Medical concerns and shooting

[BridgeWalker]

Yeah, this might be too general to be helpful, but I figure there's enough old guys here to get a good discussion going.

When one is well, shooting doesn't seem like much work. A bit of recoil, a bruised shoulder with shotgun or rifle if ya do it wrong or too much, etc.

What about some sort of internal injury? Something along the lines of, say, recovering from a minor surgery, internal bruising/minor bleeding, things like that?

I can't really get much advice from my doctor, since I'm willing to hazard a guess that I'm the only avid shooter to ever be a patient. My guess is most doctors are more into "why do you need to shoot guns" than "hm, these are the potential issues...".

There was a thread recently on back surgery and shooting, but that is a whole 'nother thing. My knowledge of physology ends at undergrad intro bio. Say hypothetically someone had a minor physical problem that led to minor internal bruising/bleeding/tissue damage etc--would shooting impede healing?

Going by physical signs alone, shooting does seem to have a bit of an impact--causing more pain and such--and I fear that shooting may be causing problems. I hate to give it up even for a week, and I have no idea how long it would be prudent to give it up for. There's the whole "no pain, no gain" school of thought, and then there's the whole "hey, when your guts are bleeding, it's time to slow down" school of thought. Not sure which way to go.

Any experiences or thoughts?

 

[Thernlund]

Anything you do that aggravates the injury will impede healing. For example, shooting a rifle against a bruised shoulder will slow the bruise healing. Same thing for a handgun and a wrist injury (assuming the recoil is substantial enough to hurt). Or maybe a back injury and trying to stand in a modified-weaver stance for a long period. Ect, ect.

Bottom line... obey pain. It's there to tell you to stop doing whatever you're doing.


-T.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

Not knowing the nature or severity of your injury(ies), all I can say is listen to your body. You can always enjoy rimfire until you're feeling better.

 

[BridgeWalker]

Not knowing the nature or severity of your injury(ies), all I can say is listen to your body. You can always enjoy rimfire until you're feeling better.

I figure it's probably fairly analogous to any other kind of minor internal trauma...I'm just wondering how much the recoil affects the whole body. It seems that with lots of things like skin and fat and bone in the way, internal organs would be fairly safe from recoil, but yet twice I've had episodes of more severe pain following shooting sessions.

 

[shookwell]

Part of what you're paying your doctor for is his medical advice. If your doctor can't find the time to answer your medical questions maybe you need to find another one.

 

[strat81]

Way too general to answer. Medical problems come in all shapes and sizes. Shooting is very physical. Rifles can batter your shoulders, handguns require a strong wrist, and you usually must stand properly. Prone positions might be impossible for some injuries. The other thing is that shooting is usually dirty: ranges, soot, chemicals, oil, grease, rust... plenty of ways to get an infection.

For some perspective, when I had bilateral total knee replacement, it took about four months for me to resume riding my motorcycle.

 

[Grandpa Shooter]

You wanted input from an old person on the possibility of pain/injury from shooting. I am a disabled vet who has worked hard right up til recently. I just had abdominal surgery to put stuff back where it belongs. Every time I think I am doing ok I turn just a little wrong, or twist just a little bit and YUP the pain is there to remind me.

Shooting involves the use of your upper body AND your lower body. It is not until you are in pain that you realize how much your abdomin connects the two. Leg lifts use the abdominal muscles, just like sit ups do. Too much use causes strain on the muscles, which leads to swelling, which can cause nerves to be pinched. Pinched nerves, like in the neck and shoulders can radiate down to your arms and hands. Pinched nerves in your back and hips can radiate down to your big toe.

So the answer is YES you can hurt yourself shooting. I was a huge proponent of shooting through the pain as you could see from reading my posts. Can't tell you now it was a smart thing to do. What's done is done. I would suggest you pay attention to your own body and not ignore it like I have traditionally done. I'm paying for it now. I wouldn't like to see anyone else end up the way I am.

 

[trailgator]

I'm recovering from a severe wrist injury, and what I have learned is:

1- DO NOT take any foolish chances that will slow your recovery or worse, cause further damage.

2- Listen to your body. I mean REALLY listen (se rule #1). It'll tell you when it's ready.

3- Look into aids and adjustments that can help you "shoot around" the injury, all the while strictly following rule #1.

I know #3 dosen't work for all injuries, but it has helped in my case.

 

[BridgeWalker]

*******

 

[Thernlund]

Wouldn't worry about the shock waves. You're body takes more abuse riding in your car. High recoil rifles/shotguns might be a minor issue, but only might. It does sound like you should let the brass go though if bending or kneeling hurts. Again, obey the pain.


-T.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

I don't see how a .22 could hurt.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Buy an airrifle/pistol until you feel better. Or, cheap air soft. Recoil can be a hazard to some heart patients from shoulder fired weapons. Talk to your doc--have them become educated if they are not. They aren't there for political reasons or to judge--they are they for you--hold them to a higher standard.

 

[strat81]

Get healthy first. Small problems can turn into big problems by aggrevating injuries. Watch "The War" on PBS and read "The ABC's of Reloading" to pass the time. When you're back to 100%, then go shoot your guns.

 

[Blackbeard]

I probably wouldn't go shooting with fresh stitches in me, and definitely not while on narcotic pain killers. I had some major surgery last year (before I took up shooting), and it was several weeks before I felt back to normal. Take a couple months off from the range. So you get a bit rusty. Gives you an excuse to spend more time there once you're healed.

 

[K9american]

I'm a FP/ER CCW doc and would welcome any questions a patient might ask along these lines. The answers have to be on a specific case-by-case basis. As we say about treatment, "Gotta have a diagnosis before you can figure out the treatment."

 

[bluestarlizzard]

delta, go over to the women and guns forem. i think this came up at one point.

 

[BridgeWalker]

delta, go over to the women and guns forem. i think this came up at one point.

There's a women and guns forum!?!?!?!?

The only women's place I know of is the women's forum on shotgunworld, and it very, very, very inactive. Link?

I was actually thinking of just pm-ing every women I could think of on here asking for advice/experiences, but thought that might be too weird.

ETA: found it, posted, thanks!

 

[Blakenzy]

Oh c'mon...just talk to your doc

I do not understand where the fear on this board about talking to a physician about your shooting activities comes from. It is not the first time someone posts about their doubts of revealing to their doctor that they shoot.

Unless you plan to say something like: "I'm thinking about picking off some school kids as they come bouncing off the school bus..." (saw Zodiac yesterday) and "...will using an 30-06 on them delay my healing?", there really is nothing to be afraid of.

An MD should be able to answer any and all questions regarding your physical well being, and if he cannot then he is obliged to do some research on the subject and get back to you OR refer you to some one who does know. In any event, remember YOU as the patient are the boss, and the doctor is just the health adviser. Moral and political judgments do not fit in the medical profession. If you feel that you are some how discriminated, neglected or are receiving sub-par treatment because of your beliefs, hobbys or whatever, then you should sue the guy and get a new doctor.

As far as the posture the AMA takes on firearms, that is all just political look-good BS and should have no bearing on your relationship with your individual physician.

And BTW there are a plethora of low recoil/soft fun, fun, fun shooting options that you can turn to that should have no impact on your health provided you are allowed to lift your arms and flex your fingers...

 

[bluestarlizzard]

delta, its actually through that forem that i found this one. pax and springmom and oleg are over there too. it can get kinda slow sometimes, but its a very good page for ladies.

 

[K9american]

"An MD should be able to answer any and all questions regarding your physical well being, and if he cannot then he is obliged to do some research on the subject and get back to you OR refer you to some one who does know. In any event, remember YOU as the patient are the boss, and the doctor is just the health adviser. Moral and political judgments do not fit in the medical profession.
If you feel that you are some how discriminated, neglected or are receiving sub-par treatment because of your beliefs, hobbys (sic) or whatever, then you should sue the guy and get a new doctor."

My, my, Blakenzy, a bit piqued tonight are we?

Why don't we have a digitorum profundum smilie on this board?

Oh, almost forgot; it's The High Road.

Take two beers and call me in the morning.

 

[mainebear]

Ah yes, the digitorum profundum. Shot one once, belonged to a buddy of mine. Kicked like a mule too.