Living your nightmare now. 4 fused vertabrae in neck and right rotator surgery that is taking a long time to heal.
I switched to a 20 ga slug gun (TC Encore) long time ago and lot flatter than 12 and less kick. Added some lead to the butt to help. I have taken deer at 200 yds with it.
Sold all my magnums and just built a 6.5-06 AI that I will run the 130s around 3000 fps. No need to go any more. Gun weighs 10 lbs with scope.
My lightweight stand rifle is a custom 7-08 with 120 Btips and very little recoil. However, I only load it to around 2900 as my shots are normally 200 yards or less and I use a fiberglass stock. The glass stocks have less felt recoil versus wood in my experience. The recoil pulse has a difference more tolerable feel.
On the bench I use a wearable PAST pad ($30) that soaks up a lot of the recoil for my shoulder. It is not just for women, this one fits like a shoulder holster and slides on and off. I have had it for years and just dug it out. I am going to use it in an Ohio deer hunt in two weeks with a KP-1 45-70. I loaded the 325 Hornady Ftips to around 2000 fps and that is more than enough.
Muzzle brakes can be very effective but the better ones have an inverse relationship with recoil reduction vs loudness. they will require hearing protection at all times using them. Cost will generally run $150 to 250 depending on the brake and the gunsmith.
The Holland Radial baffle brakes are pretty reasonable price and tested very high with recoil reduction in the PSR tests recently. I have used them a lot on my magnums.
The limbsaver pads work extremely well and I would use them with the wearable PAST pad over the muzzle brakes.
PAST Pad $20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/68...zWbIDDJ4cVTAhzvTXt7RbEKqW-LRAJuy6AaAmdu8P8HAQ