Shooting after neck surgery?

I had mine done roughly 20 years ago. If I shoot center fire rifle above 223, I feel it. 243 "youth loads" yup. After about 5 rounds it feels like my head is ready to fall off.

My issue was not getting it looked at quickly enough and some damage can not be undone.

Prone is difficult as the range of motion is just not there like it once was, but the recoil is "less" it does not hurt as much.

I still shoot, but have changed the way I shoot. About the only thing I will shoot off hand is sporting clays, and I do feel it.....little white pills that mother does not give you are a help. (bonus points if you get that reference)

Depends on just what is screwed up on your friend, and what they are going to do. It is much better now then when I did it, but it is going to likely be something he will battle the rest of his life.

I got back into archery (slowly, I had to build my strength back up to draw, as I had pinched nerves in my right arm to the point if muscular atrophy) about 2 months in, .22 Rifle a month after that, big bored were about 3 more months.

entropy said:

I got back into archery (slowly, I had to build my strength back up to draw, as I had pinched nerves in my right arm to the point if muscular atrophy) about 2 months in, .22 Rifle a month after that, big bored were about 3 more months.

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Same here but on my left side. Sadly I went too long and my nerves are done on that side. Every few years they zap the nerves to make them stop hurting.

I never got the strength back to pull a bow, perhaps a 10-15lb youth bow, but my old 45lb bows no way. I only shot recurve. I might do a modern bow after it cams over, but that in my book is cheating.

I have cervical spine issues myself. Some days the pain is very debilitating. I get nerve blocks done. They help some. Im trying to keep away from surgery as long as i can.

I totally fractured C1 & C2 in a fall, but didn't transect the cord.

Doc said I'm 1 in 1,000+ and ought to be dead. 4 Titanium screws, three pins, some fusion.

Recovered and back to shooting battle rifles after 5 months in a halo, no fun there.

And I'm still around to annoy everyone, lol.

Wow God was watching over you .

I broke C7 in three pieces back in ‘91. After 3 months in a halo I was back to splitting firewood with an 6 pound maul about a week after getting my halo removed.
Your injury may yield different results and recovery time. Good luck and play it safe.

Remington1911 said:

Same here but on my left side. Sadly I went too long and my nerves are done on that side. Every few years they zap the nerves to make them stop hurting.

I never got the strength back to pull a bow, perhaps a 10-15lb youth bow, but my old 45lb bows no way. I only shot recurve. I might do a modern bow after it cams over, but that in my book is cheating.

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About 7 years after my surgery, the left arm suffered from a pinched nerve. It abated on it's own, no meds or procedure needed, but when I went to pull my bow after the nerves came back and my left wrist collapsed inward, I unnocked the arrow, cased the bow back up and gave it to my son. Might have to look into a crossbow soon.

Everyone is different. Start off slow and easy AFTER your doctor gives the go ahead.
I have a fractured T6 vertebrae and rib plating on the ribs next to T6, 7, 8 & 9. I have also broken several ribs on the left and right sides towards the front of my abdomen. All these are from a couple of bike crashes in the past few years. The T6 and rib plating really put a damper on things. It was a couple of years before I was confident enough to fire 30-30 and 12 gauge bird shot ammo. Now I feel I can do just fine with .308 and 12 gauge tactical and heavier hunting rounds.

Thanks. Im going to ask for an updated MRI. It's been at least 10 years since the last one. Good to hear your home.

I had cervical disks between C4-5, 5-6 replaced and fused (titanium plate) in July of 2020. Didn't shoot per doctors orders for 4 moths. I don't have any problem shooting 100+ rounds of 12 gauge 2-3 times a week now.
I'm bothered more by sleeping on a pillow wrong than by shooting.

One thing I noticed after I had mine done is just how many people have "issues" in their back/neck.

CoalCrackerAl said:

Wow God was watching over you .

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If so, they ought to have said "Watch out for that hose..."

Lo-Profile said:

I had cervical disks between C4-5, 5-6 replaced and fused (titanium plate) in July of 2020. Didn't shoot per doctors orders for 4 moths. I don't have any problem shooting 100+ rounds of 12 gauge 2-3 times a week now.
I'm bothered more by sleeping on a pillow wrong than by shooting.

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i have multiple spinal problems from down low to my neck.
i've been told my neck has problems on too many levels for surgery to work. I sleep in a recliner now (can't lay flat), so since it's my bed, i went to lazy boy and spent money.

it's a powered recliner, with separate power controls for lumbar support, leg lift, upper body recline, and adjustable head/neck support (this one is extremely important). best money i've ever spent, because rarely are the same positions the most comfortable every night, and i can adjust each with the touch of a button.
i still don't sleep that well without drugs, but between the drugs, nerve blocks, recliner, and staying active, i do ok. i still work in the oilfield, walk for exercise, lift weights (although most of it is machines and dumbbells) and do day hikes in the mountains when i can get to colorado twice a year.

hoping to retire next year while i'm still active.
i used to shoot a lot. shooting rifles is uncomfortable because of neck position, but i still do it some. i shoot more handguns, even though i'm not nearly as accurate as i used to be because of nerve degeneration and muscle atrophy in my right shoulder, arm and hand (i'm extremely right handed).

for those with serious neck problems, you might check out the adjustable power recliners. they are great.

until you're reclined and the electricity goes out.
not as great then.

Been over 20 years but as I recall neck brace for two months and I was not able to turn at my neck, brace took care of that. Neck brace was 8 weeks and my damn beard itched. Then another 4 weeks so after about 3 months I was shooting rifle. A few small screws in there. Never bothered me again. Follow the rules! Had a friend with similar surgery. Took his brace off and screwed up all the work the doctor did. My advice is follow what your doctor tells you to the letter. Best wishes with healing.

Ron

Conelrad said:

If so, they ought to have said "Watch out for that hose..."

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He has a TV show called humans funniest videos. Best part is him being "all knowing and all seeing" he knows it is coming and will laugh at your pain anyway.

He also must have a little Chuck Berry in him as he likes to watch people go to the bathroom.

Awesome glad to hear your home. The lifting restrictions are hard to adhere to. After i had bypass surgery i was on a 5lb restriction. It drove me nuts. 2 years ago i had disconnected my thigh muscle from a fall. After i had it reattached. I did all i could to strengthen it back up. It never did heal 100%. Sometimes my leg gives out. Not a enough to cause me a fall. More like a curtsy i would say.

Howland937 said:

I am now. Kicked back in the recliner. Feeling quite a bit better but pretty tired. Waiting to hear back from a place I ordered rifle parts from, that I ordered weeks in advance to try to fix it before surgery.

Yes, I have to make myself suck it up in the short term because it's a long term investment. (Hopefully)
No bending, twisting, leaning, driving or lifting over 10lbs for 2 weeks. Neck brace stays on and all times except for showering. Looks like it would have to be the Ruger MKII and LCPII, but only take a couple boxes of ammo and paper targets. If someone drove me...which isn't going to happen, but I could theoretically shoot today after my nap(s).

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Glad you are home and the surgery behind you. I almost forgot thet before the surgery we bought a real nice new recliner. That recliner made all the difference.

Ron

You didn’t have to wear a halo?

Jimster said:

You didn’t have to wear a halo?

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Maybe you should have asked for one; might be the only chance you'll get to wear one.

(rim shot)

Howland937 said:

Obviously the Dr. is gonna have his orders, but the question is for anyone that's been through similar:
How long after say, a C5,6,7 and T1 repair/fusion thing before you were comfortable shooting? Handguns? Scoped rimfires? Centerfire?
The curious fellow has mostly been shooting rimfire lately anyway, so I'm sure he'd be ok taking that step first. Any complications being able to shoot scoped rifles off a rest in the long term? The other gentleman's post regarding surgery and recovery time got me wondering, so I'm asking for a friend.

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Good luck with your surgery.
They are trying to get me to do a C2-T2 (8 vertebrae & 7 discs) fusion on me but they said I would have so little "yes/no" motion that I might have trouble looking at my feet to tie my shoes or tilt my head back to gargle, I backed out of the surgery. The problem is that the peripheral neuropathy in my right hand is getting bad enough that I have trouble picking up a quarter with my thumb and first 2 fingers.