Had an MRI Friday and was diagnosed

[rstallings1979]

with a slight rotator cuff tear in my left shoulder. I am 37 and I hit the gym weekly just to stay in decent shape. No power lifting etc. I haven't been able to practice with the bow due to the pain in my left shoulder when I extend to hold the bow. I have a Midwest trip planned for November in Illinois. What would you guys do? I am thinking of just putting a shot in it and resting it until the trip, take the trip, and see how I feel when I get back before I get surgery. Any of you bow hunters with rotator cuff problems?

 

[Ihunt]

First. Ask a doctor and be very careful.

Second... Get a bow with lower poundage and an easier pull.

What do you shoot now?

 

[rstallings1979]

54Lbs...its not hard to pull back. Just nagging pain with the arm extended. It would not matter if I had 10 pds. Extension of the arm is the problem.

 

[jfarrell30339]

Get the shot and then also ask about a brace. Get through your trip and then make the determination. Again talk to you Dr. about Cialis.

 

[Ihunt]

54Lbs...its not hard to pull back. Just nagging pain with the arm extended. It would not matter if I had 10 pds. Extension of the arm is the problem.

Then all I have to offer is good luck

 

[Kris87]

If I could stand the pain, I'd wait until after season. You'd have enough time to recover before next Sept if you waited until January.

 

[Ihunt]

And I would go on the November Illinois hunt.

 

[goshenmountainman]

I was diagnosed with the same problem in July, need surgery to fix. I had to put it off till I get back from the mid-west on my annual bow hunt. I started pulling back a 50 lb. bow and worked my way up to 60 and now I can shoot my seventy pound bow, just killed a nice eight last week. I just went real slow and toughed through it till I could get my hunting bow back and shoot with a little bit of pain. I can only shoot about 6 times in a row but I am just as accurate as I was. My surgery date was set to Dec. 9, right after I get home from my hunt. It hurt so bad when I started I barely could hold it back, if there is a will there is a way..

 

[brownhounds]

No doubt about it. I would go on the trip. Just don't think about the pain. I have problems right now with my sciatic nerve, but I am not thinking about it. Best exercise you can do for shoulder pain is running. And last but not least, don't take the doctor's advice. Listen to US.

 

[flatsmaster]

Id take the shot and see what kind of relief u get ... I have RC problems from pitching in my right shoulder .... as long as I don't practice to much I can survive ... I just turned 60 and ill always put off a doctors visit for the Midwest !!!! We are rolling on Oct 30

 

[Ihunt]

Well, we have spoken. Looks like you're going on the hunt!

 

[Huntinfool]

Just remember that it will be MUCH harder to draw when you're all bundled up and it's 20 degrees. Your muscles won't want to work as well when it's cold and you've got a bunch of clothes on.

I had a similar experience two years ago and, when I got to KS, I literally could not draw my bow in the stand no matter how hard I tried.

If I were you I would consider a crossbow if it's legal. I know that's not the answer you want to hear. But I would at least take it as a back up in case you need it.

If you can't draw 54 pounds easily right now it's going to be incredibly difficult to do it when you're freezing. Rotator cuff tears don't heal quickly and you probably won't feel much better between now and November.

My tear was in my draw shoulder. So it may be different. But I'm just telling you now that it's much much different when you're cold. If you can get it back now, there's no promise that will be the same case in November.

 

[rstallings1979]

Did you have surgery on your tear? Huntinfool?

thanks...

 

[ryanh487]

Crossbows legal in illinois? a crossbow with cocking aid would let you make the trip without risk of messing yourself up any worse.

 

[Killdee]

A friend of mine is the same issue, he's going to some sports medicine place here in the metro, doing PT and taping and get this, they put him in a chamber at 200 below zero for 2-3 minutes every week. Said its what they are doing for ball players and athletes.

 

[olddawg89]

Crossbows legal in illinois? a crossbow with cocking aid would let you make the trip without risk of messing yourself up any worse.

Yes without dr orders, or age 65 I believe?

 

[Bowdawg]

Get the shot....or two.....go on the hunt. Schedule surgery for January. You will be ready to sling more sticks by next September.

 

[Scoutman]

Had same issue in 09, suffered through season, surgery in Feb, stronger than other shoulder now. Season sucked though.

 

[tescobedo]

Plan & play for the long game. The shot will just mask the pain & potential damage you cause.

You're 37, have difficulting extending the arm, & are considering putting off surgery because of a deer hunt? Think about that from the perspective of losing more than one hunt or season due to making the minor tear a major one.

Unless it is a once in a lifetime tag, reschedule for 2017 & hunt pain free. Not a popular opinion though.

 

[QuackAddict]

Get the shot....or two.....go on the hunt. Schedule surgery for January. You will be ready to sling more sticks by next September.

Ditto. Get the shot. It's time to hunt.