Crossbows

[BilletHead]

This may be one of the hardest discussions I bring up. First some history. I have been bow hunting for almost 40 years. Only the first four or five years with a compound. Anyone remember the Jennings Arrow star? That was the last compound I had. A big heavy four wheeler. Then it was recurves and longbows. I have had some nice recurves, Original Bighorn and Black widows.Some in the 70 pound range. Over the last 20 years self bows. Even used shafts made from ditch shoots and have taken 7 deer with stone points I knapped. Four the last few years it has been a struggle to draw and shoot even my bows in the low fifties and high forties. Last year I did hunt with Mrs. BilletHead and could snap shoot some but could not practice. I had a sick feeling. Left shoulder going bad. I am Right handed but compression in my bow arm in the shoulder joint was painful. Seriously thought I may have torn my rotator cuff again. Ignored it hoping it would disappear. It had got so bad I could not raise my elbow above my shoulder. I also remember thinking in the past about others shooting crossbows during general archery season wondering why they had to do so. Now being on the other side of the fence so to say I am sorry I ever wondered that. So those that do and I know some on here do. Forgive me please.

Now to this year. Still bad shoulder never getting better I had a friend come over and cover and enclose my back deck. He and I expected me to be a grunt and help what I could do. I did pushing my joint to the limits. I should also let you know the joint grinds and has for years. At the same time my wife was working temp for a nurse practitioner at the clinic where she works. I had mentioned to her that my shoulder was pretty stirred up. She felt around and heard the grind and shuddered. Wow that is bad she said. What have you been taking? I respond Mobic for my back like I do everyday. That and maybe some Aleve now and again. Stop the Aleve she says. You are doubling up an the same med more or less. How long on the Mobic? Oh for years. Don't you know long term that is bad for you? Try stopping. Ok I did and all heck broke loose. Miserable was an understatement. I then made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon locally. Finally seen him. Told him my story and that I had had rotator cuff surgery once and the doc that had cleaned out arthritis and said it would come back and give me trouble. Well this guy kind of grunted and said I don't think so and set me up for an MRI. Put me back on the Mobic and said it was a maintence dose and to just keep a good eye on my blood work. Ok got the MRI and went back. He asked how old are you? 57 I respond. He then says I am that age and don't consider myself that old. I don't feel old I tell him so what's up? Arthritis bad. Really bad. How bad, really,really bad and it isn't going to get better. What do I do? He then says you need shoulder reconstruction. Are you frigging kidding me? Nope. This is a good doctor and I like him. He then says I don't do that and I think well this little Podunk town won't be doing anything like this to me. How soon. Well he says you should consider talking to someone soon. I get set up with a super duper joint man in Springfield a month later. I was sweating bullets for the month waiting. Looking on you tube at replacements of the shoulder. This gave me some thoughts, good and bad. I finally got to see the specialist. Another fine man in his field at the St. Johns new ortho unit South of Springfield. Now I really was impressed with him and he gave it to me straight. Hey there as he showed me my MRI. he says no more smooth joint where it should be round it is square and rough. He says you need a new shoulder. Crap here we go again. Next question are you sleeping at night? Not on that side but sleeping most nights ok. Good he responds. Then he explains you have the Shoulder of an eighty year old. WHAT? Yep. I'm not going to replace it though. WHY? You are too young and in pretty good shape. You will wear out a replacement and if you wear out a replacement shoulder it has been found you will be in more trouble. The replacement ball gives us no problem but what would be the socket (Not a true socket) would be plastic and they wear fast. once replaced the attachment point is thin with very little to attach to. WHAT NOW I ask. Keep on your Mobic, take Arthritis strength Tylenol and watch your blood work closely for bleeding and unless you stop sleeping from the pain come back and see me in fifteen to twenty years. HUH? Keep all the mobility you can, don't stir it up if you can keep from it.

Now to the last three weeks. Stirred it up on vacation. I had three miserable days and two nights. What did I do. Stupid is as stupid does. What a guy would do for a fly I tied, maybe had 30 cents in the stupid thing. Got it in a tree. Reached up with right arm to get it out. Too high so I pull down the limb and force my left arm to reach up and unhook it. I got it out, what a dumb butt. Won't ever do that again. How bad was it? I could not wash my right arm pit with my left and, put deodorant on either. Two nights in a row until it settled down I had to ask Mrs. BilletHead for help. It settled down but this is hard to take. Don't ever take for grated what you can do today as it may change tomorrow. All I can say is it is a good think I can still fly cast, single and double haul . Shoot my shotgun from a reclined position in a lay out blind. Shoot straight ahead too just not with a arm raised too much.

Now to my question tough as it is I am thinking of going to bass pro in the next few days to look at cross bows. I need some input from any shooters. I am a stick and string shooter at heart and these gadgets look like a nightmare. Again sorry for ever questioning crossbow shooters in the past,

BilletHead

[Feathers and Fins]

You need a Dr's note to use a crossbow in Mo Marty unless they changed the regs. There are tons of good ones on the market many with the accuracy of a rifle and scopes to go with it.

[BilletHead]

Dr. Note no problem. I knew about that. He asked me about my hobbies and what I do. He offered me one on the spot, I declined at that time,

BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

I feel your pain. I have a knee that's the same way and was basically told the same thing. Too young for a replacement (45). Went in and fixed a torn MCL again and cleaned it out. The pain is not any better and I walk funny but at least it's stable.

Be interested to see how you like a crossbow. I'm not a hunter anymore and never bow hunted but always had an appreciation for the bow.

Just ordered an Olympic Recurve for my 10 year old daughter. She's taking up target archery and is planning on making the Olympics. I'm pretty excited about her finally finding something of an "outdoors" sport that she likes.

Check out the archery museum when you go to BPS. It's pretty cool.

[Jason R.]

I work with the medical industry and see a lot of people get joint replacements- seems like they are a terrible ordeal to have put in and then they have to be replaced. I think your doc did you a favor as awful as that is. Hope you get it feeling better soon.

[BilletHead]

Ronnie I'll make you a deal. If you need a couple of ten year older knees let me know. I let you use them. BUT I may need a ten year younger left shoulder once and a while:) Could the cause of what is happening all the poppers we make?

Jason R. thanks for kind of an affirmation of what the Doctor said. Again just watching a total shoulder replacement kind of grossed me out. I am sure it will happen someday but as long as I can put it off. Many moons I hope,

. Ok I went and asked some real silly questions about crossbows today. The two young kind of teamed up on me. Came home with one. Pretty neat and high-tec. Fast oh my gosh. I have been lobbing arrows out for many years at maybe 125 to 145 at the most. Now you had better not even think of blinking and the bolt is there. What I don't like is it is a tad heavy and noisy but with the speed noise should not be an issue. Looked at one without a crank for setting string and used the rope assist to set the string. Could do it ok but that is on a warm day and a good shoulder day. Ended up with the crank model. Will keep anyone informed with this adventure that wants to know,

BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

Could the cause of what is happening all the poppers we make?

That's kind of a hard claim for a knee! But I do like it better than the getting blindsided on a football field.

Sounds like you got a fun new toy. My jealousy of you continues. Well except for the old and bald part.

[BilletHead]

I'm just medium old. Bald? Kind of but mostly by choice. The ladies like it too

BilletHead