Post-Shoulder Surgery & Recovery

[BlK Lantern]

Hello Everyone:

Currently I am recovering from my 2nd shoulder surgery in less than 2 years. I really love shotguns but before surgery I can clearly recall the pain, hence one reason why I sold my 45/70.

My question is for those who have had shoulder surgery I like to know how have you handled the recoil of SG's & large caliber rifles?

What have you done to alleviate the pain?


Thank you,

P.S. Before this 2nd surgery my shoulder was literally dislocated feeling worse than 2 toothaches I couldn't even hold up a Ruger 10/22.

[bigbearbear]

There is a PAST field shield you can consider using, I got it for my wife for her to shoot the 12 gauge semi-auto. It basically reduced the recoil to nothing for her, granted it is a birdshot but that was her first time firing a shotgun. Worth a look.

I bought a Beretta shooting vest recently, it comes with a gel recoil pad for your shoulder. It is not as thick as the PAST field shield but it works pretty good. Normally, after about 250 rounds of 1 1/8oz birdshots, I get a little tender on my shoulder but since buying the vest this has been a thing of the past.

[mjsweims]

I had my right (shooting arm) shoulder replaced 4 or 5 years ago. Needless to say the tendons and soft tissue were all reattached and screwed into place at that time. I was able to shoot a few months after the surgery without excessive pain. I had soft butt pads on some of my shotguns. The shotguns I have now are a SXS that I use for hunting with a Pachmyer pad. The guns I use for clay sports are both Brownings with factory pads.
There are recoil pads available that can be fitted to your shotgun that move on shot and absorb most of the recoil energy. They tend to get pricey but do the job. There are also clamp on recoil reducers that absorb some of the kinetic energy. There is also a mercury recoil reducer (not available in California) that fits in the butt stock and is very efficient at absorbing energy. Fortunately for me I don't find any of these necessary.
A friend of mine recently had shoulder surgery and his doctor has him not shooting for 4 months.
After my shoulder replacement (and after an arthroscopic shoulder procedure) I tested my shoulder by using several layers of towels between the gun and my shoulder. Shooting a 30-06 from a bench was no problem. Shooting the shotgun took a bit longer. I think the key is mounting the gun properly. When properly mounted the butt is not on the joint and if your trigger arm is loose there should not be too much jarring of the joint.
Good luck. Take your time and follow your doctor's orders first, and your arm's pain level second.

[midlife]

I can shoot a whole case in a day and never get sore. Start with lighter loads. Shooting trap. And see how it goes. If you mount gun right you should be ok. And just stop if anything doesn't feel right.

[Mike A]

I had a complete right shoulder rebuild a year ago last July. My surgeon forbid me shooting shotguns or heavy rifles for a year, so I fiddled around with .22s, my .222, and my 870 .410 (found out the .410 kills quail fine as long as you don't reach out very far). This season I've fired my 12 guage a lot, but stayed with lighter loads--no problem at all.

Haven't fired any high powers except the .308 barrel on my Valmet combination gun, which has a Decellerator pad and is heavy: with the scope and sling it weights 9 1/2 #. So the rifle barrel didn't hurt and there were no lasting effects on my shoulder, just on the pig I shot.

However, the 12 guage barrel really hurt when I fired slugs thru it trying to sight it in to the scope. Fired six and then quit: I'll save it for birdshot and last second backup with a slug for pigs, if needed.

The surgical incision is right were the edge of a rifle or shotgun buttplate sits, which makes a PAST pad necessary to spread the smack out from that area. Otherwise the surgery seems to have been a complete success--I can hold up and shoot my .44 with my right hand for the first time in over 5 years!

Your surgery may not be as radical as mine was (shoulder and arm were a serious mess of old and new injuries--took three hours of cut and paste) but in any case:

Good luck!!!!!

And stick to the physical therapy regimen like it was the 10 Commandments! People I know who didn't had several shoulder "lockups" that required.....more surgery!

[BlK Lantern]

Thank you. I know every surgery is different & recovery varies. Im seriously going to look into the pads but also take my time. I do notice that "positioning" makes a huge difference how recoil is distributed throughout the body.

[BlK Lantern]

I was told by doc that you don't want shoulder lockup but you also don't want to subject it to a hard impact such as recoil. I have a model 29 with a 6 1/2 barrel & I still can't hold it up with one hand yet.

[Thefeeder]

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When your ready and the doctor approves, there are a few things that will make shooting a SG easier on the shoulder.


A proper gun fitting
Proper gun mounting
Light loads in a heavier gun
Shooting 20ga or 28ga in a 12ga weight gun
Soft recoil pads
Wider, larger stock butts
Hydro stocks
Paded vests


A speedy recovery to you sir.

[canative]

Watch this video on proper technique, with practice it really cuts down on felt recoil, I started shooting this way after my shoulder surgery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq74aiXn1b4

[BigFatGuy]

learn to shoot left-handed?

[L84CABO]

Three on my right (shooting shoulder) and two on my left...so far. My experience has been that it generally takes a good year for recovery.

But it's really not going to do you much good to give you our experiences because everyone is different and it very much depends on what all you have had done. In my case the cartilage around the humoral head was worn down to the bone...among other things. And that stuff just doesn't grow back.

It took me a good year (after the one year recovery) to gradually work back into being able to handle a shotgun. Whatever you can do to minimize the recoil will help...Limbsaver recoil pads, gas operated shotguns, etc. Start out with light loads, go slow, build up gradually.

But to this day if the butt of the gun is off just a little...well let's just say it's a religious experience for me.

[drunktank]

I have a bad shoulder (torn rotator from a long time ago) among other things. A few people mentioned to try running a youth sized hogue stock with a limb saver screwed on and then an additional limb saver slip on. It's what I've been running recently and zero complaints. Before this I ran a Knox and a couple other dual recoil pad setups, but they weren't limb savers and didn't work as well. Hope this helps you any.

[bjl333]

Above all let your shoulder heal 100% before shooting anything! If it takes 2years then rest for 2 years!! Many sportsmen from different sports had to retire do to pushing before their bodies are ready!!

When you get the 100% from the doctor then start with something small and work your way up the ladder, no sense trying if you end up hurting yourself again...

Good Luck and heal right!!

[NapalmCheese]

Do your rehab as specified!

[Davy45]

Had two shoulder surgeries, right side and im right handed BUT! Im left eyed and find it double at the bench or prone, supported, also shoot low recoil rifles so all is not lost here. Hope you find a way bro.