Shoulder injuries

[clickerati]

Somewhere along the line when I was doing all my moving from Maine to Michigan to GB, I hurt my drawing shoulder (left). It's nothing like when I'd dislocated my bow shoulder a few years ago, but it twinges at the oddest movements.

I have no noticeable pain when I'm shooting, but it hurts like the dickens if I reach up to get something off a shelf or just to lift it from my side. I usually move through the pain until my shoulder is in a comfortable angle.

I haven't seen a GP or physio, but I'm beginning to wonder if I should. It's been bothering me for nearly 2 months now. I thought it was maybe muscular, but now I'm wondering if it's skeletal or connective.

Anyone want to hazard a guess at what I might have done?

[Mistake]

You could have trapped a nerve. One of the archers in my club did that last year, and he complained about similar proplems, but that was in his bow arm, not his drawing arm

[LineCutter]

Originally Posted by clickerati

I have no noticeable pain when I'm shooting, but it hurts like the dickens if I reach up to get something off a shelf or just to lift it from my side. I usually move through the pain until my shoulder is in a comfortable angle.

I haven't seen a GP or physio, but I'm beginning to wonder if I should. It's been bothering me for nearly 2 months now. I thought it was maybe muscular, but now I'm wondering if it's skeletal or connective.

Anyone want to hazard a guess at what I might have done?

Yup, not gone to see a doctor/physio.
(It'd take a braver person than me to attempt to diagnose this on a web forum... now if you'd post the video showing exactly where & when it hurts & how you get around the problem... )

[clickerati]

That kind of video will cost you...

[clickerati]

Just got back from the GP who tells me I have a rotator cuff injury in my left shoulder and need to have physio. Perfect. Wonderful. Just what I need to hear.

I don't think it's serious, but as it's become progressively worse since April (and excrutiating this morning), not doing anything is probably a bad idea. She didn't say I couldn't or shouldn't shoot, though. We'll see what the physio has to say.

[Meddler]

Originally Posted by clickerati

Just got back from the GP who tells me I have a rotator cuff injury in my left shoulder and need to have physio. Perfect. Wonderful. Just what I need to hear.

I don't think it's serious, but as it's become progressively worse since April (and excrutiating this morning), not doing anything is probably a bad idea. She didn't say I couldn't or shouldn't shoot, though. We'll see what the physio has to say.

As a Coach, I have to say this... It's for your own good...

Pain is Nature's way of telling you something is wrong...

If you feel pain, then STOP DOING WHAT IS CAUSING THE PAIN!!!! (Sorry for the shouting...) If you continue, it is possible you will create more damage than you have already.

Injuries need to be rested and treated. When you come back you build up gently, you don't go straight in where you left off...

The good thing is you are going to see the physio. Put yourself in their hands, do what they tell you, and get better soon. I would hate to lose someone to the sport through injury... (Especially you Clicki...)

[SVL]

For anybody interested in science & medicine in archery, there is a really good book available. It can be found in the FITA web pages shop. Just arrived through my mailbox last Friday and based on my quick flick through it does look interesting and covers alot of the medical aspects of archery. I will do a full review once I have read it properly.

[clickerati]

Thanks for your concern, Meddler! But it *doesn't* hurt when I shoot. Only when I do other things and only when my shoulder is in a certain position and moving a certain way. That said, there *is* a slight dull ache there some of the time. It's only when I catch it in just the right way that its excrutiating.

Does that still mean I shouldn't shoot? I only just got back into archery and paid my membership and GNAS fees.

[Stace]

I've had a dicky shoulder similar to how you describe for years Click.

It got worse when I stopped shooting for a while but I've had it for years. Mine feels as though it almost clicks out of position now and again - probably ligament stretch or something.

If you're worried about it, get yourself down the quack's who'll probably pass you on to a physio for some mobility tests.

[Meddler]

The book SVL mentioned is, I believe, Sports Medicine and Science in Archery (ISBN 2-8399-0002-5). edited by Emin Ergen and Karol Hibner... Met Emin Ergen at the National Coaching Conference last year. Nice guy. (And yes, I drop names.... )

Just looked at something which may interest you, Clicki... Page 86 "Any pain is a sign that soft tissue structures are at risk and must be attended to". On p 85 there is a small chart...

1st degree strain = irritation / minor pain, short term during the shot /relieved immediately after the shot / continued micro injury to the muscle if technique is not changed.... treatment - ice / correction of technical fault

2nd degree strain = pain increases / lasts for short time after shot / local inflammation of muscle / further damage and scarring ... treatment ice / rest for 2-3 days corection of traning program / technical fault

3rd degree strain pain grossly limits activity / training / pain at rest / pain worse at night / severe OVERUSE injury... treatment - ice every 2-3 hours / rest 7-10 days / medical intervention / rehab program needed.

The article then goes on to say that if you don't do something about it, you will damage the soft tissue - **severe** cases lead to irreversible damage and constant pain.

It may be that none of your symptoms are as serious as the above... but wait until you've seen the physio and got the all clear before you start shooting again. Besides, rest seems to be indicated for the problem anyway.

The physio will probably :
- give you a set of exercises to strengthen the shoulder area
- tell you that any movement should be done in the pain free range of movement

I know I've been there. I damaged my drawing shoulder whilst on a dry ski slope about 15 years ago. It took me 6 - 8 weeks to get back to shooting again.

Take care,

Iain