Shoulder Surgery and Shooting

I can't imagine that.

Wife had hers done this Monday. Nerve block. Yesterday wasn't bad but nerve block has worn off and she was in some pain this morning. Quit taking the pain meds last night because she couldn't poop. She's taking ibuprofen and doing better tonight.
Tough cookie that one...
Hers was arthroscopic for bone spur, bursitis, and cleaned up some arthritis.
Good luck.

pop-gunner said:

Quit taking the pain meds last night because she couldn't poop.

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Pooping is important when you are on narcotics. Very much like a squib load except it hurts. If it hurts bad enough, somebody has to dig it out with a gloved finger. It won't be pleasant for either of you.

Miralax is a popular stool soften, but I like results of milk of magnesia. Do not wait until it hurts.

So what were some of the causes of your shoulder injuries? Was it an accident or repetitive motions at work? Both of my shoulders have pain from weight lifting when I was younger, too heavy too often. I just started back with weights 20 years later, but still cant do any overhead presses or bench presses. I am surprised it hasnt healed over that time. It doesnt impact my shooting at all though.

wrl11 said:

So what were some of the causes of your shoulder injuries? Was it an accident or repetitive motions at work? Both of my shoulders have pain from weight lifting when I was younger, too heavy too often. I just started back with weights 20 years later, but still cant do any overhead presses or bench presses. I am surprised it hasnt healed over that time. It doesnt impact my shooting at all though.

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In the beginning, it was the first two. Then I fell on some stairs and that was the one that put me under the knife.

When I was talking about my recoveries, I didn't mean to imply it didn't hurt like a MoFo for several weeks....3 or 4 months of very significant pain really on the right shoulder. I was just sayin' that I was able to shoot after about 4 months. Recoil didn't bother me near as much as certain kinds of movement and I actually had a much harder time holding a handgun up to shoot than shouldering my shotgun. FYI, I didn't burn 100s of rounds...I shot 25 on an ATA round using light trap loads then really didn't shoot again for a couple months. Pain was mostly from mounting the gun and recoil didn't cause anymore than some slight residual soreness.

I did sleep in my lazy boy almost exclusively for several weeks (especially while wearing the arm sling...it's pretty darn hard to sleep laying down with that thing on. Even after that, I would sleep on the couch quite a bit because I could use the arm of the couch along with some pillows to help keep me from rolling onto my repaired shoulder.

All I was trying to do is let the OP know that unless something really extensive has to be performed, or something goes very wrong with the surgery, he should be shooting again in just a few months. The pain, FYI, was much more severe on my right side than my left. My doctor suggested that pain was less for the left side and I recovered more quickly because 1) Most people knew what to expect pain-wise and 2) Most people had a better idea what to do with physical therapy. I don't entirely buy that idea. Perhaps that's true of some people, but my right shoulder still had some pain from certain kinds of movement for a year after surgery (PT didn't end until almost 8 months after surgery). That didn't mean I couldn't do ANYTHING for 8 months - a year....it just meant I had weakness and some flexibility issues for that long (and still have some slight issues...but the pain BEFORE the surgery was far, far worse than anything I ever have now or, for that matter, have had since 3 or so months into the recovery. Hell, after the right shoulder rupture, I could even raise my arm to shoulder height without using my left arm to lift it there. Until I received a cortisone shot, I couldn't sleep hardly at all after the initial injury. For the most part, most pain is gone with just a twinge when I do something a certain way....but even that is inconsistent. The left shoulder? I could reach behind my back somewhat within 2 months. I was 4 - 5 months along with the right shoulder before I could come close to doing that. The damage on the right was significantly greater.

Given what I know now, I would definitely do the surgery if I had to make the decision all over again...but I would probably dread it more than I did before I had the surgery on the right side.

I used mostly ibuprofen after the first few days following surgery (I did use the prescription for generic Percocet for 3 - 4 days). I don't personally...at least for me...think Percocet is very effective and I hate the way it makes me feel. Ibuprofen can act as a blood thinner, so given I just had surgery I had the idea there could be some residual bleeding so I did just what the doctor ordered for the first few days. When I switched to ibuprofen, I took 600 mg up to 2 -3 tjmes a day and, if I wasn't hurting too much, I didn't take it. What helped most? When I started PT, my Occupational Therapist would put hot packs on my shoulder for 10 - 15 minutes, then spend 5- 10 minutes massaging Biofreeze (Ben Gay on steroids, so to speak) into my shoulder. While there was some minor pain with the massage, it actually loosen me up quite a bit for PT and made it far more tolerable. After a few of those sessions (it went on for most of the 8 months of PT), I acquired some Biofreeze from my OT, some nitrile gloves (for my wife to use so she didn't end up with effects from the Biofreeze gel) and then used some medium sized, thick towels that I would get pretty damp (but not sopping wet) and nuked 'em in the microwave for a minute or 2 (be careful not to get them too hot and cause yourself a burn). The hot packs followed by Biofreeze helped more with pain management than the ibuprofen or Percocet. FYI, Biofreeze is not generally available although it doesn't seem to require a prescription...but after I bought the first couple tubes from the OT, then found a much cheaper source on Ebay. I bought the 4 oz tubes of gel (my OT used the gel and sold the 4 oz tubes...not the spray or rollon...but used it from a gallon jug in her office).

wrl11 said:

So what were some of the causes of your shoulder injuries? Was it an accident or repetitive motions at work? Both of my shoulders have pain from weight lifting when I was younger, too heavy too often. I just started back with weights 20 years later, but still cant do any overhead presses or bench presses. I am surprised it hasnt healed over that time. It doesnt impact my shooting at all though.

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LOL (well, I can laugh now...not then!). I was developing shoulder issues for a few years and went to a shoulder guy who kept sending me to PT which helped a bit...but the issue would return. I asked my Primary guy for a referral to another orthopaedic person and he sent me to Tom Dennis in Annapolis. Dr Dennis is a hand specialist, but does many, many shoulders as well.

I made the appt for the week following deer season in 2012. I shot a deer and when I went to turn it on it's back to field dress it, I felt a tear and had excruciating pain. I could even reached up anymore (no surprise in retrospect...the muscle to do that was completely torn). The highest I could reach was using my elbow to raise my forearm. It was damn hard driving home (I came home early - the pain was excruciating). I had to use just my left hand. To use the shifter on the column, I had to (when stopped) reach across with my left hand and lift my right arm to the shifter (or radio or anything else you would normally use the right had to do).

Dr Dennis determined that bones spurs, an impingement and adhesions from old injuries and repetitive use were likely the cause of the tearand it probably was partially torn even before it ruptured I had similar issues beginning in my left shoulder, but that wasn't even evaluated until I was almost completely recovered from the right side surgery. I did develop a full thickness tear on the left side prior to surgery, but that shoulder still worked because there wasn't a detachment.

Why the previous Orthopedic guy didn't do something with the bone spurs previously, I have no idea. (That Dr described my rotator cuff as frayed. I didn't understand the significance of that until later. I just took it it was somewhat damaged. I had no idea that bone spurs were likely causing ONGOING damage and he just kept sending me to PT). Maybe they weren't as prominent then.

According to Dr Dennis, as the supraspinatis passed over the spur, it 'shredded' the muscle and eroded it until it tore catastrophically

wrl11 said:

So what were some of the causes of your shoulder injuries? Was it an accident or repetitive motions at work? Both of my shoulders have pain from weight lifting when I was younger, too heavy too often. I just started back with weights 20 years later, but still cant do any overhead presses or bench presses. I am surprised it hasnt healed over that time. It doesnt impact my shooting at all though.

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Installing thoundsands of electrical gimwidgets/lights/conduit/ballasts over my head for the last 2.5 decades..... and about 50 transmissions,60 transfer cases, ???driveshafts in the evenings/weekends......Home improvents in between working on offroad trucks..... all pretty steady since high school.

I fell, actually was pushed (by accident) down a flight of stairs at work. I was at the top of the basement stairs while another team was putting a fire out in the basement and a guy bumped into me, causing me to tumble down the stairs.

Change the way you shoot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vpDm1bpey4

Can be fun way to still play.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxXv1je6yr8

MRA said:

Just like others posted - the nerve block works! When it comes to shooting, pain is one issue but range of motion and strenght are importamt too. Whatever you do, don't do anything that could damage the repairs until you are released by the doc or PT. The recliner and ice and pain meds are some of your best friends. Good luck!

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I had a shoulder repair by a sports medicine shoulder surgery specialist maybe 10 years back. It was caused by me finding some black ice with my Beo in the middle of downtown DC. The top of my left humerus exploded into five pieces.

If they're any good, your surgeon will defer the release judgement to your physical therapist. Your surgeon does the work once and pretty much done; your PT works with you almost daily and knows your capabilities and limitations much better than you do.

Oh, and Ibuprofen is you friend. Believe it.

AACo said:

Sorry for the n00b question.

Nerve block isn't a prescription correct? That's a pre surgery injection I'm guessing?

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Yeah it is done at the time they give you the "sedative" that knocks you out before they knock you out. they basically inject it into the nerve bundle that runs done your neck out to your shoulder. They may have to "dig' around and it is a bit uncomfortable. I had a surgery back in 98 where it was a full open surgery on the shoulder, they had to go in and shorten all the ligaments and tendons because my shoulder was so unstable from lacrosse and football. I wish I had it then. If you never have had surgery yes it will be painful. Hopefully they go in arthroscopically and the guy on the scope is good. My surgeon was awesome and by the time I started PT, I was about 3 weeks ahead of the schedule passed on the tests they therapists put me through on my first visit.

BeoBill said:

I had a shoulder repair by a sports medicine shoulder surgery specialist maybe 10 years back. It was caused by me finding some black ice with my Beo in the middle of downtown DC. The top of my left humerus exploded into five pieces.

If they're any good, your surgeon will defer the release judgement to your physical therapist. Your surgeon does the work once and pretty much done; your PT works with you almost daily and knows your capabilities and limitations much better than you do.

Oh, and Ibuprofen is you friend. Believe it.

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On the ibuprofen and take note, 600 - 800 milligrams is the true normal dose....not the 200 mg in a single OTC pill.

I had my first post op appt yesterday. Everything is on track. My pain level is very manageable and I'm actually skipping meds on occasion. The first week to 10 days is the worst, after that it gets better everyday. I had a full thickness tear that was started and aggravated by degenerative tissue. The degenerative tissue was cut by a spur growing on my bone. Everything was removed, spur and some arthritis. Recovery is on track. Abductor sling and 3 different home exercises for a total of 6 weeks before seeing an actual PT. HTH

Broncolou said:

I had my first post op appt yesterday. Everything is on track. My pain level is very manageable and I'm actually skipping meds on occasion. The first week to 10 days is the worst, after that it gets better everyday. I had a full thickness tear that was started and aggravated by degenerative tissue. The degenerative tissue was cut by a spur growing on my bone. Everything was removed, spur and some arthritis. Recovery is on track. Abductor sling and 3 different home exercises for a total of 6 weeks before seeing an actual PT. HTH

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Don't skip your pain meds before going to PT. Otherwise you waste everybody's time including your own.

sxs said:

On the ibuprofen and take note, 600 - 800 milligrams is the true normal dose....not the 200 mg in a single OTC pill.

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Better yet, get a script for 800's. Less coating, better results.

AACo said:

Hey All,

This is probably an oddball question, but figured someone might have gone through this.

I'm having shoulder surgery in three weeks and will be out for ~4 months. . Anyone that has gone through it, any issues afterwards in regards to getting back into the sport? As we all know, the shoulder takes a beating on those long range days.

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4 Months sounds like a very generous recovery time. I'm not sure what specifically you are getting repaired but when I tore my rotator I had virtually no strength with any abduction movements. I was in my mid twenties when I had surgery and it took 6 months to recover enough to the point where I could really start physical therapy. The pain and physical limitations followed me for about two more years before I was fully confident in it. I guess you could start getting good at off hand shooting in the mean time

Broncolou said:

I had my first post op appt yesterday. Everything is on track. My pain level is very manageable and I'm actually skipping meds on occasion. The first week to 10 days is the worst, after that it gets better everyday. I had a full thickness tear that was started and aggravated by degenerative tissue. The degenerative tissue was cut by a spur growing on my bone. Everything was removed, spur and some arthritis. Recovery is on track. Abductor sling and 3 different home exercises for a total of 6 weeks before seeing an actual PT. HTH

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good to hear this

Broncolou said:

I had my first post op appt yesterday. Everything is on track. My pain level is very manageable and I'm actually skipping meds on occasion. The first week to 10 days is the worst, after that it gets better everyday. I had a full thickness tear that was started and aggravated by degenerative tissue. The degenerative tissue was cut by a spur growing on my bone. Everything was removed, spur and some arthritis. Recovery is on track. Abductor sling and 3 different home exercises for a total of 6 weeks before seeing an actual PT. HTH

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Man! This thread really grew. I'm glad (?) to hear I'm not alone, even though I knew I probably wasn't. I am starting to realize how common shoulder surgeries are.

Broncolou, glad to hear things are going well! It gives me hope that my recovery will be smooth as well. I trust my surgeon, so that is part of it too. Three weeks from today!

Thanks everyone for the advice on the Ibuprofen. I wish I wasn't "allergic" to it. I break out in hives and spend the day on the porcelain throne. I might be picking up an ice machine and doing the math on Acetaminophen. I was nick named "bubble boy" as a kid...it is unfortunately true.

I will keep you all posted on things. Thanks again for the tips and tricks, it was all very helpful. Maybe it will help my sporting clay skills a bit.

AACo said:

doing the math on Acetaminophen.

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The Washington Hosp Center tanked me up on 2000mg of Acetaminophen and sent me home on 1 percocet every 4 hours after heart surgery. Nearly all the oral narcotics commonly prescribed after surgery have Acetaminophen. If I wanted to keep my liver I couldn't take anymore percocet than that until well into the next day.