I can't shoot my shotguns anymore.....

[357wheelgunner]

On christmas day I was involved in a really bad car wreck, read more about it here (complete with pics) :

http://9thgencorolla.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10441&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

So I found out last week that my back has been hurting so bad because of two fractured vertabrae, and I was told that I would not be able to shoot for a while. The doc said that through surgery or a chiropractor (I chose the chiropractor) I will heal up but I'll probably hurt as I get older.

The worst part ( ) is that I just bought 200 rounds of Rem RR 1 oz slugs before christmas, and now all I can do is look at them. I can't wait until I heal up in a couple of months, I love 100+ slug shooting days.

I'm so depressed, maybe I can still shoot some light .38s in my K-frames one handed. It would really make me feel better if some of you guys could go shoot a bunch of shotgun (preferably slugs running defensive drills) stuff for me....

 

[grimjaw]

Sorry to hear about your plight. I've got a friend in a similar situation.

The .22 is your friend, though. Get reacquainted.

jmm

 

[Fred Fuller]

Steve, this one has your name on it...

FWIW I have some slug work to do with that FN Police Shotgun I have been wringing out- need to reconfirm the zero now that I have changed choke tubes back to the ImpCyl. And I need to get some practice on loading it out of the SideSaddle too, now that I have one installed. That will be with 1600+ FPS Brenneke KOs though, no RR slugs used here...

lpl/nc (keep your chin up, you'll be back at 'em before long)

 

[Preacherman]

If it's any consolation, I was unable to fire any centerfire round at all (shotgun, rifle, handgun, whatever) from mid-February 2004 until late last year, after a back injury. (OK, I cheated now and again for a few handgun rounds... ). Last week I got to shoot a shotgun and a .45 for the first time in almost two years. I was happy!

 

[sm]

357wheelgunner,
I am so sorry to hear of this. I send my best and wish for a speedy recovery with no nasty surprises down the road.

Preacherman -as he has shared , can offer a LOT to you, and not just for the medical/physical needs you have. Preacherman did not type it - so I will, PM him for anything.

Get as many Opinions as can, from not only the Medical Community, also from others that have been / are going thru/ recovering from similar and same.

Firearms: Cover yourself by getting everything you can from all sources before you do anything. In today's society any excuse to pass the blame is too common.

If physically able without fear of more damage, just handing and mounting a lighter gun for instance is a type of physical therapy. Also assists with the mental aspect of self esteem.

Just mounting a old single shot .410 for example can do wonders. If you reload, just de-prime, stick in a primer, and shoot primer only - Sounds dumb, then again too many folks with various injuries, including detached retinas have found this to help a lot.

Mental Attitude goes a long way in healing the physical.

I learned something from my ex whom was a Peds Nurse. I later volunteered at the same hospital, later on I took Medical classes and worked in the main OR.

Observations: Kids made that Children's Hospital different, one could sense it the moment one entered. Everyone from Admin, to housekeeping was different...it was the kids. Kids, some terminally ill, were not focused on themselves, a kid would get "better enough" and teach other kids how to draw, watercolor, do Orgami...they also taught nurses, doctors - everyone.

In the Hopitial I worked, or rotations I did, - it is said there exists a parallel b/t pediatrics and geriatrics...these elderly were sharing with others anything from math skills to recipes, to you name it.

Some of the persons I worked with in shooting, could not shoot as You and Preacherman are going through.

One gentleman did shoot primer only .410s, the .22 shorts out of a rifle. His grandson came to visit. That kid did more to assist his grandpa than the doctors, physical therapists, or meds.

He showed the kid how to reload shotshells. He and the kid refinished a old single shot .22 rifle I went out and found.

Getting out of one's self is what I learned assisted in healing body, mind and soul. This is what the Children's Hospital taught me...others.

As time and healing permitted with Drs okay, light loads were reloaded in the shotgun. 1100 in .410, later a 1100 in 28 ga. Handguns, the grandson has a ball with Speer Rubber Bullets primer fired from a Model 10.

Grandson learned "gun stuff". Grandpa got out of himself and passed forward.
Grandson learned a LOT about other stuff, like how to help out and do stuff could not or limited in doing. Oh this assisted Grandpa...instead of feeling helpless, he felt he was teaching grandson life lessons.

Doctors were shocked at Grandpa's healing. He is doing great, he and grandson still do "gun stuff".

Granted they liked to have drove the rest of the family nuts going thru Primers, Rubber Bullets, and refinishing supplies...

"MoooOOmmmm don't forget to get some boxes so Grandpa and I can shoot into them".

They had this deal set up to shoot Rubber Bullets inside a shed if you will. If the Red Bandana was flying it meant shooting was going on inside. Now if you have grandma's treats - okay to come in...otherwise they might be on Safari, taking out bank robbers, or whatever else the kid said they needed to shoot that day.

Best to you.

Steve

 

[357wheelgunner]

Thanks for the sympathy guys, your words cheered me up bigtime

Well I went to the chiropractor (spelling?) today and he had a different out take than the surgery-hungry doctor did. I'll start by saying that my Chiro is also a friend of the family, and an avid shooter. He did his own x-rays and said that my fractures are healing up quickly, and that his belief is that the radiologists mistook the severely misaligned vertebrae for a bad compression fracture. While the vertebrae may be damaged (the cause of my constant muscle spasms) and way out of alignment, he said that due to my young age (I'm 23 years old) and solid muscle structure (from changing semi-truck tires since I was 13 years old ) I should heal up fast with a little help from him. He also said it would be good for me to do a little activity, up to and including shooting my wheelguns and running the shotgun with light loads. I guess I should call him and ask him if reduced recoil 1oz slugs fall into the "light loads" category

So this afternoon I practiced mounting my 870 (I have not touched it since before christmas ) and am probably going to go to a friends house tomorrow and destroy some dirt clods and old soda bottles and maybe a few critters with birdshot.

Between the chiropractors adjustments and my wife's great massages (she is in med school for physical therapy and I'm her massage guinnea-pig) I should be feeling better soon. If I could only get rid of these damnable muscle spasms......

Thanks again guys, I'll bring the digi cam I got for Christmas and take some pics of my "rehabilitation"

 

[middy]

The muscle spasms should abate soon, some light exercise will probably help a little.

Re your car wreck thread. Scary! Thank goodness your daughter came through with only scratches! Those of you who aren't parents will never know what it's like for those few seconds when your childrens' lives are in jeopardy...

 

[CaCrusin]

Here, try this...

I suggest that you try one of the several Knoxx Recoil-Reducing stocks. If your medical professionals release you to try shooting, you can bet that a more than 50% reduction in actual recoil will go a long way to making shooting fun again.

Call me and place an order. If it doesn't exceed your expectations, you can send it back for a full refund...no questions asked. Visit the website and read the "Testimonials" from others in your condition.

I await your call. (877-465-6699)

CaCrusin aka Larry at Knoxx

 

[The_Antibubba]

Keep in mind a gas-operated auto will also reduce felt recoil.

 

[pauli]

hopefully things do heal up quickly.

i would suggest that for anyone who can't quite safely shoot an 870 with slugs, a 572 might be in order. sure, the holes in the target are smaller, but who's counting?

 

[clone]

massage guinnea-pig? hmm.... somehow i think we are the ones missing out. hope ya get better soon

 

[GunnySkox]

*Shoots a clay* One for me.

*shoots the ground* And one for my homies what cain't shoot no mo'.

Hope you heal up soon, Wheelgunner, just don't go pushing your luck by trying to push up the schedule. A couple hours of fun at the range even a little too soon could eff you up for much longer than that.

~GnSx

 

[rick_reno]

Good thing that stick missed your daughter. Hope you and your family heal up fast.