Shooting after shoulder replacement?

T

TheFineLine

Member
Joined
Jan 15, 2015
Messages
53
Reaction score
74
Location
The Great State of Texas
My dad is my shooting buddy. He dislocated his shoulder while in Ranger school. Its healed up mostly but after years of competitive weightlifting with the old injury he has just destroyed the use of his dominant shoulder. He is going to have the shoulder replaced in the Spring. Have any of you had a shoulder replacement? Were you able to shoot again after it? The weight lift limit is 20 lbs but with the recoil....... Looking for advice on what to expect.
 
Register to hide this ad
I think I would ask advice from the orthopedic surgeon that is doing the work on your father.

When I got a new knee a couple of years ago, the ortho guy gave me a whole list of stuff not to do.
 
I also think he should ask his surgeon about it. In the beginning, he'll have a hard time raising his arm high enough to take aim. Rehab is a must and part of it is using his fingers to walk his arm up a wall.
 
I had partial replacement about seven years ago. I decided it was time when I bought a nice Model 14-3, then couldn't lift it high enough to shoot it in a Weaver stance. Mine has been very successful. It took two years, but the soreness and twinges finally went away. I religiously did the rehab stuff. The Doc didn't put any restrictions on me after about a year. I now have full range of motion, and zero pain.

I had the ball-joint replaced, but the socket wasn't relined. They were going to do the whole thing, but the Doc said it wasn't as bad as he thought when he got in, and leaving the socket as is would leave more options when I needed it again in 25 years. :D I was 59 when he operated.
 
The short answer is definitely speak with the surgeon, as well as the Physical Therapist for the definitive answer. While not a shoulder replacement, I've endured several surgical repairs of my non-dominant (left) shoulder. The only time I've really had any difficulty is in trying to shoot a compound bow. I still cannot hold the bow firmly enough to draw the arrow to full length. I guess if I get serious about bow hunting I'll have to go to a crossbow.

Best of luck to you,

Dave
 
redlevel said:
I had partial replacement about seven years ago. I decided it was time when I bought a nice Model 14-3, then couldn't lift it high enough to shoot it in a Weaver stance. Mine has been very successful. It took two years, but the soreness and twinges finally went away. I religiously did the rehab stuff. The Doc didn't put any restrictions on me after about a year. I now have full range of motion, and zero pain.

I had the ball-joint replaced, but the socket wasn't relined. They were going to do the whole thing, but the Doc said it wasn't as bad as he thought when he got in, and leaving the socket as is would leave more options when I needed it again in 25 years. :D I was 59 when he operated.
Click to expand...

They are going to do a reverse shoulder replacement where they flip the ball and socket and the arm bone is the socket and the shoulder is the ball.
 
I had my shoulder and shoulder blade completely reconstructed twice with pins, plates and screws. After some time to really heal he will b ok. But it's not gonna b something he is gonna b able to jump right into. The first year was the roughest but I'm 14 years removed from surgery now. The *** still hurts all the time non stop but I'm able to shoot now pretty good. But first couple years was rough
 
I had rotator cuff surgery a few years ago. About seven months after the surgery I took my Perdersoli 1874 Sharps to the range with some pretty stout .45-70 loads. The first round made tears shoot out my eyes and the pain was awful. Although I had rehabbed the shoulder, and was pretty much pain free, it was not completely healed. I shot a few more rounds and had to stop. I put my head down on the bench for a while and the shooter next to me asked if I was alright. I said no but I did not need help. I packed up and left and then sold the rifle. Six months later I was shooting .338 Winchester Magnums without pain. I just didn't wait long enough before shooting the big bores. After your father rehabs his shoulder, ease back into shooting. Bench rest shoot handguns and start shooting with low recoil rifles. I sure wish I had the Pedersoli back. Good luck to your father.
 
Last edited:
Both shoulder joint replaced along with both knees replaced.
I started off with .22 Rf semi-automatic rifle and pistol
worked up to a .223 semi rifle and 9 mm semi auto pistol
Being I am a "Wimp/chicken I haven't attempted a .45/70 Marlin Model 1895.
 
I had rotator cuff surgery on my right arm in early 2014, which wasn't entirely successful. While my shoulder doesn't hurt like it did before surgery, I am a little fearful of shooting any rifles or shotguns having substantial recoil. The real problem is that I do not have enough strength in my right arm to shoot one-handed, I now always have to use both hands.
 
I did not have a shoulder replaced, I did have my shoulder reconstructed due to an errant motorist.

My first orthopedic swore my shoulder was improving with physical therapy. When I found a replacement orthopedic, he insisted that I needed surgery, apparently I had a 98% rotator cuff tear. Prior to the surgery, lifting a gallon jug of milk put me to my knees.

I had that surgery in 2008, and I have been pain free since. However, a few weeks after the surgery, the main muscle/tendon that gives the arm strength snapped. Being a rifleman meant I now had extreme difficulty shouldering my rifle. I can hold prone position for about 5 minutes before the pain and burning sensations become intolerable. I now shoot F class rifle matches. I can shoot a round of trap with minimal difficulty.

I am right handed, and I shoot right handed, but the injury and repair was to the left shoulder.

Fortunately, my current orthopedics are gun owner friendly, and have been extremely helpful in aiding me in obtaining competition accommodations.

The best thing your father can do is confide in his surgeon, and follow his treatment to the letter.
 
Hey

Many people know someone with an artificial knee or hip joint. Shoulder replacement is less common. But it is just as successful in relieving joint pain. Total shoulder replacement surgery started in the United States in the 1950s, and it was used as a treatment for severe shoulder fractures. Over the years, this surgery has come to be used for many other painful conditions of the shoulder.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Horrible service from S&W- Advice needed
2 3
Replies
45
Views
3K
dsk
D
B
Introduction-LONG post warning
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
Brian Parrish
Brian Parrish
Cdog
7.7 TomCat: Introducing A New Long Range Cartridge
Replies
5
Views
829
WR Moore
W
M
60+ YEAR COLLECTION OF FIREARM PARTS, ACCESSORIES, MILITARIA, & ARTIFACTS
Replies
9
Views
2K
Marcus von W.
M
tlawler
How was your Labor Day weekend?
2
Replies
23
Views
519
raljr1
R

Latest posts

Back
Top