Shooting Causes Wrist Damage?

[Porter Rockwell]

Hello, some years back my shooting partner was advised by his Dr. that shooting had damaged both his wrist and elbow. We were both heavy into pins and IPSC and fired around a thousand rounds a week in our 1911s (.45acp before comps), it never bothered me and I assumed he was weak wristed being a cop and all.
So this past weekend I had the opportunity to shoot a couple Freedom Arms and a pair of Linebaughs finest monsters in .475 and .500.
Now the old wrist is making strange knuckle cracking noises and hurts like blazes, any suggestions from the pros here?
Heat, cold or should I use plaster?
Thanks

 

[Yohan]

I had a problem with it hurting, but as soon as I got wrist bands, it all fixed it.

 

[Thumper]

John Taffin, the writer, had to have his wrist fused after forty plus years of fat lead and heavy powder...

Yohan, I was under the impression that you were younger?

 

[Porter Rockwell]

Wrist Bands?

Hello,
what's a wrist band and what does it do??

 

[Thumper]

Porter, your namesake wouldn't wear no stinking weenie wristbands...Load HOTTER!!!

Joking...I'd probably get it checked out.

BTW, I shoot a lot of heavy stuff...and have for awhile...no probs yet, but I'm told that I should expect problems in the future.

 

[Yohan]

They're not a permanent solution, but they did the job for me. Thumper, my wrists are a mess from playing the guitar in the improper posture.

 

[Thumper]

I'm guessing your pin loads did the damage...Ol' John Linebaugh's toys just showed you that you had an issue...

 

[Porter Rockwell]

You Gents

Thumper, my namesake shot cap and ball and the early center fires but you knew that didn't ya? GRIN!
Yohan, my mentor let me borrow that black one pictured along with gloves. That's probably why I shot more than a cylinder from the Linebaughs after ringing the steel with the Casull and .50ae (both reportedly warm loaded) Freedom Arms guns.
The wrist band looks like it would help extreme wrist movement rotation but not much for the wrist bone driving into the arm bone! (?)
Thanks, I hate doctor visits so I'll attempt to keep popping the hand back manually until it stays put.

 

[45King]

High-volume, long term shooting of handguns of significant power will eventually lead to some sort of problems with bones and joints. It's just another way to get repetitive motion/cumulative stress injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.

The older I get, the less appealing the fire-breathers become.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've been suffering from computer wrist a long time. I've found a trip to the range and cleaning my gun(s) can alleviate much of the pain. I think the trick is lots of varied movement.

 

[Britt]

For what it's worth, I doubt if anybody hates a visit to the doc as much as I do, but if it still hurts, suck it up and go. I didn't a few years ago after a car wreck. Wrist still hurt the next week and wife nagged at me to go. Wrist broken in 3 places that I thought was a sprain. The wrist bands do help with heavy loads, but after 2 surgeries I'm careful about shooting relatively mild loads in the big boomers. Just something to be careful of since they don't heal well in some cases. Good luck and good shooting. BD

 

[Ryder]

In large calibers I find the semi-autos are easier on the wrists.

I can fire a couple hundred heavy 45acp loads before my wrists end up feeling the same as a couple dozen hot 44mags. Best to know your limitations and abide by them. Those are mine.

My wrist problems (from whatever causes it) go away after a couple 3 or 4 days.

Short of surgery or a cast from a doc a wrist brace is a good idea until things get better. I've been bad enough to use them a few times and they can help.

 

[Topgun]

I've had that for 30+ years

from buying some Lawman ammo when Gemco was in business. They didn't know what the 20 count boxes were for.
They were for RIFLE. I shot em in my FOUR INCH M29 and did damage that day that still exists.
It comes and goes but I will not shoot anything larger than 45ACP now. (and even that hurts after 150 or so rounds)

May get a strap.

 

[45R]

After a long shooting session or shooting super hot loads I usally see my chiropractor to get the carpals in my wrist realigned. It reduces the onset of wrist pain. The bones in the wrist are small and supported with each other by small ligaments. Keeps the bones from jamming into each other.

Glucosamine Chondrotin/Sulfite supplements also helps keep the joints in good shape (consult your doctor before taking any supplements)