I have some tears/fraying in my rotator cuff. Unfortunately on the dominant side. It isn’t serious enough to require surgery, been doing PT and have had a cortisone injection. I can shoot pistol ok, but last time I tried to shoot rifle (springfield 03a3), the recoil thumped the shoulder enough that the injury flared up again, which eventually lead to another cortisone injection.

Any suggestions to protect the shoulder? I hope I don’t have to give up shooting rifle and shotgun. I thought about trying to switch to the other side, but that would probably be very awkward.

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Common sense isn't so common.

PT, PT, PT! If it's not helping, get a different provider - but talk to your physical therapist about it.

Look, none of us here have any idea about your precise issues based on what you wrote. Your physical therapist (talk to him/her about what you need to do) will. Asking the bunch of us is like asking for legal advice here based on a hypothetical - talk to your provider.

(My response is based on living without surgery (immediately recommended by the gonif surgeon living in his palatial office when he saw the insurance I had) for more than ten years. And from having close contact with family members and friends who had the surgeries and/or did PT.)

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How God has blessed us!

I would talk to your doctor about it. It may be that surgery is necessary to allow you to shoot long guns comfortably. Until then, I would limit yourself to rimfires and light trap loads. I'm sorry to hear about your troubles and I hope you heal as soon and as painlessly as possible.

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The best I can with what I got

Therapy. Build up your range of motion and increase your strength.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I had mine repaired via arthroscopic surgery a year and a half ago and haven’t looked back. No regrets.

Incurred a right shoulder impingement in 2007: PT administered by a top staff brought me back to what I thought was normal. Here in the valley in 2016, I was lifting a 1,000 round case of .38 Spl out of the trunk when I actually HEARD the right shoulder tear. This 2 weeks before cancer surgery... Unable to attend PT sessions but remembered all the exercises from the impingement. Informal weights included bottles of water and boxes of .45 hardball!

Recommend you attend formal PT and keep a record of the exercises for future use, if needed.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

I had my right shoulder done a few years ago. I have been postponing my left shoulder but will eventually need surgery again. In my experience, pre-surgery PT did not help; it exacerbated the right shoulder condition. A tear is a tear and it does not heal. PT helps strengthen surrounding muscles to help but for me, it wasn’t the answer. After surgery, PT helps to regain muscle movement and range of motion. However, even after surgery (now some three plus years on) I need to be aware of my right shoulder and treat it with consideration. I use one of these for rifle shooting. There are many out there to choose from.

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"Your other right........."

I had mine repaired by arthroscopic surgery in 2007. Only after that did PT actually do any good at all.
I now have 98% range of motion in my now pain free shoulder thanks to a good surgeon and a good PT regimen. PT was no fun. There were days that I dreaded it. BUT...every session yielded a noticeable improvement, even though it sometimes hurt like hell.

I guess you don’t need surgery, but I would ask if it would be a more permanent solution. I had both rotator cuffs repaired. 1st one was nine month therapy after. Second one I waited till I retired. I’ve had acquaintances who only did therapy, but I would recommend a good pad for your shoulder; I don’t know of any. I see you asked. Good luck.
Edit: I know it’s hard, but within a two-three week period of a shoulder operation, don’t fall asleep on it! And you will need real pain relief, not Advil. You don’t have to take them, but if only one you’ll be glad to have it.

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Waiting For The Sun.

Go easy with the cortisone. It’s just a temporary fix that will exacerbate the injury in the long run. Something that my wife is now finding out about after several rounds of shots in her knees and one ankle.

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USS Brewton FF1086
SWCA#3597

Left shoulder twice. Now I live with it because I don't want to do months of immobilization and a year of rehab, now that I'm retired and no longer have to work for a living.

As others have pointed out, cortisone injections are not a permanent solution and can lead to other problems. Be very cautious about relying on cortisone therapy.

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Life of the party until 8:00PM

My mother had her rotator cuff surgery some 10 years ago at age 84. Each person can be a unique situation for one reason or another. Find trustworthy medical professionals.

Here are a few photos from my January 2014 left shoulder S.L.A.P. repair. I did nearly ten months of Physical Terrorpy and have 100% range of motion. My surgeon and Physical Terrorist were top notch. Listen to both people and follow their instructions.

After you have surgery and you are told to discard your sling keep supporting your arm whenever possible. Sitting on the sofa or in a chair, prop it up. Keep the weight off the shoulder because it is still healing on the inside. Sections of swimming pool noodles, wrapped in hand towels and covered with an athletic tube sock make inexpensive, lightweight, versatile props.

Best of luck with both the surgery and PT if you choose them.

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It seems intuityively obvious that Erich is correct that each case is different. In my case, I believe trhat I know hoe I tore it. Alcohol facilitated the overextension.

In my case, it healed itself in about a year and a half, and my only restraint was my knowledge of what would hurt. Your case is surely different, but competent physical therapists know a lot these days. Give them a chance. They helped heal me 100%, beyond MD expectations, in another case.

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Formerly Model520Fan

Just get it done.
Had both done, get the best Dr. and PT.
Never the same but GTG.

Add: done by robot control, Doc said :
playing those video games paid off, lol

I had a 98% rotator cuff tear as the result of an MVA, when I hit the ground, my left side took the full impact.

PT was relatively useless in my case. Surgery was performed just over 17 years ago, I did the basic PT and regained a significant amount of range of motion. My rotator cuff in each shoulder is now acting up, along with a tear in my right bicep. Left bicep is history. The surgeon that performed the initial rotator cuff surgery advised that now they use an overlay patch that can heal tears in just a few weeks. Something I'm contemplating.

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Judge control not gun control!

Shots and PT don't repair torn shoulder cuffs, only surgery will. So said my ortho. I had the shots and PT, and so far he's right that they don't repair the damage done. Too late in the game for me for the surgery.

After surgery and this may seem weird but seek out a therapist who specializes in shoulders. I asked my surgeon "who he would go to if he had the same issue". He gave me the name and I couldn't have been happier. Sometimes I think these therapy places are more of an assembly line instead of pinpointing your issues and repairing them. Next issue is doing the exercises diligently. Just my 2 cents.

I had massive tears in both shoulders, luckily not at the very same time. I went through PT and steroid shots as well, this didn't help mine, same story for both shoulders. Eventually I had to have surgery on both of them, separated by about a year or so. Didn't have to do any PT after either surgery and had full range of motion in just a couple of weeks.

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Life Member GOA and NRA