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Shoulder pain. Please help!

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Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby six » 12 08, 2022 •  [Post 1]

I’m pretty sure I’m not the first archery guy to have shoulder pain while shooting so I’m going to see if there is anyone on here who has been there and got the t-shirt.

This summer I was shooting my bow a couple times a month. August/September I started shooting a couple times a week. I was mostly shooting and feeling sorry for myself that I wasn’t going to be chasing bugles somewhere. I started experiencing left shoulder pain while shooting. The pain was enough I felt I better back off so I didn’t mess something up for Michigan’s archery opener. This seemed to help and I killed my personal best on October 9th. After killing the buck I did something I have been threatening to do for 2 years. I hung up my compound and started hunting with my longbow. Again the more I shot the more my shoulder hurt.

Here is where it gets tricky. I am still shooting a couple times a week. The first shot the pain is barely tolerable. At the shot the pain radiates down my arm in waves. 52 years on the family farm I know what pain is. After I get that first shot out of the way I’m good for the rest of the session. My shoulder has a little discomfort after I’m done, but nothing like the first shot. One other thing when I put my arm in the air as if I was pointing at an airplane my shoulder joint and my bicep hurt.

I would really be interested in any alternatives to medication or surgery.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby saddlesore » 12 08, 2022 •  [Post 2]

If you get to the point where you cannot lift your arm up past your shoulder, your rotator cuff tendon is torn all the way thru. No fix except surgery. Having a fully replaced reversed shoulder it "AIN"T' NO FUN". Between the shoulder, knee, and hip. The shoulder is the most painful and the most delicate surgery. If you have to do that,there will be no more archery hunting, unless you get a disability card to use a crossbow. You will sleep in a recliner for the first 6-8 weeks with little sleep and endure at least two months of no fun PT. No matter what the doctors tell you,and artificial shoulder will not make your shoulder like new.You will have limited lifting and range of motion.

Now that I got your attention, it might only be partially torn and they can fix it. It might be arthritis. It might be a pinched nerve in your neck or shoulder. The younger you have it fixed the better chance of success, and the faster you will recover.

No matter what it is,the longer you let it go,the harder it is to fix .Your bicep tendon might also be torn. It usually goes south with the rotator cuff.
Physical therapy might help a lot and steroid injections may help for awhile.'

If you won't do surgery, get on Amazon and buy some Sombra Therapy gel. It comes in a Cool Therapy and Warm Therapy. The warm has the capsacin in it. It will relieve the soreness for a few hours and you can put on 3-4 times a day .A good quality CBD oil can work too. There are lot of OTC ointments that may help. All are short term fixes.
A chiropractor might be able to help.

It won't go away by itself. MY advise is to get to a good orthopedic shoulder doctor. If he says he can't help you, find another better doctor. Get a MRI and start from there. Better to miss one hunting season than not be able to hunt at all later.

This advise is from a gimped old guy who "Cowboyed Up" all his life. Living with one pain or another and now I have several body parts that don't work good at all and I am too old for anymore surgeries.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby Swede » 12 09, 2022 •  [Post 3]

I had shoulder pain and numbness in my right arm due to arthritis and gout. I could not lift my arm without reaching over to pick it up with my left hand. I went to a specialist and got a couple of cortisone shots, and it has helped for years. I still have shoulder pain, but it is less and different now. I draw my bow every other day, so I do not lose my strength. I may need another cortisone shot sometime, but there is no hurry. My arthritis and gout are not going away so I just live with it for the most part. Shaq and I have something in common. We both use Icy hot.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby Lefty » 12 09, 2022 •  [Post 4]

Saddle sore about covered it all.

It was suggest that I go to a good physical therapist for my shoulders and lower neck.
A good PT doctor sure helped me.

Anna saddle sore mentioned, shoulders take a long time to heal.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby six » 12 09, 2022 •  [Post 5]

Thank you gentlemen, I made a doctors appointment this morning.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby saddlesore » 12 09, 2022 •  [Post 6]

six wrote:Thank you gentlemen, I made a doctors appointment this morning.


Good decision
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby Tigger » 12 12, 2022 •  [Post 7]

I had rotator cuff surgery not even 2 years ago. My advice is to exhaust physical therapy options first. If that wont work, plan a good time and get the surgery. Also, it might be worth a try to see a chiropractor. They cannot help with muscle tears, but they can do wonders with structural problems.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby Jhg » 12 15, 2022 •  [Post 8]

I hope you reject any suggestion by Dr to take a cortisone shot. Temp relief at your age and it leaves the shoulder weaker going forward. I agree with phys therapy (much pain) then surgery but do not fall into the mask the symptoms solution.
I have had to say no twice to Dr's who suggested the shot. The shot is an easy way for them to move on. Whether its best for you is something else.

The way I looked at it was even if a shot gave relief for almost ten years that does not come close to my hoped for active lifespan. So I would have been left weaker, more prone to re-injury, right in the middle of my bowhunting life when the shots effectiveness waned.
I know three guys who went the shot route. They have never recovered the strength. Patience and a consistent routine will be a smart choice in life if you want to recover and keep healthy shoulders.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby saddlesore » 12 15, 2022 •  [Post 9]

Jhg wrote:I hope you reject any suggestion by Dr to take a cortisone shot. Temp relief at your age and it leaves the shoulder weaker going forward. I agree with phys therapy (much pain) then surgery but do not fall into the mask the symptoms solution.
I have had to say no twice to Dr's who suggested the shot. The shot is an easy way for them to move on. Whether its best for you is something else.

The way I looked at it was even if a shot gave relief for almost ten years that does not come close to my hoped for active lifespan. So I would have been left weaker, more prone to re-injury, right in the middle of my bowhunting life when the shots effectiveness waned.
I know three guys who went the shot route. They have never recovered the strength. Patience and a consistent routine will be a smart choice in life if you want to recover and keep healthy shoulders.


Yep, Steroid injection is a short thing. Sometimes you have to do it though if surgery is not possible at the time .BTDT
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby Lefty » 12 17, 2022 •  [Post 10]

Certain activities also tend to steal trigger my shoulder.
. Shoveling, pushing, a broom, drywall, carrying sheet material.
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Re: Shoulder pain. Please help!

Postby Jhg » 12 18, 2022 •  [Post 11]

Clothes shopping just KILLS my back. Can only do it for a few minutes. If shopping means trying on jeans, sometimes the pain is so intense I can't even get out of bed.
As we age it is important to avoid activities that cause pain. Like shopping.
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