The Orthopedic surgeon treating me is not much help as he is a non shooter. So maybe one of you guys can offer some advice here or via a pm if you dont want to disclose you are trying to help.

Three months ago the strap on my ice gripper broke causing me to fall down and break the top of the left humerus. It was a uneventfull healing and in about a month I was out of the sling and doing pretty much anything I wanted to do other than shooting. Have gained back about 80% of my mobility and stretch the shoulder every day.

Today son and I hit the range to work on his new .270 WSM. We were just shooting light loads and it was shooting extremely well (then it went to shit, but thats another story). He asked me if I wanted to try it off the bench so I did. Was wearing a thick padded jacket and touched off the first shot and dang it hurt. By the third shot it really hurt! Afterwards it was fine.

Just last week was my 90 day follow up and the ortho doc had x rays taken and told me it healed perfectly. Said there was a callous on the bone that might be slowing down my mobility but it would be re absorbed over time.

Will this injury eventually heal so I can start blasting the big bore doubles again? Anything I can do to help the process?

Thanks in advance.

I am not a doctor but have had similar type injuries and the short answer is yes but it will take some time.

Thanks. I been assured it should return to normal although it may take up to a year.
Certaintly appreciate the advice via PM's.

Now...........need to work on gathering the cash to order a 500 NE .

I didn't break my humerous, but did have a large bone spur on my shoulder blade that was digging into the rotator cuff. I could do many things about 3 mo. after surgery, but reach behind me (still have trouble with that)was not one of them. I could shoot 22's, and slowly over about a year I got to where I could shoot '06. It took about 2 years before I could shoot "baby II", and then not much. It took about 3 years before I could shoot all I wanted (still ached)of the big bore stuff. Many could shoot alot sooner than I could, but I didn't want to rush it. A friend of mine went golfing too soon and had to do it all over again,because he was in a hurry. Take your time, don't rush it. If it hurts, wait awhile, you don't want to have more scar tissue than you already have.
The Physical therapist used some stuff on my called "Sombra" and it helps with the aching. I get it at my local medical supply.
I think,eventually, you will be able to use your DR's to your hearts content.

Stable vs. healed

At 3 months your humerus is stable. It is considered healed, but really it has not completely healed (ie gone back to normal) as the bones will continue remodel for months afterwards.

Healing depends upon type of fracture, location, age, sex, nutrition, overall health, smoking, activity, etc.

Once stable, judicous (read "rehab") activity will promote healing and strengthening the bone at the fracture site.

Time plus strength & mobility exercises!

JW

As usual you guys were right . Son wanted to go to the range yesterday to work up a load with some Nosler 200's for his 30-06 for an up coming moose hunt so I grabbed the Searcy 450 NE and 20 rounds of full power 500 grains loads.
Shot a couple off the sticks first (shaking like a leaf) and no pain. Then I sat down on the bench and rested my elbows and fired two off. The remaining rounds went into busting up the rocks off hand.
Shoulder is just a tad tender today but not any worse than it normally would be after firing that many rounds.

This injury had me thinking I could never fire a 500 NE. After finally deciding my double arsenal was complete (30-06, 9,3x74R, 450/400, and 450 NE) now I am wondering if there is a future VC or Searcy 500 NE in my future.

With some luck the Searcy 450 NE will kill this years bull moose next month

Glad you are back to shooting. I had heart surgery and then delt with a tissue infection for 9 months. It was 18 months before I got back to my larger calibers.

About seven years ago I dislocated my left wrist in a paragliding accident, and being a left hands shooter it was depressing. Major surgery (that then got infected) pins, plaster and lots of strong pain killers for ten weeks I was left with a very weak claw. Nerve damage in fingers was pretty severe - feeling best described as high contrast black and white. But over a matter of several months of physio I soon got the feeling back and able to do most things with it. I did it in may and was duck shooting that winter. I did switch to semi auto rather than side by side as recoil was ver painful. Worst wasany form of vibration - riding a bike on gravel tracks or using a chainsaw spring to mind.

But after a couple of years could do anything I want with it withfine enough control to carving chisels and strong enough to climb with. It's not as flexible as it was, and it does feel arthritic in the winter.

In terms of shooting, and it is my trigger hand, I don't like a lot of repeated recoil, but quite happily shoot 3" magnum goose shells in my old side by side AyA. Would I shoot a big bore rifle - yes, but would probably pass up a really high velocity snappy magnum.