Bursitis from inside the waistband carry

[Yo Mama]

Man growing older sucks. I believe I have bursitis in my hip, on the same side that I have carried inside the waistband for about 15 years. I have carried inside the waistband about 10 hours each day every single day over that time period.

The last few days I carried off body and noticed a tremendous change where I have absolutely no pain whatsoever now in my hip. I want to give it a few more but in the meantime I started looking at more comfortable options to carry inside the waistband as concealed carry is still essential for me.

So if you questions. Has anybody else heard of getting bursitis in their hip from carrying inside the waistband like I described? I have read that police especially with heavy loads on duty belts can get this. My second question is will moving to an Alien Gear type holster really be that much more comfortable? If you have experience switching to one please let me know if it increased comfort at the expense of concealability?

I am open to any other suggestions and thank you in advance for any help.

 

[Flechette]

I never liked inside the waist band carry. It was always uncomfortable to me no matter which holster I tried. I think that the ads that show such holsters on a guy looking comfortable and concealed (no bulge of the belt) are Photoshopped...

This is especially true for me when getting in and out of a car, sitting down anywhere, etc.

I use shoulder rigs, pocket carry or some sort of bag that looks like a daytimer, iPhone carrier, etc.

Outside the belt is ok but still hangs up on my seatbelt latch when getting in and out of my car.

 

[jak67429]

After my last back surgery I went from a full size 1911 to 380.

 

[flphotog]

I switched to OWB several months ago, couldn't be happier.

 

[Yo Mama]

Thank you everyone so far for your replies. Please note concealability is an absolute must for me. So outside the waistband is not possible. When I'm out camping yes fine no problem. When I'm in the city and when I'm doing work I must have it concealed. I also live in a hot place so jackets you around or not an option.

 

[Yo Mama]

After my last back surgery I went from a full size 1911 to 380.

Yeah man I have a Kel-Tec PF-9 that I haven't carried in years swapped it out over the last few days and noticed a tremendous difference.

I was considering trying an ankle holster I've never done that before but I feel like it'll be a brick on me and way too awkward.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

You didn't say what size gun you're carrying or if you'd be willing to step down to something smaller?

 

[Flechette]

Smith and Wesson makes some small J-frame .357 magnums.



At 11.4 ounces it is easily carry able in your pocket.

You can get with or without the concealed hammer. External hammer allows you to cock the gun if you have the time.

 

[SharpDog]

Thank you everyone so far for your replies. Please note concealability is an absolute must for me. So outside the waistband is not possible. When I'm out camping yes fine no problem. When I'm in the city and when I'm doing work I must have it concealed. I also live in a hot place so jackets you around or not an option.

Switch to a Wrangler untucked shirt, Hawaiian shirt or a Guayabera and carry OWB. Most of these shirts are made for hot weather. I myself favor the Guayabera. I have recently started wearing an undershirt and do not see any discomfort in hot weather. This would further insulate you from your firearm.



https://smile.amazon.com/Wrangler-Authentic-Cowboy-Western-Shirt/dp/B008QWVH3I

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=fashion&field-keywords=untucked+shirt

https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=fashion&field-keywords=guayabera&rh=n:7141123011,k:guayabera

 

[SharpDog]

And I went from replying to this thread directly to TFB and found this:



Don't know if it will help with your bursitis but it might be worth a look.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...aled-pistol-carry-methods-beach-jam-playlist/

 

[Flechette]

As a relevant story, the GOP Convention in Casper two years ago (2016) had a lot of open carriers. It was not in a gun-free zone.

Ted Cruz showed up to talk and praised the people exercising their Constitutional Rights.

 

[fjblair]

I suppose it all depends on the rig and the person, but I like IWB carry. You might want to try pocket carry with a smaller frame gun. Not sure what you carry and what your goals are.

 

[Yo Mama]

You didn't say what size gun you're carrying or if you'd be willing to step down to something smaller?

XD mod 2 in 45 subcompact. Much lighter than what I was carrying in a 1911. If I could run into a Sig 365 I would be willing to downgrade to a 9 mm.

 

[Yo Mama]

Smith and Wesson makes some small J-frame .357 magnums.

View attachment 787149

At 11.4 ounces it is easily carry able in your pocket.

You can get with or without the concealed hammer. External hammer allows you to cock the gun if you have the time.

I had a snub nose for a little bit and found out I shoot pretty lousy with them. I even took lessons from a really good coach and I would do fine with them there but then as soon as I went off on my own I just sucked again. Plus I have to wear slacks for work and it sticks out in the pocket a bit more than I was comfortable with. Beautiful gun though.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I know the LCP is a 380 but it is better than a fleshy fist. When I coundn't carry something bigger, it would go in a pocket holster and in my back pocket where my wallet would go. It printed like a wallet. Slower to draw but it may be an option til you heal.

 

[MedWheeler]

I was never able to carry IWB; it just wasn't comfortable. What I have been doing is carrying in a IWB holster, but wearing it between the belt and pants, a technique known as "inside-the-belt" carry (ITB.) I find it to be a good compromise between OWB and IWB. The belt smoothes out the rig's profile some, but pretty much just as long a cover garment is needed as would be with OWB carry.

I have had an occasional attack of sciatica, of unknown cause. Only one attack, back in 2014, was severe. It came on suddenly, lasted one week, and was gone. Only position I could stand was, well, standing. Lying down or sitting was brutal. It was on my carry side (left), but I have no way of knowing that carry brought it on or it didn't. Other flare-ups have come and gone, but none were a tenth of what that was, and most were almost unnoticeable. They've also been on either side.

There have been studies over the decades of back pain being related to wallet-carry in hip (back) pockets, especially when nothing similar is carried on the other side. I could see that and sciatica coming about from extended IWB carry, especially with a larger gun, but I've never heard of bursitis coming from it.

 

[Stew0576]

I use the alien great 4.0 holster to carry my sd9 witch is a double stack 9mm, i find it extremely comfortable

 

[Hasaf]

Here is a picture of my preferred OWB holster. There are about a half dozen variations on this idea. The main point is that it does not present itself in the shape of a firearm and has an obvious, non-firearm purpose.

 

[Stew0576]

Where did you find that?

 

[Hasaf]

Where did you find that?

I have tried a few. My attraction with this style of carry started when I was working at a county agency where I didn't wear a uniform. If I needed to make an arrest I called for a uniformed officer. I was really trying to downplay things. It was easier to talk to people that way.

Anyways,I saw one at a gun-show and timed the difference in time it took to draw from my concealed, IWB and from this method. I was sold. In addition, I no longer needed to dress around the gun, and it wasn't some big fanny pack (in UK English, the word Fanny-Pack is a very funny word). Sure, my "clients" knew what the pouch was; but the symbols of authority weren't out in the open.

I am no longer at any agency; but I still like the method. My original pouch went missing when I was out of the country gaining the ability to speak authoritatively about life in KSA and other places in Asia.

Returning to The States, I am now working as a middle school teacher and I was unable to source the one I had. I have since tried a few others. The one that is the best advertised, and has become a near generic name for this style of holster is Sneaky Pete. I do not have one of their holsters. I cannot give a definitive reason as to why not. There was just something about the advertising that felt wrong to time. I was also turned off by there being, at that time, no way to easily contact them.

Instead, I went with PDA holsters. I found the magnet clasp sometimes shifting on that holster and, while close, it wasn't exactly what I wanted. If I were to get another, particularly considering my work, I would get one with the "trail and hiking" clasp.

I also got one from Elite Survival Systems. It is good for larger pistols, like the PK380 and Glock 19. However, I normally carry a Glock 42; as such I wanted something a bit smaller.

Yes, I am now getting to the one in the picture. To fit the PDA holster, it comes with a block of hardened foam with an adhesive on both sides. It is cut to fit the front of the pistol. This left me with a second piece that also fit my pistol. I ordered this pouch from Ali Express and put the block of foam in it (note, my "hiatus" involved about eight years living in PR China, as such I am more comfortable than many ordering on Tao-Bao and other Chinese sites; however, Ali Express is, mostly, in English). Frankly, it has worked well. I still have a Safariland Level 2 holster for "open-carry;" however, the pouch holsters fits into an area between open-carry and concealment.

This is what it looks like on the inside. However, it fit the Glock 42 and Kimber Micro so well that the foam block was not actually needed. I put it in because I had it, not due to need. both with and without the block, the pistol stays in the upright position seen in the previous picture.


I hope the links help, I want to point out that these are not the only sources of Pouch Holsters. There are others, like Craft Holsters. I have just tried to provide a few to get you in the right direction. Like all other styles of holsters, there are some that one person will like and another will not. Some people are just turned off by the entire "nerd pack" look. I understand that too.

 

[Nickotym]

You might be trying to keep your belt too tight when doing IWB. I have gained a little weight recently and can not carry IWB until the weight comes off due to the type of discomfort you are describing.

 

[KNO3]

Don't confuse correlation with causation. I'm 55 and have had 2 bouts of right and then left hip bursitis. I don't carry IWB. Not sure what your fitness regime (if you have one) consists of, but stretching of your IT band, hamstrings, and quadriceps can do wonders at decreasing your pain. As can deep tissue massage/cross frictional massage. A week long dose of your favorite NSAID can also help. I'm a Physical Therapist and recommend you go in for an evaluation.

 

[340PD]

Before we go further have you had an evaluation of your hip? Both mine were replaced in my 50's and after 20 years I had just the socket redone. Get an x-ray. While my right hip was healing I went to IWB crossdraw for a few weeks. If you need a new hip, around here some docs are doing this as out patient same day surgery.

 

[AlexanderA]

Bursitis is nothing to be sneezed at. It can be caused by a lot of things besides carrying a gun, and becomes much more common as we get older. I had episodes of bursitis in each of the past two years, and each time it took many months for the pain to go away. Actually, the bursa itself is just the center of this. Doctors now call the condition "trochanteric pain syndrome," which involves excruciating pain in the entire upper leg. Just a small bump of the hip, which you hardly notice at the time, can start this process rolling.

One recommended therapy is a steroid injection directly into the bursa. This provides temporary relief, but wears off after a couple of weeks. In the meantime, it has general metabolic side effects, such as raising blood sugar if you are diabetic. (And the side effects last longer than the benefit.) Percocet can be used for the pain, but it will lock you up with constipation. Physical therapy and NSAIDs help. The best treatment is simply the passage of time. Bursitis will often resolve itself after some months of limping and pain. Then you get ready for the next time. You are right that getting old sucks. Still better than not getting old.

 

[SSN Vet]

I can't hack IWB for the same reasons... never really could.

Pancakes with a cover garment are so much more comfortable!

But an LCP in Sneaky Pete (with an Apple sticker on it) is even better.... hidden in plane site.