Rotator cuff injury?

[Manosteel]

I was in Vegas last weekend to watch the UFC fights and on Monday night my left shoulder started to hurt a lot! By the end of the night I could not raise my left arm without some serious pain. Now I admit the wife and I had a great time at some clubs on Friday and Saturday after the fights but nothing crazy and we are at a loss at what caused the injury.

A week later I can use my arms with no issues unless I raise it straight out in front or to the side at should height or higher. Its been a week and everyday it has gotten better so I tried to shoot my bow tonight. I couldn't even raise it up to a shooting position without pain.( Right-handed)

Doing some searches on the net it sounds like I have a Rotator cuff injury. The symptoms all fit - Pain and weakness in my shoulder when reaching overhead (like putting on clothes or washing my hair) loss of range of motion and a general inclination not keep my shoulder inactive.

I plan on seeing my family Dr tommrow to get checked out.

For the guys who have had shoulder problems what was your recovery time frame? Up until this injury I shot at least 5 days a week plus weight training 2 days on and 1 day off rotation and cardio with my pack. I was able to work out my back and biceps last night without any problems and have been out on nightly jogs with no pack but anytime I lift my left arm above shoulder level I get pain.

Is my bow season in jeopardy?

 

[Sunspot]

I usually get something similar due to a pinched nerve in my neck and upper back. My neck is a wreck so a good chiropractor has done minor miracles for me. You might want to explore that route in addition to going to a shoulder specialist.

 

[Rick Leathley]

Could be bursitis. Better hope it is. Shoulders take a long time to heal. I have also been having shoulder problems but only when I do pressing exercise. like bench press and shoulder press. Pulling a bow does not cause any problems. I had an injection little over a month ago but it didn't really help. I get the MRI results back in the morning, I tell you this I wont be doing any surgery tell after the season.

If it was me I would try to keep yourself patched together (injections, painkiller, anti inflammatory) and try to get through the season.

 

[Slim Jim]

I had a very similar situation after my AZ mule deer hunt in January. My shoulder hurt so bad that I had to sleep sitting up because it was so painful to lay on my back. I took about two months off shooting my bow and lifting weights then worked my way back into it slowly. I had an MRI and have an 80-90% tear in my supraspinatus (part of the rotator), slap tear, and bursitis. Still have discomfort but I'm going to make it all the way till after my January AZ hunt so that I can get all my hunts in this season, before I consider surgery. Good luck with your recover. Like Rick said, I would try a cortisone shot to get you through season

 

[Manosteel]

Thanks for the advice guys. I had similar shoulder problems about 16 years ago when I was playing high level competitive hockey in my early to mid 20's. Back then all I need was time in the trainers room for therapy and a few weeks off the ice.

The shoulder is getting better everyday so I am praying to the hunting gods I will be ok to start shooting again in a week or two. This is crazy, I still can't figure out what triggered the injury. All I can think of is going to +45 C (for a Canadian - I was frying like bacon ) wheather in vegas and continuning with my wieght training while their, yes I have a type A personality, even when on Vacation I work and workout. The combination must of just got to the shoulder?

I went to see my Family Dr. this morning and becuase of some flooding issues his office is closed until Friday

I sure hope my archery season isn't shot! I only hunt with a bow nowadays and have no interest in hunting with my rifle. But if things don't get better soon it looks like I will be dusting off the gun safe and heading to the local range.

 

[Coyote Commander]

My right shoulder is shot from my rodeo days.

Havent been on a bronc in six years. Still fight with it today. Get a lot of pain after long vehicle rides. Pops and snaps when I reach overhead or after a break from shooting my bow for a spell. On the real bad days the pain radiates all through my neck and upper back. Cant shoot as many arrows before I get tired as I once could. If I try to move my arm into the extreme ends of motion for the shoulder ill get a sharp stabbing pain and than a lingering soreness for hours. Cant turn my head as far to the right as I can to the left. Get a lot of soreness and stiffness if I "sleep wrong" on it.

Long story short, bronc riding may be fun as hell, but you pay for it. I quit the day I physically could not draw a 70 lb bow back. Its taken six years and only gotten slightly better. Maybe in another six itll be good to go.

Advil is your friend.

One thing ive noticed, is that if I baby it and try not to use it at all, it seems to get worse when I actually try to use it all. But if I just keep using (while not exerting it), its not so bad. That and stretching, especially before I do try to exert it (like shooting a bow) really helps.

 

[Sunspot]

Have a good chiro look at it too. He solved issues for me that regular docs just prescribe painkillers or want to cut.

Just got this today...torn ligaments. Got to see how well I can shoot my bow and try to get help breaking down my future elk.

 

[larryschwartz]

Manosteel, I am sure that your doctor is good, but whenever I have bone or muscle issues I always go to a sports medicine practice instead. They deal with this stuff on a daily basis.

 

[Manosteel]

Manosteel, I am sure that your doctor is good, but whenever I have bone or muscle issues I always go to a sports medicine practice instead. They deal with this stuff on a daily basis.

I think I will do just that. In the last 10 years we have a few of sports medicine clinks pop up in the city that specialize in athletes, especially hockey players.

 

[bonecrusher1]

Man I dislocated my shoulder back in high school. After surgery it took me a solid year to get my strength and over 2 years to get to where I could throw anything again. My dad had a small tear in his rotator cuff and he did physical therapy and it took him a few months to get back to full range of motion without pain in it. Hope its nothing to bad, and you heal up quick.

 

[Shrek]

I would check with the chiropractor to see if it's a pinched nerve. You didn't really do anything to tear it you say so you may get lucky and he can get things straight and you be fine . Otherwise shoulders are slow to heal and if it is torn you can write off achery this year. If you keep stressing it while torn it will get worse quick. I had a bunch of small tears from swimming that took over two years to scar over and to this day if stress them they start to hurt. I had to give up achery while they healed and have never got back to it. Good luck and wish you the best luck with this.

 

[Manosteel]

Went to see a sport Physical Therapist today. Got some good news
Looks like I have a pinched never between the C4 and C5 vertebrate. With a very slight tear of the supraspinatus (top muscle and tendon) in shoulder (caused by age and over use, very common in Athletes).

The pain, weakness and reduced shoulder movement was caused by the pinched nerve. He did some minor adjustments on the neck I felt an immediate return of strength and mobility. I feel way better now both pyshically and mentally.

He said I would be back to shooting my bow in 2-3 weeks.

Right now I am not to lift any weights, no back packing, no jogging and any other jarring physical activity or activity involving the shoulder. I can use the bike or the elliptical or stairs (basically anything that will not jar my neck or shoulder) to my hearts content.

He is using chiropractic adjustments, Physiotherapy (mobility excises), electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound treatment.
I am seeing him tommrow again and he is 100% behind getting me back to shooting my bow in the shortest amount of time.

Thanks for all the advice and recomendations to go see a sports therapist rather than waiting for my family Dr.

 

[Shrek]

That's great news !

 

[Muledeernv]

Glad to hear the good news hope all gies well

 

[larryschwartz]

Congrats. Glad we pointed you in the right direction.

 

[Manosteel]

This is why I love this site. My sports therapist said if I had waited my shoulder would have felt better and I would have used it and caused even more damage that would have been a lot harder to treat and a lot longer recovery period in a best case senerio or a complete tear requiring surgery!

Thanks again guys.

 

[Manosteel]

Finally got the go ahead to start shooting my bow again. So I grabed my 8 year old son's mission craze, cranked the draw length up and set it at 49 lbs.

I had no pain, no issues and no ache what so ever. I only shot 10 arrows but boy was I happy. Gonna take it nice and slow. Last time I shot my bow was right before my vacation June 30th, a month ago.

 

[larryschwartz]

Finally got the go ahead to start shooting my bow again. So I grabed my 8 year old son's mission craze, cranked the draw length up and set it at 49 lbs.

I had no pain, no issues and no ache what so ever. I only shot 10 arrows but boy was I happy. Gonna take it nice and slow. Last time I shot my bow was right before my vacation June 30th, a month ago.

Having been where you are with RC issues I would set the compound at its lowest level, maybe 35# if that will work, and start out there. You may be fine after 10 arrows at 49#, but doing 20 or more may bring back the pain. I would start as low as possible, try shooting more arrows each day and only move up in weight when you can do around 30 in a session without pain. You don't want to rush this and wind up back at the beginning again.

Larry

 

[Manosteel]

Thanks for the advice, will do, the mission craze can adjust down to 15lbs and 19" draw length, super light. cool little bow.

 

[JasonWi]

I had shoulder surgery December 10th, 2012. It still hurts every morning when I wake up, BUT its getting better all the time. My bow is backed down to 69# from the 76# I was shooting.

I still don't do any military or overhead type exercises. Front and side arm raises with 5-10# of weight and thats keeping shoulders feeling good. I really watch my range of motion and weight amount on flat, decline and incline benchpress...I set my max @ 225# on flat/decline bench press. No reason for me to go over that weight again as I wan't to avoid injury and enjoy the gym for many years to come.

Overall I didn't really feel close to 100% until 6 months post-op. Best of luck in your recovery.