I hear ya! I have been off work for the past month and a half recovering from shoulder surgery.

I torn the labrum which is closely related to the rotator cuff and has a similar recovery/PT regimen. I wouldn't rule out the surgery even though you have had a bad experience with some of the doctors you have had. However, if you're planning on trying the other route, then plan on taking Ibuprofin or Alleve or another pain reducing/anti-inflamatory medication an hour before shooting. When you DO shoot, STOP when you begin experiencing pain--that's your body telling you to stop before you aggravate it further. Besides that, you will only be encouraging bad habits since the pain will override your ability to concentrate fully on your form. Take some shots, stop when the pain starts and then ICE the shoulder down immediately for 1/2 hour and then repeat the icing sometime later in the evening while you're relaxing.

It'll be another month or so before I can even THINK about shooting my bow. I was shooting the best I ever have just before the surgery. Now I'm wondering what it'll look like following a couple months of my bow arm being nearly immobile. The PT is helping, but I'm WAY behind where I would normally be this time of year. Good luck.