Injuries... how have they changed your life with firearms?

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Tomcat47

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So this past Wednesday I had an incident that has first of all changed my daily life, and second opened my eyes at almost fifty that we must take care as we age.

I was doing some remodel and moving a gun safe when it lost balance on us and I caught it as it was tipping over...... bad idea! !! :banghead:

Torn bicep on dominant arm, tricep damage and possible tendon.... MRI could be soon, but hopefully it is not the tendon. A few days immobile and meds for muscle repair...:(

This has been a huge hurdle.... carry gun went from XDs45 to my Ruger SR22... practiced left hand shooting... slide release a bit of challenge, but getting pretty good left handed. Loading magazine's is pretty easy, still have use of fingers, just has to stay in a sling.

I'm sure there is a lot us that had to deal with injuries... a real eye opener to say the least!
 
I have responded to a couple of these. I had a fall 22 months ago. 2 weeks ago it became official that the condition of my right (dominant) arm is permanent. No other specialist can help. My arm will not bend enough to reach the trigger on long guns. I have developed my own way of shooting off a rest. I've become quite proficient doing so. I have to shoot handguns one handed now. My arm is pretty much useless. I get irritated when people with no physical limitations tell me "it could have been worse". Maybe, but my life is forever changed. I cant even touch my face right handed.
 
About a year ago I injured my shoulder at work, I used to be able to shoot any rifle you put in front of me with no pain or flinch. Now I can't shoulder anything over 308 . I am barely able to start pulling my 60 pound bow back and deer season is coming up in 2 months over here.

I've been saving up for a while because I've always wanted to get it 338 Lapua. And now that I have the money for it, buying it would be a waste because I would never be able to shoot it now .
 
Due to a rollover accident in Afghanistan that broke my back in six places, my neck and back pain now make it so I cannot shoot rifles in the prone' and pistol shooting for long durations hurts due to hunching over. Also I can't hold a pistol as steady so I don't shoot as accurately anymore. So my pistol shooting is almost entirely oriented to combat scenario, and I spend most of my time at the range instructing my wife and sister in the application of fires at close range under duress.
 
Hate that Mike... in ten days they will know if I have to have surgery.

Getting older has its own obstacles without injury. I'm glad you overcome and gained a new shooting style. I love firearms and shooting sports and hunting, that was my first thought when it happened ... oh no I hurt my dominant arm! After leaving hospital I was trying to pick up my 1911.... could not do it!

It will teach me dexterity with my left hand, and I have decided that I am going to keep using my left on a regular basis.

Hope you learn more techniques to help out, and again hate you lost most of your use in that arm. Hopefully new technology will arrive to help you.
 
I know what you mean about the people who always want to tell you it could have been worse mike. I've struggled with having to hear that for a lot of years. The fact that something could have been worse doesn't make me feel better at all. It just makes me think things probably will get worse. In my case it's a given in fact so it bugs me big time when people remind me of that.
 
Once you suffer nerve damage and muscle and tendon tears, it's pretty much going to limit you shooting. I have a degenerative condition for 30 yrs that can never get better. You just do the best you can with what you have. I can't shoot for accuracy at long distances anymore, but can still enjoy shooting.
As we age things happen that change our lives, usually if you are lucky enough to be healthy, you won't experience this until you hit 60 or 70 yrs old, but if you have what many of us have it happens earlier in life. It's just art of life. No one knows what is around the corner.
 
I just turned 35 yesterday so God willing I've got lots of time to learn new shooting techniques. Bc I really suck shooting handguns one handed weak handed.
 
When I was 12, I broke my right arm, ulna and radius, an inch or two from my wrist. After it healed, I no longer had full rotation of my forearm. If I rotate my hands palm-up, my left hand goes flat with the thumb out. My right hand is about 30* short of flat.

The way that has affected me is that it makes it hard to shoot straight-stocked rifles and shotguns. The weird part is that the majority of my guns are mosins.... complete with straight stocks. :) My brother (an MD and a former physical therapist) has worked with me a little to try to loosen it up, but that isn't doing much.

Other than that, a poorly timed knee injury knocked me out of a deer hunt about 10 years ago.

Matt
 
Suggestion, you may want to look into registering a short barrel rifle, it would replace your missing point of contact.
 
I'm 21 and have my fair share of "idiot marks". The day before opening day of deer season I cut my hand and had to get 9 stitches on my pinky/palm. Holding a rifle was difficult to say the least but i managed. Thankfully we had enough help to drag a 8pt buck out of a creek.
The only injury that cut into shooting however was a torn meniscus in my left knee. Shooting kneeling in 3-P rifle was impossible for a while so I had to shoot standing but currently I'm able bodied aside from being out of shape.

HB
 
Shoulder injuries, carpal tunnel in both hands, and arterial sclerosis, arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, etc...well...all over.
Don't even get get me started on my knees and feet.
I used to love my .454. Now a full size .357 is my limit. And NO magnum rifles. Might give up on 12Ga, too?

Ironically, I had LASIC done about seven years ago. I went from barely correctable, legal to drive. To solid 20/15. My accuracy has increased tremendously!
 
Breaking my left collarbone was a shock to my shooting sports. Took a lot of doing P/T to get my strength and range of motion back. I still find push ups difficult.
 
I ruptured two disks in my back and fractured a vertebrae. Until then I carried a full sized Sig P220r IWB. After this even my wallet can cause back pain if I sit on it wrong. I need up going to a P229R. While I know the difference is minute, every little bit helps and the shorter barrel doesn't dig in as bad.
 
I have had cerebral palsy since birth in 1951. It is not as severe as some cases but makes it effects known to me and others. I have been able, thank God to live a fairly normal life, been married now for over 30 yrs and have two children and two grandchildren. I have been blessed to have had many people along the way who believed in me and gave me a chance to prove myself. I worked in restaurants as a teen to early 20's, factory work for 14 yrs. then on to construction until age 49 when my body finally gave out. I have been on SS disability since. My father started me shooting when I was around 7 and I have shot a lot of different rifles and handgun over the years. I mainly shoot handguns nowadays although I do shoot my 22 rifles when I feel up to it. My neck has severe degenerative arthritis and every other problem known to medicine and my left wrist has now developed inflammatory erosive osteoarthritis in which is has swelled 3 times it's normal size and is very painful. I am determined not to let my problems prevent me from shooting but some changes are necessary. I can still shoot .22 rifles but have been looking at buying a M1 carbine for a larger caliber without a lot of recoil. Also looking at 20 ga shotgun for the same reasons. It is kind of hard to describe my shooting holds and stances because I have developed what works for me over the years and it is definitely not what is taught but I can hit what I am aiming at. When I was working construction my boss told me he cringed the first time he saw me work but he said later that I could keep up or beat any man he had working for him. I guess what I am saying is that if you can hit what you are aiming at, it doesn't matter how unconventional the way, it is the results that count. Experiment around with various techniques and weapons. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. The end result is to hit the target no matter how you do it, that is all that really counts.
 
I have some damaged lumbar discs which make it real difficult to run, jog, or bend over. Running shooting drills with my buddy the other day, I felt twice as old as my 30 years. I don't have any trouble shooting, it's just any associated physical activity that causes problems.

Sorry to hear about your arm troubles, hope everything works out.
 
I'm about to have my 4th knee surgery and I'm only 35. I can't run, jump, stand for too long, or walk very well on uneven ground without hurting. The pain and weakness/locking causes me to reload more and shoot less. But hey, at least I got out the army with all limbs intact.
 
Motorcycle wreck 10 years ago mucked up my shoulder, busted scapula, busted ribs, damaged rotator cuff. Lots of PT got my range of motion back still can't sleep on that side long. Even a few quick rounds of 2 3/4 12g buckshot or slugs makes my eyes water but I still shoot it some.

So I discovered ARs.....
 
Central Retnal Vein Occlusion. Sometimes I have to give a couple extral blinks when doing "precision" shooting.... doesnt impact game or handgun but when looking through a scope I notice it.
 
When I was 15 (I'm now 56) I broke the scaphoid (pivot bone) of my wrist. It subsequently died and after too many operations (the short story, long is tedious) I have ended up with 1/2 the bones of my wrist removed, a hand that is slightly offset, 1/3 the movement and now bone on bone. The other hand got hurt by a horse is all we can figure, I had the same procedure done to it, ie: a proximal row carpectomy, the Dr's remove 1 of the rows of wrist bones and do some shifting and get it to work as good as possible.

So I can't shoot straight stocked long arms nor hard recoiling handguns, or handguns that roll up, like a SAA. Or pick up a dime from the floor etc and live in constant, high level pain

I also wear external braces on my ankles part time (another boring story)

BUT like all of you above, I still do what I can, when I can. If I quit, my hands will stiffen up worse than they are and I have worked out ways to support my ankles inside of boots so I can walk in the woods.

Here in northeast Ohio we are fortunate that we have some really really good orthopedic specialists, clinics and dedicated facilities.

The Crystal Clinic in Fairlawn Oh is one. Of course the Cleveland Clinic, Lutheran Hospital in Cleveland and University Hospital in Cleveland are equally as good.

If you have a serious injury, don't just listen to the local orthopedic doctor. Take the time to search out and deal with specialists. It will pay off for you in the long run.

The original Dr that treated me wanted to fuse my wrist when I was 17. He was not a bad Dr, just not a specialist in treating difficult situations.

I have been dealing with Drs for 40 years now whose specialty is the area of injury. If a Dr is so dedicated that he/she only deals with hands/wrists or elbows, shoulders, knees etc you will know that they have educated themselves to such a high degree that their techniques are way above the generalist.

Sorry for the book, but I wanted to impress upon you to take the time for a second opinion, to seek out and deal with a specialist, it only affects the rest of your life you know.............
 
I've tried to see 13 other specialists. After reviewing my records and xrays they won't see me. They say nothing they can do. When I fell my ulna went through my elbow socket shattering every single thing that makes your elbow work.
 
Dominant shoulder shoulder, bilateral CPS, degenerative retinopathy, etc.
Gave up shooting a 12 ga and must use red dot sights on all handguns.
Sporting clays is more frustrating and less fun.
But I due manage to fill my limit of pheasants!
 
I've tried to see 13 other specialists. After reviewing my records and xrays they won't see me. They say nothing they can do. When I fell my ulna went through my elbow socket shattering every single thing that makes your elbow work.

Have any of them suggested an artificial elbow joint ? Lots of the bigger med centers are now doing those.

http://www.methodistorthopedics.com/artificial-joint-replacement-of-the-elbow

If they themselves don't do the procedure, there is nothing "they" can do. That was the situation with me and the original dr. There was nothing "he" could do. Even my current hand dr that I have been seeing for over 20 yrs doesn't do artificial wrists and he is one of the best in the country. He referred me to "the best" in Ohio. It turned out that I had too much damage (which is always the possibility) but it was worth the trip.

Also there are new devices/techniques being perfected everyday. So don't let them do anything that is permanent. Fusing my wrist(s) would be permanent, so I put up with.
 
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Lost my right leg because of my military service, and because I like to bird hunt, it put a cramp in my style for a time. I learned old guys like old dogs...we might take a bit getting there but we can still get the job done
 
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