For any of you that have had it what was your recovery time till you could shoot a shotgun?

I've had 4 surgeries on my shoulders, two were rotator cuff, one on each shoulder. A lot depends on how much is involved but mine were good to go within 2 months on the left and 4 months on the right. One thing I did and yes the Doc didn't approve but I started working out with weights within a few days of the surgery. The biggest thing with shoulder surgeries is range of motion and getting it working and moving really speeds that up. January 2004 I had a rotator surgery on my right shoulder, April 2004 my cousin and I took second in the World Doubles Disc Gold Championship, Grand Masters and I'm right handed. My knee's gave me more trouble than my shoulder did. Mrs. B. had a RC and it took her a full year to recover, she kept it in a sling the first 6 weeks and did everything by the book including rehab. I've had zero rehab for either of my shoulders. In 2014 I was benching 235 and throwing a Disc 400 to 450 ft. Keep them moving and don't lose range of motion. It's easier to keep from losing it than it is to try and get it back.

I think it depends on your age, I've had 3 rotator cuff s done.I had 2 on my right, and 1 on the left. It wasn't fun for me, I did do rehab in each case, and was shooting about 4months after the surgery. Like Hwy Man says, outside of the pain, range of motion is the biggest problem.I recommend you follow what your Doc says, and for sure do the rehab. I'm older and full range of motion for me was 18 months. Rehab is hard but be careful, because you darn sure don't want to have to go thru this anymore. Best of luck, listen to your Doc.

You sound like you're thinking like me. I need to get my right one done again and am trying to find a window where I don't miss hunting season or the best time to fish.

You can plan on 5-6 weeks in a sling, and another couple months with limited range of motion and lot of tenderness. Call it at least 3 months. Maybe 4 if you're shooting 3 1/2" shells.

Geez, I’m dealing with it right now. Had it on Monday. Look in Off Topic. Just the thought of shooting a shotgun hurts right now. Recovery time varies with the severity of the damage and the repair, so I don’t think there’s a ‘one size fits all’ answer to your question. Best of luck to ya.

Last time I had the surgery, it was a year till I was back to 100%.

Well my right l shoulder has bothered me some off and on for a few years. would a Shot and everything would be fine. Then about three weeks ago it started bothering me got a shot no good. Went on steroids didn’t help. X-rays showed nothing. Doctors talking about an MRI and possible rotator cuff surgery. I don’t think I have enough time to get it in shape for hunting in October.

I’m going for X-ray on my right shoulder today. I think it’ll be a waste of time, should just do the MRI first. But I’m not the Dr..

If you shoot before a year, you are trying to injure it again. Just don't complain if it happens.

If surgery, I think you can forget about bird hunting in October. When you get the surgery you’ll understand why.

I’m hoping I can put the surgery off till after Christmas, but at this rate I’m not sure. Headed to a shoulder specialist next week.

Thought I was going under the knife early this year. Looked at everything that could help and try to avoid. Found this and it has worked wonders. Damn sure worth trying before going all in with surgery. It has worked wonders for my shoulder. Just my 2 cents.
https://rotatoreliever.com/products...I9-UmbpXCDtnAe_6-RoUaBTlaXRoCKwYQAvD_BwE

There are a lot of variables here. I've had two rotator cuff surgeries, left shoulder in February 2009 and right shoulder in March 2021. Both times I had a CT scan, radiography and CT scan with dye. Again, both times these tests didn't show much. This surgery sucks and recovery sucks, it just plain hurts and is very uncomfortable. You can't lay on your back for about 5-8 weeks.

Prior surgery the left would pop out of joint, dislocate, if I moved a certain way. Post surgery I couldn't get enough Vicodin for the first 3-4 weeks. Did 12 weeks of PT and still only had limited movement. It was 9 months before I had full range of motion.

I noticed that I was having problems with the right shoulder, it was painful to toss a tennis ball for the dog, in March 2020. I knew from previous experience that I probably needed rotator cuff surgery again. Now being at the beginning of the pandemic I couldn't even get into to see the my Dr, let alone see a specialist. Lived with the discomfort all summer. Finally in late August 2020, I got a live appt with my dr and the needed referral to see the specialist. The first available appt with the orthopedist was for October. See the specialist, get sent for CT scan and radiography, return 4 weeks later then get a steroid injection, didn't do much for me. Again four weeks later, now December, he sends me for PT. Did PT for 6 weeks, it's now mid-January, he says let's operate. We schedule to operate in March, by that time I'm miserable and in a lot of pain, even with meds, a lot of meds.

Surgery went well, turns out the rotator cuff was pretty bad, much worse than the left, the labrum was torn and there were bone spurs. Best part of the surgery was the nerve block, I didn't feel my arm for 2 days, after that the pain set in. Over all the pain subsided over the first week, unlike the left, and I was off pain meds after about 10 days. Saw the dr at 6 weeks and then again at 12 weeks. He started PT somewhere around 10 weeks. One thing that he said was that at 12 weeks my shoulder was only 45% healed and not to over do it. Of course I had been doing things that he did not recommend.

It's now 4 months post op. Shoulder is pretty good, still some stiffness, still working on range of motion. In mid-June shot an AR, it was uncomfortable. July 4th shot 3 rounds of skeet with a 20gauge semi-auto, still uncomfortable. Pre-op I had been shooting the whole time. Dove hunted in September several times, without pain. November went quail/pheasant hunting without any problems. Mid-January went quail/pheasant hunting again and was miserable, flinched every time I pulled the trigger, not good. I am going dove hunting this fall, whether I'm ready or not. I will shoot a 20 gauge semi-auto. I don't think I'll be ready for fixed breach guns for awhile.

Remember if it's your dominant arm everything is more difficult. Plan for it. If it was my choice I probably wouldn't wait. I waited too long on the second one and was miserable the last couple of months. Take plenty of time off work.

My ortho recommended about 6 months if I recall - I had rotator, bicep tendon and some other issues - time, ice and PT are your friends. Good luck!!

My wife was at the dr yesterday. Her shoulder surgery was about 6 weeks back. Her shoulder was really tore up. He told her 9-12 month recovery and 12 more weeks of therapy.

I wouldn’t push it. I’d lay off guns for a year if it was me. They will be there when your ready.

My first RC surgery was on my dominant arm. Had to switch everything I did to my unskilled left arm. Brushing, wiping, shaving, eating with a fork, using a spoon was really hard to do. I even finally switched to playing tennis left handed. I was excellent right handed, so thought the left would learn from the right. Noooo! Finally also learned to shoot a shotgun well from the left side. I was semi ambidextrous for a few years, but have drifted back to being right handed. You can get through this. Just be patient.

And here I sit right now, healing from the left side RC surgery, somewhat drugged up and in minor pain.

In the 30 years from my first RC surgery, I can absolutely say that medicine has greatly improved. I hope I’ll be able to say that about the rehab. I PRAY I’ll be able to say that about the rehab.

You’ll learn to shoot with the off hand. It’ll be fun.

Ice is an effective painkiller. Make sure you have several ice packs in rotation.

6 months will get you 90% of the way. You won't ever be back to what it was before the injury. It can take a full year to feel completely normal.

I had bone spurs removed in March. I've been able to lift a little, but it takes a few days for the soreness to pass. Haven't tried shotgun yet, but with lack of shells and Dove season approaching will wait until next month to test my shoulder's ability to handle the kick.

Cheetah and I won’t agree on % recovery. I was a very competitive tennis player till I tore up the shoulder. My surgeon told me, after the operation, that if I followed his directions and did the full rehab, and did NOT rush recovery or do anything to mess up what he had done, I’d get back to 100% of what I was. Took a full year, but I got back to 100% and continued to play tennis at my previous level.

Pretty much the case for everyone I know. Pain for 6 months or more....then therapy ongoing to get range of motion back. Looking at about a year on average for most to get pretty much back to normal. Strength comes back more slowly.

Slow easy front crawl in the pool helped mine a ton.

never had the surgery but have torn the cuff several times....I would say 6 months recovery at least. The last time I tore mine was the night before opening morning of gun season 2 years ago. Was able to get in the deer blind opening morning but couldn't raise my binocs much less my rifle. Shot a deer 2 weeks later and went home for the season. It's been 2 years and still not fully recovered.....get's harder as I get older so age is a factor. Take it easy and heal up so you can hunt problem free for years to come.

You guys are scaring the crap out of me. I had an x-ray two weeks ago and it did not show anything. Just got home from an MRI and should get the news tomorrow as to what will be needed. I'm soon to be 74yo and 4 to 6 months of recovery is not something I want to think of. Will be watching this thread for more positive reports. If you have one let me hear it.

Junkie, I don’t remember one damn thing positive about that 6 months. I was scared spitless that I would screw it up again.

I am presently scared “spitless” that I’ll screw up Monday’s RC operation. I am 5 days into 6 weeks in the immobilizing sling. Pain not too bad. Drugs pretty good…