Can One Continue To Compete with a Complete Shoulder Replacement?
- Thread starter 41magnut
- Start date
D-4297
Gold $$ Contributor
Though I didn't have a shoulder replacement ; I did have to have complete shoulder reconstruction on both shoulders after several years attempting to play Pro Golf on a Senior Tour . It was basically created by not taking up Golf till I was forty-one , and hitting twenty-five years worth of balls , and endless hours of practice in a short Ten year period .
Follow your Surgeon and Therapist advice . Push your PT as far as you can , every session , and have a acceptance that it will probably be a full year before your shoulder will feel "fully Normal" again . But you can get there .
I took up F-Class TR when I could no longer play Golf and have no issues with being able to shoot over 100 rounds + , on any given day . Currently a Master and pushing hard on High Master . And I'm one of those "Old Guys" with a "G" behind my name .
Like we say in Skydiving ; You don't quit Jumping because you got old .....You got old because you quit Jumping ! It applies to shooting , too .
Follow your Surgeon and Therapist advice . Push your PT as far as you can , every session , and have a acceptance that it will probably be a full year before your shoulder will feel "fully Normal" again . But you can get there .
I took up F-Class TR when I could no longer play Golf and have no issues with being able to shoot over 100 rounds + , on any given day . Currently a Master and pushing hard on High Master . And I'm one of those "Old Guys" with a "G" behind my name .
Like we say in Skydiving ; You don't quit Jumping because you got old .....You got old because you quit Jumping ! It applies to shooting , too .
Toms
Silver $$ Contributor
I had a reverse shoulder replacement. Was shooting 22's 3 weeks after surgery . I resumed long-range matches in May. I shoot weekly all the time. 6 br and 22 rf. I also shoot a 6.5x284 with brake. No problem. That was in 2021 November. It was my right shoulder and I shoot right handed.Good luck Tom.
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Your doctor will tell you what you can and can not do as you go through rehab. If everything goes right and you keep up the rehab you should get full recovery. I would not count on you wanting to shoot the heavy thumpers anymore if you do so now. Suggst, before you go in that you get a 22 rimfire and a 223 or a 6x45 (Mongoose is similar but shortened to handle heavy bullets). To shoot for a bit just to keep in practice. Pulling the handle on a press for awhile will be a bit much, just load 10-20 rounds at first. You will not be able to cut your own meat at first, so.....do not get impatient.
I had bi-lateral total shoulder replacement about 15 years ago, I can do anything I did before except I can now scratch my back, lift 100 lbs and all without pain, do the PT, I did wear a pad, I think it is intended for shotgun shooters, for 3-4 months. It did take 6-8 months before I was 100% comfortable, these new shoulder parts are tough, you won’t hurt them with normal use.
Absolutely, you can return to any kind of shooting you want except maybe the big African caliber recoilers. I had my right shoulder replaced and was back to shooting Palma (.308) in 6 months with no issues except I have to put my coat on starting with my right arm. I used to put the left arm in first. I'm also shooting N-SSA Civil War rifles with 525 grain bullets although that one took a little longer to get comfortable with. So, do your rehab and you will be able to get back into the game.
I am going to be 87 next month. Both shoulders need to be replaced. I get shots every three months and it helps but it is no cure and it gets painful after I finish my range time.
Are there any other folks in my age range who have had replacement surgery recently? What is the recovery time?
Are there any other folks in my age range who have had replacement surgery recently? What is the recovery time?
My otho surgeon, a NASA flight surgeon, wrote the books (3) on shoulder surgery. If the surgery is done correctly and the rehab is strictly followed, you should be able to do anything after the surgery and rehab that you could do before the surgery became necessary.
The rehab can be a real grit teeth and spit deal at times. Had my left done about 10 years ago and open heart, chest cracked, a year ago. i am 77. As we get older the time to repair gets longer.
I would ask about my actual estimated recovery time at 87.
The rehab can be a real grit teeth and spit deal at times. Had my left done about 10 years ago and open heart, chest cracked, a year ago. i am 77. As we get older the time to repair gets longer.
I would ask about my actual estimated recovery time at 87.
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