Kirk James Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 I am having a total shoulder replacement on Tuesday. Today, I had a blast shooting with the Payson Cowboys and my son Cody James. Could not think of a better way to prepare myself for the next four months. The company and stages Rowdy Lane put together for us were just what the doctor ordered: creative, challenging and tested many of the skills needed to be successful. On the two hour drive home, I could not help but think of all the great times our family has had due to cowboy action shooting. Going through a major surgery will force me to take several months off. If any of you have had major surgery and couldn’t practice, please let me know what I can do to maintain skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Go to the shoots and help with the posse duties until you can shoot again. I had eye surgery and had to lay out for a while. It was doing this that helped keep me sane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Hey NOZ I AIN'T sure it worked in your case love ya bro CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Pepper Jack Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 All you can do is the therapy. I had a total reconstruction of my left shoulder a few years ago and was back in about 9 months but everyone heals at a different rate. Do what the doc tells you to do and don't push to hard or you could have a set back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 My knee incident is pretty well documented but what a lot of folks don’t know is that I had to have a shoulder repaired a few years before that. In both cases I used the down time to practice fundamentals. At your level it’s 10ths and 100ths of seconds that make the difference between 1st place and “also ran”. But you can’t gain those fractions of a second without a good foundation. Sight acquisition, breathing, trigger control, etc. Practicing those as much as possible will pay big dividends in the long run. Sending prayers for a fast and full recovery, my friend. And give that son of yours a punch in the arm for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gateway Kid SASS# 70038 Life Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 As has been said, the doctors actually have your best interest at heart, so DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU!!!!! No need to push it, this is a long term project that you can come back from, better than before or .... You can do what you think you need to do and spend the next few years wondering what could have been Your skills are NOT going to disappear, and the degradation is correctable with practice once your body is whole again. Besides you have two of the best to work you over when you have healed! Looking forward to seeing you at WR and prayers are already on the way to the Boss upstairs for complete healing, removal of pain and favor as you go forth in life. Respectfully Gateway Kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217 Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Hi Kirk, The only help I can give are my wishes for a safe surgery and speedy recovery. Regards, Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadeye George Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Kirk, I can't suggest any skill maintenance since I've always been on the receiving end of your sage advice. Just don't rush anything but do keep coming to Payson, it only takes one hand to hold up the dynamite stick and you're the best spotter we have! Hope all goes well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Had both of my shoulders replaced. Left in November of 2016 and right in late February of this year. I did all the physical therapy and was back shooting in late May. I have had no problems since surgery and the shoulders are great....full range of motion and no pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 55 minutes ago, Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life said: Had both of my shoulders replaced. Left in November of 2016 and right in late February of this year. I did all the physical therapy and was back shooting in late May. I have had no problems since surgery and the shoulders are great....full range of motion and no pain. Non shooting related advice here. I’ve had both knees and one shoulder put back together. When doing your physical therapy the worst but arguably most important part is range of motion. No matter what, don’t neglect range of motion exercises. If you lose it, you’ll never get it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 25 minutes ago, Shooting Bull said: Non shooting related advice here. I’ve had both knees and one shoulder put back together. When doing your physical therapy the worst but arguably most important part is range of motion. No matter what, don’t neglect range of motion exercises. If you lose it, you’ll never get it back. That's the truth right there. Lost almost total range in both ankles after a fall. But.... they said they were going to amputate till my bride said NO. Then they said I'd never walk again. HA. Cowboy shooting is still my therapy. At the last shoot Kaya and I got to go to together she said "Daddy! You RAN!" Yes, yes I did. Thankyou! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 I have had a knee replacement in 2002, a total ankle replacement (2014) and the 2 shoulders I mentioned. I have full range of motion on all of the replacement joints. Worked my butt off in PT to get it all back. Hurt like hell sometimes, but totally worth the effort. I have been really lucky to have worked with a great PT person. He understood what I wanted to accomplish and we both worked to that goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Shapiro Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Just focus on recovery. Practice will bring your skills back pretty quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augustus Goodnight Posted December 19, 2017 Share Posted December 19, 2017 Brian Enos' book "Practical Shooting, Beyond Fundamentals" has a bunch of "dry"drills that are for pistol shooters. When you're at the point of recovery that you can hold up your revolver they would be helpful. Good luck with your surgery and hope you'll still be out to see us during your recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amarillo Rattler Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 If the surgery is on your dominant side, try dry firing a revolver with the weak hand during recovery. Gunfighter and Duelist can be added to your shooting styles after many months of forced practice.. Amarillo Rattler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Left ankle from jumping was repaired in 2016, right knee from jumping, rugby and auto accident repaired multiple times, right hip from rugby and recently quintuple open heart surgery have rquired some PT and changes in shooting methods. Currently, I am told not to shoot shotguns nor rifles for about one year. However, my experience indicates that you can continue to have fun with shooting. Helping on the LT, UT, spotting, cooking, etc. can keep you in the sport until your various body parts have begun to heal. Since my preferred weapons are pistols and revolvers, dry firing with them keeps your muscles in tune. Life would really suck if I had to give up NRA bullseye, SASS and CFDA so I HAVE NOT!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackey Cole Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 Mine was leg surgery as you know and I just sat down in a chair and went thru dry fire drills. But a shoulder is a whole lot different I had shoulder reconstruction back in the mid 80’s and it was 6 months before the doctor would let me do anything with that arm about 4months before I could do much with the other other than light tasks. I know thing are different now as most are fully recovered by 6 months from what I read here.do what you can under the drs advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baddog Nobiscuit #46532 Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Hi Kirk, I don't know about sanity (never had much to speak of) but, do work on range of motion. Shoulder strength will come back as you progress. YOU WON'T DO MUCH FOR A FEW WEEKS. Edit to add: total rt shoulder replacement Nov. 2016 and about 10 sessions of physical therapy . For strength, I started by lifting cans of soup straight out to the sides and up as high as I could reach. Strength and range come back very quickly. Work on drawing from your holsters. DO WHAT THE DOCTOR SAYS! Each surgery has different protocols. I was shooting my shotgun in about 4 months. Little bit sore but, got through 6 stages! HA! As others have said, go to shoots and just hang out. Best wishes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk James Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. It was a tough surgery. Lasted four hours rather than two. It has been three weeks now and the therapist has been great. Cannot move my shoulder without the therapist moving it for three more weeks. Then then the exercises begin. Range of motion looks great according to the therapist. Doctor is really pleased how it came out and knows how much I love this sport. Will see you at Winter Range as a spectator and will be volunteering at speed rifle. I miss shooting with everyone and will be back soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 On 12/18/2017 at 6:18 AM, Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 said: Hey NOZ I AIN'T sure it worked in your case love ya bro CB You understand I am speaking in relative terms? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 On 12/22/2017 at 8:42 AM, Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life said: Left ankle from jumping was repaired in 2016, right knee from jumping, rugby and auto accident repaired multiple times, right hip from rugby and recently quintuple open heart surgery have rquired some PT and changes in shooting methods. Currently, I am told not to shoot shotguns nor rifles for about one year. However, my experience indicates that you can continue to have fun with shooting. Helping on the LT, UT, spotting, cooking, etc. can keep you in the sport until your various body parts have begun to heal. Since my preferred weapons are pistols and revolvers, dry firing with them keeps your muscles in tune. Life would really suck if I had to give up NRA bullseye, SASS and CFDA so I HAVE NOT!!!! Ask permission from your match director to be allowed to shoot Josey Wales. 5 revolvers, no rifle and no shotgun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Our club is quite informal. We allow any style. The out of town club is the same. :-) However, thanks for the advice!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Noz said: You understand I am speaking in relative terms? NOZ since Shade Tree ain't around much , I has to find another pard in crime , to keep folks guessing what NOW CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 12 hours ago, Kirk James said: Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers. It was a tough surgery. Lasted four hours rather than two. It has been three weeks now and the therapist has been great. Cannot move my shoulder without the therapist moving it for three more weeks. Then then the exercises begin. Range of motion looks great according to the therapist. Doctor is really pleased how it came out and knows how much I love this sport. Will see you at Winter Range as a spectator and will be volunteering at speed rifle. I miss shooting with everyone and will be back soon. Super news. Keep at it -it will get better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackrabbit Joe #414 Posted January 15, 2018 Share Posted January 15, 2018 Well Kirk James just listen to your Doctor and stay with it. Therapy will definitely help. Thoughts and prayers for you pilgrim. I just had another surgery on another hernia in the belly button and I'm out of commission for 4-6 weeks and advised not to lift more than 5lbs. Therapy is walking at this time. Take care: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHOOTIN FOX Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 Do not rush recovery. Bone spurs developed after shoulder surgery, another surgery and six months later, still hetting my “ groove “ back. Do the therapy and listen to the doctors.... Hope you have a rapid recovery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk James Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 Thanks everyone and good luck on you recovery Jackrabbit Joe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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