Anyone have problems shooting with arthritis?

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I use a hand grip spring exercise gizmo. They are cheap and help. Mine is just one of those things you squeeze.
I prefer larger handguns, lighter loads, and medium calibers...38 or 9mm. It is no fun running 357s, even lighter loads, through a snubby.
Hand exercise will help. Give it a try. If one of those cheap spring loaded ones don't work for you, pick up an adjustable tension model from Sears.
 
I gobble Advil before and after a day at the range. I use to go shooting several times a month now, it's a few times a year. Three shoulder rebuilds and
tendon surgery in both hands is my limiting factor. Yea, getting old beats the alternative.
 
Having rheumatoid arthritis that has devastated my hands, fused my back and done a job on all other joints puts me in that same category. I can shoot .22LRs and ,38spl wadcutters and that's about it. So as a result I rarely even take a handgun to the range and can't remember when I last fired one. Ain't that the pits?
 
My wife as some arthritis in her hands and shooting a pistol does give her some trouble. She has taken to her Puma Mares Leg in 44-40 like a fish to the water. She shoots from 'the hip' mostly (quite accurately, too!) and once in a while she'll bring it up to eye level and shoot a bulls eye. She can wrap her hands around it quite naturally at the hip level since it doesn't require bending her wrists much at all.

Along with popping off some 22LR, this is her favorite gun to shoot.

Woody
 
Here is a old remedy that works really well for me. I wear a copper bracelet on my wrist. I don't know any fancy medical terminology but it helps me a lot. Best thing is no pills or crèmes needed.
Click to expand...
Yup, apparently it doesn't work for everybody, but it's worth a try. My wife has severe RA, has had 9 replacement surgeries, and right now her ankle is bothering her terribly. She has one of those Tommie Copper ankle braces, and when she uses it for a day, she's good for the next 3 or so. Anything that helps her in her quest for normalcy deserves a mention.
 
I thought i already got this so called "The golden Years!" 1 & a half years ago i got my wrist swollen on my freakin right hand (it has to be the gripping hand!) yep!, but mines not arthritis. My doc says its tendonitis - all got same effect, i was informed to take anti inflammatory. I've been taking these anti inflammatory supplement since - http://visiongroupcorp.com/omega3.html . Help most specially during cold shooting season...
 
chrismarquez said:
I thought i already got this so called "The golden Years!" 1 & a half years ago i got my wrist swollen on my freakin right hand (it has to be the gripping hand!) yep!, but mines not arthritis. My doc says its tendonitis - all got same effect, i was informed to take anti inflammatory. I've been taking these anti inflammatory supplement since - http://visiongroupcorp.com/omega3.html . Help most specially during cold shooting season...
Click to expand...
I, too take Omega 3, but for anti-cholesterol .
Ask your doctor if Voltaren Gel, or some other anti-inflammatory topical analgesic might help.
 
I have advanced osteoarthritis in my neck and back from decades of judo, it is comparable to the damage sustained by football lineman after hundreds of thousands of impacts to the neck and back. I find that I can't shoot long guns for very long without developing pain to where it isn't fun anymore. I rarely shoot prone now. Since I live in Silicon Valley, long guns aren't as important to me and I suppose I could always shoot a SG off the hip in case of HD.

I have had to adapt slightly when firing pistols, but can still manage a couple of boxes without having to hit the Norco + Flexeril +NSAIDs afterwards. No plans on giving it up.
 
No arthritis in my hands or wrists but do have what the Doctor referred to as "an impressive amount" in my spine. Between that and scoliosis, stenosis, and "cervical and lumbar radiculopathy", I have a hard time standing for extended periods of time. If my usual meds aren't quite working, I throw down a couple Bayer Back and Bodies. Seems to help.
 
I am recovering from hand surgery for trigger finger. Can't shot for awhile.
 
The best thing I've found for joint pain is regular exercise.
Weight lifting, bike riding, anything that really exercises, strengthens and flexes the parts around the joints, without stressing them.
Check with the folks who know this stuff for the correct techniques, though.
Done incorrectly will make it worse, not better.
The more correctly done the exercising is, the less medication has been required.
But don't wing it, get expert advice on how to go about it.

As for shooting, changing one's technique can make a huge difference.
For example, when shooting strong caliber handguns, letting the gun recoil and then settle straight back down into shooting position can be almost as fast shooting as trying to control the recoil, like you did when you were young.
Hardly much difference in the results, really.
The muzzle rise is greater, but it doesn't really negatively affect the speed and accuracy much.
And a lot less trauma to the joints and tendons.
These techniques have extended my shooting days at least a decade, maybe closer to two.
 
I have been meaning to apply to this thread.

My MIL has arthritis in her non shooting hand and problems with that shoulder. She really wasnt that excited last year about hunting and finally, after a few drinks, fessed up to the problem. She has a lot of trouble working the bolt on her 700. So we got her a browning 81 this year in the same cartridge(.243). She is happy, and I am a hell of a nice guy. ;)
 
My left wrist has been fused/stiffened and a prosthetic knee installed .That ended my USPSA "career". A mini stroke paralysed a muscle in my right eye giving me diplopia and necessitating covering the right side of my glasses and ending my B R .22 shooting. I am reduced to plinking with a .22 pistol and shooting it crosseyed. When I can find ammo.
 
Update to my above post. I took my wife shooting today, first time in awhile that I have done that. I've been doing some light weights and a foam wrist and hand thing that is supposed to increase hand strength. I shot 22 first, no problem except the sights have become more fuzzy, next was 38 specials, again no problems but that gun as fuzzy sights too, moved up to .357 little harder to hold on to but ok. 9mm was no problem. Then I went to my favorite-44 mag, felt good, I'd forgot how loud it was (yes I had plugs) after 10 rounds it started to get to me, my hands began to hurt so I went back to 22's, but the damage had been done, couldn't hold it steady due to pain in my hands. Oh well I got to burn some powder and my wife got to shoot her pistols and shotgun. Next time I'll leave the 44 home and stay with the 22, 38, .357 and 9mm. I'll also have to get a pair of muffs, the range put a awning over the shooting bench and the reflected noise is bad. So exercise does help, but won't fix these old eyes.
 
Gun Master said:
Originally Posted by chrismarquezI thought i already got this so called "The golden Years!" 1 & a half years ago i got my wrist swollen on my freakin right hand (it has to be the gripping hand!) yep!, but mines not arthritis. My doc says its tendonitis - all got same effect, i was informed to take anti inflammatory. I've been taking these anti inflammatory supplement since - http://visiongroupcorp.com/omega3.html . Help most specially during cold shooting season...

I, too take Omega 3, but for anti-cholesterol .
Ask your doctor if Voltaren Gel, or some other anti-inflammatory topical analgesic might help.
Click to expand...

My doc says it is not recommended to start shooting till my therapy is done(now wheres the fun in that!)... Voltaren Gel is also a good idea, i could probably apply it before wrapping bandages on my wrist. Good thing i stumbled in taking that Omega 3 supplement before getting a shot of cortizoids, it did help help in reducing the inflammation and the pain... Thanks Gun Master!
 
Anyone have problems shooting with arthritis?

Is that Greek still here ?:confused: I usually don't shoot with someone I don't know.:D

No seriously, I can feel for you ! Both hands especially my strong side trigger finger and weak hand thumb, right ankle and foot, both knees, left hip.

I use meloxicam once a day for the inflammation and some days take 800mg ibuprofen at evening. Can't or won't use narcotics

Mine is osteo' from repetitive stress,10 years as a farrier (horseshoer) and 35 years as an automotive mechanic, plus the many injuries, broken bones in my early years.

Can't do much rabbit, quail, pheasant hunting anymore, but I get out for squirrel ,deer and waterfowl, where I don't have to walk a lot.

The best we can do is cope, gotta hang in there and make the best of the good days !
 
shooter1niner said:
My trigger finger wants to lock up every once in awhile. So far it hasn't happened while shooting but this year it seems to be happening more frequently.

And they call these " the golden years ".
Click to expand...
Actually there is a medical condition called "trigger finger". It has to do with inflammation in the tendons in your hands. Your finger will "lock" - you almost have to manually push your finger back into position. Usually it goes away on its own, but after 6 months to a year. In my case it is on my trigger finger, but it can be on any finger.
 
Guns and Arithritis

I cleaned some handguns today, and thought I might share a few notes.

As has been discussed before, the autoloader magazine loading can be simplified by using the UpLULA and Baby UpLULA mag loader. Other oprerations are difficult, and unique to autoloaders.
A tight safety/decocker (and stiff springs, yes even with the Wolff springs) on the P-64, make it harder to clean and operate than my 1911's.
The revolvers were much easier to clean and operate than the semi's.
Double action revolvers were especially easy. The cocking of SA and removing the cylinder, etc., are a little more difficult than DA.

I was considering possibly acquiring a SCCY 9mm, but have ruled it out for the time being.
It seems that I am still a 50%-50% semi and/or wheelgun guy, regardless of the above statements.
Confused? Me too!:confused:

I'm "just" starting to lean toward the rotators.

Did somebody say " 'taters " ? I'm hungry !:D
 
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