I am down an arm.

[Brian Williams]

Nope, not horrible, just different. She has only fussed about it 2 or 3 time in the last 21 years. It taught me to think differently. If I have a dozen screws to take out or tighten, I do every other one with the other hand, so 6 get done left handed and 6 get done righty. Shooting is done much the same way.

 

[Jim NE]

Nope, not horrible, just different. She has only fussed about it 2 or 3 time in the last 21 years. It taught me to think differently.

Very well put. Those of us with disabled loved ones know how this works. Nothing stays a tragedy forever. It eventually just becomes a new reality. Best wishes to your wonderful daughter and 45 auto's son.

 

[j.kramer]

practice writting in two languages with both hands (one language each hand)
then try writting different things also in two languages
you will be able to do different things at once with either hand or use one as much as the other

 

[MachIVshooter]

Brian, that's horrible. Glad that she seems to get along fairly well.

People who are born with a handicap or injured very young adapt remarkably, much better than adults. They've spent their entire lives doing things differently to accommodate.

Check out Tisha unarmed on youtube. A couple months back another member posted a video of her shooting. She's in her early 20s I think, was born with no arms and a short leg. Totally independent, doesn't seem to be much she can't do.

 

[fallout mike]

I see. It sounds horrible to me. Im sure after you experience it your mindset changes. But if you have not dealt firsthand with it then it does sound that way. I haven't came to grips with the strong possibility that I will be living the rest of my life like I am now. I will have to figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I will not be able to do the only job I've just about ever done.

 

[ozarkgunner]

I have injuries to myh right shoulder, my strond side. I used to carry IWB strong side, but worsening shoulder problems I had to stop that. There are days when I cant reach back far enough to get to my pistol. I've now go to a shoulder holster, left side carry. I can reach to the left just fine. And a spare mag and flashlite are in pockets on the right side of shoulder harness. perfect set up for me right now. As long as I dont try to load the flashlite into the mag well.

 

[cluck]

also down an arm

Just joined the "one-winger" club myself. Shoulder surgery. Fortunately on my weak side. My left arm is isolated in a sling so it limits some movement but I still have full strength and motion in my hand. I pulled out my snap-caps (had my wife double check all rounds...I'm on oxycodone. ) and started trying all the different ways of operating the slide this morning. One thing I found out, the sling is an AWESOME place to store my spare mag! I don't have to change any of my normal carry habits except holster selection. I can't really use my Galco pancake because it requires being threaded on my belt, so I go to my bladetech paddle which doesn't really help conceal, but it's winter coat weather around here anyway. Thanks for everyones "one-sided" suggestions.

 

[MR835]

To those who are suffering loss.

NEVER GIVE UP. LOOK UP WAYS TO OVER COME THE LOSS. In 1974 I was shoot in the left arm and upper rib cage. Hit five times in the arm, My lower arm was totaly blown to pieces. My fore arm is put together with plastic & stainless steel mats, And the for arm bone is a stainless rod anchorded in a stainless steel plate mounted on my wrist.

All of the bullets were removed except a piece that is lying next to my lower arm nerve control. I have the one that was removed from above my left breast, A 9mm HP that did not crack the rib it hit or expand.

The DOCTORS AND THERAPIST SAID I WOULD NEVER USE THAT ARM AGAIN.
I refused to accept that. My thumb and Index finger hac so much nerve damage, They would spasam towards my shoulder I had to grab them and hold on until they stopped. I wore a cast on the fore arm for 12 years and talked to my hand OPEN CLOSE until I could OPEN & CLOSE it. The thumb & index finger are still particaly numb But I AM using right now. There is pain but I have to live with is as I cannot tahe any pain med.

I SAY NEVER GIVE UP TRYING TO FINE A WAY TO OVER COME THE DAMAGE AND LOSS.

I PRAY ALL HAVE A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

PS: My shooting and reloading is going strong. In reloading I use both hands.

MR835 IS GONE

 

[45crittergitter]

I fell off the roof 3 weeks ago and landed face-first on the "decorative" rip-rap around the flower bed. Broke one of the rocks in two with my head. Busted up my head and face and broke left wrist/hand. :banghead: I'm right-handed and VERY hard-headed, fortunately. They didn't give me any pain meds except in the ER. For a bit, I switched from a 1911 to a double stack .45 DA/SA, thinking more rounds and a wider mag well would be a plus. Switched back to the 1911 after trying to get the other gun & holster IWB every day. The 1911 almost slips in without help. Switched the pocket gun from a small auto to a .44 Bulldog just to ensure reliability.

 

[peacemaker45]

Sorry to hear about your fall, 45crittergitter. I've recently become left handed for a while myself, and this thread is full of good advice.

Mat

 

[rdhood]

I'm just going to chime in with everyone else.

In 9th grade I broke my hand. It was summer, so I did not have to write. I did everything else left handed... it is amazing how quickly you can switch over. Fast forward to the rise of the internet. I work at a job where I use a mouse all day long every day. Then, I would go home and use the internet some more. I was getting carple tunnel, so I split my mouse duties between right and left hand. Left hand at work, right hand everywhere else. I am equally adept at either side (I use right handed mouse configuration on the left hand). It exercises both sides of the brain.

p.s. a LOT of people, me included, acquire chronic diseases or injuries. You have to accept it. It sucks, but you have to accept it and keep trying.

 

[mljdeckard]

Well, since other people have chimed in,

I wound up having surgery. They fracture was collapsing on itself, it had shrunk two mm. They re-broke it, took a bone graft from my shin, used it as a spacer, and put on a bracket and 8 ss screws. Yeah. So, I'm trying to get back where I was, the XD slide is tough to rack, and my 1911 slide is still a process, but I can do it. (At least that one I can push forward on something to rack it.) I switched to my double-stack Para for winter.

The 642 I borrowed got stolen out of the trunk of my rental car at the Luxor a couple of weeks ago, insurance claim pending.

 

[Black Butte]

From the title, I thought tho OP lost a gun.

 

[scaatylobo]

Next week for me

I am getting a shoulder replacement and according to all I have learned I will be one winged for at the very least 3 months.

I plan on either going the high cap route [ not allowed by state,but retired LEO ] or to a wheel gun.

Doubt I could reload either in anything resembling speed.

Also will do the pocket carry so I am ahead of the game should the manure hit the ventilation system.

NOT looking forward to this at all.

AND cant ride the Harley till mid summer either - .

 

[mljdeckard]

I know man, my quad is calling my name, I have to get the most recent cast off, and still do physical therapy.

One thing I have learned from thiswhole experience, is that there is no such thing as 'minor surgery'.

 

[Fred Fuller]

or to a wheel gun.

Or two...

 

[peacemaker45]

or to a wheel gun.

Or two...

Umm, yeah. The hi-cap I get. But a wheel gun seems like the opposite end o the spectrum. Maybe he ment a hi-cap and a wheel gun?

 

[mljdeckard]

Well,I HAD one, until I got my trunk popped at the Luxor two weeks ago. (See above.) I can run a revolver with one hand much better than an auto.

 

[scaatylobo]

My post ?

if your refering to my posting,read it all and I state a "pocket gun" also.

I dont go around with one when 2 balance the load better .

 

[45crittergitter]

I'm pretty much all healed up now, and wishing y'all similar success.

PS: An arm sling is a good hideout spot.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

One thing I have learned from thiswhole experience, is that there is no such thing as 'minor surgery'.

The only time surgery is minor is when someone else is having it.

 

[scaatylobo]

18 day into it

Had my left shoulder replaced 18 days ago and I am penning this missive with both hands.

Did first day of rehab [ today ] with a S&W 360 inside the rt pocket of my Tru-Spec BDU's [ my everyday wear ].

I would find it slow or impossible to do a reload with the shoulder imobilizer I am supposed to wear,and I canno load mag's to well either [ empty ones,I mean ].

So when out and about I keep 2 loaded,usually a S&W snub and a Ruger LCP,both on the rt side so I can do a NYC reload - should it come to that.

I fully realize that my "space" has gotten larger and that means I need more space to react so I do not allow any to approach me,unless I am sure of their intent .Meaning if I dont know them,they are not allowed 'that' close.

I am not being funny and I dont play games,If the threatened command to stop is not heeded = I take action to save myself from what I know will be serious bodily injury if they can contact me.

I hope to have some ability to actually punch and block once again -- might be at least 6 months till then.

ANY that undergo any of this cr@p have my heartfelt understanding and felt pain.

 

[easyg]

Umm, yeah. The hi-cap I get. But a wheel gun seems like the opposite end o the spectrum.

If one doesn't routinely practice performing failure drills with two hands, then think how difficult it would be to perform a failure drill with one hand...while being shot at or being physically attacked.

And there's just no getting around the fact that any otherwise perfectly functioning autoloader can experience a failure at any given shot due to a hard primer or a dud round or a failure-to-feed or a failure-to-eject.

But none of that will stop a revolver.

So, if I had only one hand I would definitely carry a revolver.
And maybe two of them.

 

[peacemaker45]

If one doesn't routinely practice ...

Then you're gonna have trouble with anything.

People who look on revolvers as trouble free just haven't shot them enough. There are plenty of ways for a revo to tie up, and most are harder to clear than an selfloader.

Running a gun one handed takes its own skills for sure, like reholstering or tucking the gun in the pit of the knee for a mag change, and using the rear sight or ejection port hooked on the belt to rack the slide. But it's not like they're fantastically difficult to add to a practice routine. Especially before you get hurt.

 

[scaatylobo]

really

Anyone that knew that they were soon to be minus a paw - and did not practice for that is a fool,imnsho !.

Clint Eastwood's best line in Magnum Force " A mans GOT to know his limitations".