Rotator cuff 10 week update

[rjtfroggy]

How many of you have shot with a torn rotator cuff? Not hunting but sitting at the bench, and if you have what have you done to soften the shock to your shoulder, and did it work?
I haven't YET but I am getting antsy (it has been almost a month and a half), and have missed 1 match already.

 

[FNSafari]

I UR talking about having your RC tear fixed and maybe other work and its 6 weeks of recovery, I wouldn't, but ask your doc. Follow their advice.

I'm into 8 weeks after getting my right shoulder repaired, had the left done a year ago and my doc says NO, its too early. So we discussed me shooting from the left hand and she said as long as I do minimal lifting and work with my right arm ok. I did this past weekend and it worked fine. Certainly awkward but manageable. Don't screw up a surgeons good work!

 

[Texas Solo]

When mine was torn...in 4 places....
I could not raise my arm. You must understand what is wrong first.
When your brain says to raise your arm, the muscle attached to the tendon pulls on the tendon. The tendon is attached to the bone. With a tear in the tendon, it hurts. Is someone else lifts your arm for you, it won't hurt. So....
shooting recoil impact should not hurt.
Getting into position might though. I found that placing a small firm pillow under my arm, at the elbow, helped keep it comfortable. I guess it depends on exactly where you torn tendon is and how severe.

 

[JB10]

A coworker had his right one torn for a 2nd time. Had replacement done in November of 2023. 2 weeks ago tried to shoot his 308. He put it away after 1 shot. Hurt too much. He has no issues with 6 arc or smaller.

 

[338 Mollett]

You might try as wide a recoil pad as you can find .

 

[ebb]

Put the gun down, quite worrying about missing a match, and get your shoulder fixed! If you wait too long it will become unfixable, and your only option will be total shoulder replacement. Mine were torn years ago and as I have become older and weaker anything that involves my hands being higher than my shoulders is almost impossible. I have to use both hands to comb my hair. Don't wait any longer get the shoulder fixed.

 

[K9TXS]

Some years ago when I first tore mine, I couldn't shoot a rifle. I tried a friends Specialty Pistol and bought one a short time later. The recoil directly in my shoulder was very painful. However, with the SP there was no direct recoil to the shoulder. There was some movement in my arm but it wasn't bad. Several months later when I couldn't pick up my granddaughter, I had to have surgery. Since then, I only have 2 rifles and 3 SP's. The rifles don't get shot very often.

 

[Larry Koch]

I started with a rimfire bolt action rifle on a front and rear bag rest like bench rest shooting. But I had neck issues too. over time moved up 6ppc. will not pick up a shotgun unless its life or death. Dont even own one. Physical Therapy can be a good or bad thing. I had Lurch she weighted 220 pounds and her kuckles dragged on the ground.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I go to therapy 3 times a week and when I'm done my arm doesn't move without pain and no sleep on those 3 nights and very little on the others. Doctor wants me to finish the 6 weeks of therapy before he even does the MRI, so this could drag on until after the 1st of the year.
Sh*#^ I'll forget how to shoot by then.

 

[rjtfroggy]

I UR talking about having your RC tear fixed and maybe other work and its 6 weeks of recovery, I wouldn't, but ask your doc. Follow their advice.

I'm into 8 weeks after getting my right shoulder repaired, had the left done a year ago and my doc says NO, its too early. So we discussed me shooting from the left hand and she said as long as I do minimal lifting and work with my right arm ok. I did this past weekend and it worked fine. Certainly awkward but manageable. Don't screw up a surgeons good work!

I was wondering why I wasn't seeing see on the score sheets. Now I know.

 

[MislMan]

I go to therapy 3 times a week and when I'm done my arm doesn't move without pain and no sleep on those 3 nights and very little on the others. Doctor wants me to finish the 6 weeks of therapy before he even does the MRI, so this could drag on until after the 1st of the year.
Sh*#^ I'll forget how to shoot by then.

By that time you will have forgotten most of your bad shooting habits. Starting over you get to concentrate on the good things you have learned over the years. LOL

 

[Walt Krafft]

When they did an mri on mine preparing for the surgery, they found other stuff. My bicept tendon was 90 percent torn and some cartilage was messed up. Get it fixed!

 

[jonbearman]

After the horrible pain I went through I wouldn't attempt it for months. I suffered at least 2 months of severe pain and it finally let up. I missed the whole shooting season. Now I had open shoulder surgery and if you had arthroscopic it may be a faster time out of pain. Talk to your doctor first and foremost and do as he says.

 

[waverly]

I took 14 months off. I had left shoulder done Aug. 22. Four screws in rotator cuff and additional screw reattached bicep. My first shot hit the 5th screw and it wasn’t pleasant. That was with a 223. I put on wus pad and it was better. I then shot 6x 47 and it was better with pad. Yes I’m left handed. This was in early Oct. 23 with the pad.
I had the right side done on Nov. 22 and 4 more screws there. My bicep wasn’t completely detached so no screw in the bicep on right.
My doctor told me to hunt on the ground in 23. No elevated tree stands. He said if I were to have problems climbing I’d rip out all of his good work. I hunted last year but it’s hard to see a whitetail In a cotton field on the ground . I’m finally released to climb this year. Per my surgeon he sees around 30 % comebacks because of stubbornness. My wife informed me I wasn’t going to be a comeback.
I wore a sling for 6 weeks on each side and wasn’t allowed to drive. Rehab was a bear.

I use our pool for rehab still twice a day. I’m almost 69 so you may bounce back quicker. We are all different.
Just be patient and careful Waverly.

 

[pdog06]

Have had both of mine done. While doing the 2nd one they also found a slightly torn labrum and bicep. Both surgeries were the last 2 fall seasons so it cost me the last 2 archery seasons, but was able to carry a light rifle for deer.

My advice is to get it done sooner than later! It won’t get better on its own. The pre surgery PR crap is just to appease the insurance companies.

 

[troupe]

Been there, done that with both shoulders. DO NOT RUSH IT !!!!! The damage that it will cause is not worth it. Surgery on the repair will be worse than the original surgery.

 

[bugman]

just rub some dirt on it

 

[F Class John]

First, OP I'm sorry to hear about your situation (and all the others). My GP says I have torn rotator cuff in both shoulders, but mild (if that's a thing). Can't sleep unless I tuck my arms under like I'm a T-rex and if they wander out in the middle of the night I wake up in pretty good pain. Can't lift hands above my shoulder height without wincing. This is one of the main reasons I've worked really hard this past year to lighten my gear across the board as well as moving back to my AutoDrive Dillon last year which seems to have helped becuase I'm not puling a handle over 18,000 times a year. My GP is recommending home therapy exercises from a sheet printed out which I honestly haven't been great about doing so that's on me, but the act of shooting isn't hurting me at this point either. I've really put off going further into any kind of surgery mainly because I have two friends who swore they'd never do the second shoulder after doing the first and I have about the bottom level private medical so I can't even imagine my out of pocket.

I did a C5/6 replacement several years ago and still not convinced it was for the best now. So this stuff scares me.

 

[Rob01]

The butt of the rifle should be sitting in on the collarbone area anyways and will not effect the RC. I have had a torn RC for about 9 years now and never slowed my shooting down.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have scar tissue problems with my left rotator, I'm right handed. Biggest issue for me is archery. Many rounds of PT, no help with pain or mobility. I was able to contact a USA Olympic archery team
doc and pt. They suggested a different practice(exercise for bowhunting) that would allow me to shoot everyday. I had told all the previous PT that my goal, shoot my bow everyday. When I follow the Olympic PT training,I rarely have painful movements or the uncomfortable pain of waking up from sleeping on my left side. My range of motion hasn't improved, but greatly reduced pain is very nice. Especially the very sharp pain associated with the sensation of my shoulder/arm "catching" unexpectedly.