broken wrist

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

trailgator

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
208
Location
mid missouri
I'd appreciate hearing from any handgunners who have come back from broken wrists. About 7 weeks ago I had an accident that resulted in me severely shattering my right wrist. It required a titanium plate and many screws to put it back together. While it has healed somewhat, the movement is still very limited. I'm concerned about how this will affect my ability to shoot handguns that have a noticeable recoil. I've asked my doctor and hand therapist, but they look at me like I just handed them a dead fish (obviously not gun folks). Thanks!
 
well a lot depends

When I broke my wrist in a dirt bike crash, after healing, I had no ill effects, but it was a clean break. When i broke a bone in my hand that required pins and surgery it drastically affected my shooting for about one year, and still bothers me on occasion. At first, it hurt to shoot anything other than 22, 9mm, and 38spl. I couldn't shoot my 45's or 357's. I took it slow, and now only on the rare occasion does it bother me. So yes, you may have a few issues at first, but if you start slow and work up in caliber, you will be fine.
 
I broke mine, and it was a simple fracture.

I couldn't shoot for about 10 months all told. The 4 recovering and getting out of cast and brace, and then working on normal usage for 6 more months.

After those 10 months, a .22 pistol will tell you about strength, with regards to keeping on target. The I moved up to .38 to see about recoil.

Good luck on your recovery
 
You should aggressively follow your physical therapy regimen and not shirk from any pain or discomfort to build up strength and flexibility. You may need to build up larger muscles where you didn't have much before in order to support your damaged bone structure.

Consider developing left-handed skills. When I shattered my right hand years back, it allowed me to become almost ambidextrous with my left hand.
 
You should aggressively follow your physical therapy regimen and not shirk from any pain or discomfort to build up strength and flexibility. You may need to build up larger muscles where you didn't have much before in order to support your damaged bone structure.
Click to expand...

Never broke my wrist, but +1 to physical therapy. It can be excruciating at times, but meds will get you through it. Beware the physical therapist: all smiles, but true sadists. "Oh that hurts? Let me push harder!!" Best wishes for a fast recovery.
 
My wife shattered her wrist about three years ago. Once it was healed, she would try and use it in a normal way, instead of relying on her other hand.

There's some limited movement, because of the plates, but she is able to do pretty much what she was doing before.
 
Sounds like a good time to get in some weak hand shooting.
+1 on the therapy stuff, don't brush it off, not even a little.
 
I shattered my left arm in mid July and am still unable to keep anything over a .22 rifle on target without going prone or shooting from a bench. I got real good at one handed pistol shooting as that was about all I could do. +2 on therapy it made me cry a few times but getting my range of motion back was worth it. Don't be surprised if your first one handed group at 10 yards is a 5 foot group.
 
I knew I could count on you guys! I am doing the therapy faithfully, pain and all. Plus I'm doing a lot of it at home. I have weight trained fairly regularly for 25 years, so I have some equipment at home that I can utilize for this. The common denominator in what everyone seems to say, is PATIENCE. Not my strong point, but I know you're right. I think I'm antsy knowing deer season is right around the corner. Looks like the 30-30 contender is sitting this season out. Thanks again for everyone's input and advice. This THR place is pretty darn friendly. ;)
 
Good luck trailgator, I broke my arm when I was 13. I took some time off and nine months later was shooting a 44-40 just fine. But young folks tend to heal quick.
 
So I'm not the only one out there recovering, eh?

It's been eight weeks for me - broken left wrist. I'm still trying to get strong enough to play my video games again. :)
 
What kind of exercises are you guys doing?

pax
not broken, just curious
 
"...About 7 weeks ago..." It's going to be a long time before you're shooting anything with that mitt. I don't know anybody who has shattered a wrist, but I do know a couple of guys who shattered ankles, big time. Both put back together with the plates and screws being put in that were taken out some time later. Both are back to normal. Well, as normal as either was to start with. Get healthy before you worry about it.
 
Accept it as an opportunity to learn to be efficient with your weak hand, you have a chance to become very proficient.

What does not kill us makes us stronger.
 
Pax, I had nerve damage affecting my wrist as well as my arm, and they cut my tricep to get to the fragments of what was left of my middle humerus. I am doing strength training on my arm and wrist, you lose a lot from not moving it for a month. I am also doing some wrist and hand therapy to get my nerves back to normal as they are weak. I am about 7 weeks out of surgery and can now do a wrist curl with a 4 pound weight. Normal curls I'm at about 5 pounds. Total grip strength is 20 pounds, for comparison my right arm is 95.
 
Do your physical therapy! It will hurt like hell, but you'll be much better off in the long run. Case in point: My mother had a knee replacement about 2 years ago.. she didn't do much therapy... she'd "fake it" with the therapist and never did any of the exercises. My wife's co-worker, who was in far worse general condition, had BOTH knees done at the same time. He followed the PT and was up and about in no time and back to normal very quickly.

My mother, needless to say, is not anywhere close back to normal. In fact, she's "babying" her replacement knee, putting more strain on her other knee, which now needs replacement too.

Good luck with this.. it will take time. Make sure to talk with your MD if you experience too much pain during PT.

Steve
 
Thats one way to learn to shoot other hand, At least til healed up enough to use the broken one. After its said and done you will be able to shoot both hands.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Redlg155
  • Locked
Weapons in a Vehicle Accident...thumbs up to Polk County S.O.
Replies
19
Views
2K
wickedsprint
W
T
  • Locked
Guns for Rehab of injuries and other non-defense uses
Replies
6
Views
510
tntwatt
T
B
  • Locked
The Incredible Wrist- The Fine Tuner in Shooting?
Replies
1
Views
357
shooter503
S
WestKentucky
  • Locked
Long term shooting hobbyist safety
Replies
2
Views
533
carpboy
C
GunnyUSMC
  • Locked
Saving an old stock
Replies
6
Views
1K
sgte5
S
Back
Top