoulder was..........like this January or February.

Different people react differently to this surgery. I was told I have a very high pain tolerance so that probably made a big difference in my outcome. Do what the PT folks say and it should come out well.........look forward to shooting again (have a goal) and it makes the pain worth it in the end.

Good luck on your surgery!

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

I know I have to do something soon. I am having difficulty reaching back to touch my rear end.

 

[ditter]

Shooting buddy of mine had it done. Rehab was difficult. But after a few months, he was back. He shoots low recoil 6.5 and 6GT with a shirt with a recoil pad in it. He will shoot a 308 suppressed, but no more large calibers with recoil. In fact, hes looking to sell all his large caliber rifles.

He says he should have done it ten years earlier.

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

I waited so long that I had a bone deformity they called a "shoe horn" growing on what was left of the ball of the humerus. Looked like a spiked club. Couldn't reach my back nor left my arm above shoulder level.

You'll do better than you think. Set a goal to strive for. For me, it was shooting a bow again. As the muscles strengthened, the shoulder built back up and they rubbed out the scar tissue a lot to make it tolerable for pressure.......Whatever they did, worked fantastic.

Like I said, I will definitely be getting my left shoulder done LONG before it gets as bad as my right shoulder did.

Good luck again!

 

[hoz53]

I know I have to do something soon. I am having difficulty reaching back to touch my rear end.

I dont know about shoulder surgery however i know from experience with many different Dr and hospitals that they are not the same. Go to the best place you can find. Dont buy the BS “we are in partnership with the other better hospital”. Go There— We are very fortunate these days to have the anesthesia experts we have now. they check each individual patient thoroughly before suregery and custom fit the anethesia to you. My dad had heart surgery in his 80s and came through fine. There were men in their 90s at the time having it successfully— And dont forget,as much as i hate them, the brakes we have now can really tame the recoil. Id use one if i have to.
So Id say - go for it- Good Luck and i hope it works out for the best.

 

[Toms]

I dont know about shoulder surgery however i know from experience with many different Dr and hospitals that they are not the same. Go to the best place you can find. Dont buy the BS “we are in partnership with the other better hospital”. Go There— We are very fortunate these days to have the anesthesia experts we have now. they check each individual patient thoroughly before suregery and custom fit the anethesia to you. My dad had heart surgery in his 80s and came through fine. There were men in their 90s at the time having it successfully— And dont forget,as much as i hate them, the brakes we have now can really tame the recoil. Id use one if i have to.
So Id say - go for it- Good Luck and i hope it works out for the best.

I just had revers shoulder replacement. Last Monday. One night in hospital and home. It's been 13 days and doing great. Take a couple Tylenol but pain is very little. I'm 71 years old and plan to keep shooting. Mostly 22 RF and 6 BR in br matches. I gave up big guns long ago because of shoulder pain. I was a carpenter for 50+ years.nlooking forward to this summer shoots. The ball on my shoulder had a large hole in the top that would pinch the tissue every time I moved my arm. Been that way for several years. Should have done it sooner but have all winter to get going again. Tom.

 

[hoz53]

I just had revers shoulder replacement. Last Monday. One night in hospital and home. It's been 13 days and doing great. Take a couple Tylenol but pain is very little. I'm 71 years old and plan to keep shooting. Mostly 22 RF and 6 BR in br matches. I gave up big guns long ago because of shoulder pain. I was a carpenter for 50+ years.nlooking forward to this summer shoots. The ball on my shoulder had a large hole in the top that would pinch the tissue every time I moved my arm. Been that way for several years. Should have done it sooner but have all winter to get going again. Tom.

Im glad to hear it has worked out for you.

 

[Caveman Jim]

I had L shoulder surgery in 2005 to repair a rotator cuff partial tear and remove calcium deposits.
I was 48 at the time while doing PT (overhead weight bar pull down) for a lower back injury from work. It was an outpatient surgery, I was still uncomfortable for the next week or so then I started PT, it all went great and I regained full range of motion.
My surgeon mentioned that certain nerves will be severed when they do the incision and that I would have nerve loss from the top of my shoulder to 3 to 4 inches below it. It was not a deal breaker since it was imperative that I get it repaired.
One thing I will say that you must do the PT to rehabilitate your shoulder and continue routine exercise after that to regrow the muscles in that affected shoulder.

Good luck sir.

 

[ARW]

My surgery was this past Tuesday and was reverse shoulder replacement of my left shoulder.
My MRI, according to my surgeon, showed my rotator cuff had deteriorated to the point that it was unrepairable and shoulder replacement was recommended.

The surgery went well and was outpatient. I have been taking over the counter pain meds. and the pain meds. prescribed by my surgeon. There is pain with this but these meds. do help.

I am to lift nothing larger than a coffee cup with my left hand until I see my surgeon on the 22/nd of this month.

I actually discussed rifle shooting with him before the surgery and he said with padding it should not be a problem and he was even better with it when I told him my rifles were all low recoil. I am left handed also.

It has not been that long since I had my surgery so I really can't form an opinion, good or bad, on it.
Having a really helpful wife and taking the pain meds. as needed has made it more bearable that's for sure.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

I forgot to mention, my surgeon also reattached my bicep that was partially detached from a previous injury. This may have added to the pain and discomfort I am having.

 

[jimmymac]

Good luck Nick.

 

[jpx2rk]

Best wishes for you.

Something to consider is a 1 pc rest for your CF rifles. I've never shot a CF on a 1 pc rest, but use one in RF BR. Different animals I know, but something to consider. A bungee cord may reduce/manage the recoil similar to method used in RF BR.

 

[clowdis]

Had a reverse right shoulder replacement 7 weeks ago. I had the surgery done and was home the same day, no hospital stay. Pain was moderate and after a day on hydrocodone I was on Tylenol for a few days and that was it. Back shooting after 6 weeks, but .223 only and bench only. I tried shooting with a coat and sling in the prone position and it is a no-go at this time. Too much pressure from the sling. In a month or so I should be able to get back in the sling and resume competition.

 

[338 Mollett]

I 'm in the same boat as Nick ,Thank You guys for the positive reports .I too am scared of a bad result but you all have calmed my nerves about it !