Ouch! Old Age Stinks!

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bhk

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I have my own backyard range. Today I went out to shoot my main carry gun, a SW1911PD, on IDPA targets. I did some simple drills and then shot a few draw/shoots one handed, something I do during most sessions. After about 30 shots sudden pain permeated my wrist. OUCH! My damn wrist now hurts 10 hours later, although it is improving as the hours pass. Arthritis, maybe. I have never had this happen before and it is discouraging.

I will let my wrist recover before shooting that gun again and probably limit my shot number to a degree. Fortunately, I can shoot every day if I want. Fewer shots per day/more days of shooting might be my solution. I might also consider a .22 conversion unit (or the new GSG 1911-22) for more practice. I sure hate to give up my 1911s at age 61.

Maybe this was a freak deal. Anyone else have this situation?
 
Not in the wrist but in the shoulder. I found that "fewer shots per day/more days of shooting" made a difference. Also, you might try implementing some mild wrist/arm exercises to strengthen the muscles and provide more support (works on the back).
 
If it doesn't stop hurting and you don't have a history of arthritus in that location, get to a doc and see if you fractured something.
 
bhj, I hate to break it to you, but it don't get much better with age. I'm 70, and my better half is 67, and we don't shoot much of anything but .22's anymore. Between my shoulder surgery and arthritis, and my wifes surgery for her carpel tunnel problems and arthritis, the .22's are what we can burn up lots of ammo without gobbling ibuprophen like M&M's. Old age sucks. Time will steal everything we are, eventually. Nothing we can do about it.

But the alternative is worse.:eek:

Carl.
 
Perhaps a 9mm 1911?

Do wrist strengthening exercises (pushups on fists for example) and maybe put some icy hot on before and after. Do the usual arthritic care and it should hurt less.
 
This same topic was raised on the sportsman's channel (guns and ammo or handguns) not sure which one it was on.

They said to use a 2lb dumbbell. Place arm on a table with wrist facing up and extending your hand out past the edge of the table.With weight in your hand let your hand drop backwards down towards the floor. Than lift weight back upwards. Do a few reps of 10 times each. When ever your just setting around doing nothing. Also get one of the squeeze exercise grips. Between the two of them you will keep your wrists in top shape for shooting.
 
Holy crap, I can't escape this even on THR. Guys, I go through this routine every time I run into an old friend. This hurts, that hurts, I injured this or that. Remember when we told lies about girls, guns and cars. Oh, the good old days. Seriously though the wrist exercises and overall conditioning go a long way in helping with old Arthur.
 
With all the bones and soft tissue in our hands and feet it is amazing we do not become out of sorts more often. If I had to guess you pinched a nerve. Take any muscle relaxer and the pain will be gone in three days if it was a muscle or tendon. Not a Doctor just my opinion. Have been taking a anti inflammatory and muscle relaxer before boarding a flight and when I arrive I am pain free and can move. I have a back injury that the highly skilled Doctors wanted to operate on and cut me open. I got a hyper extention exercise machine/rest and started working out once or twice a day for my back. It was slow going in the beginning but after approx 3 months I could sit for 30 minutes without the nerve in my butt feeling like a hot knife.


The exercise thing as already mentioned is the only way I can think of that will help you for shooting the firearm of your choice. Good luck and don't give up it only gets worse!!
 
At 58 but being quite active by many standards I've so far avoided MOST of the "decay". But I know that in the winter with the rain and all if I sluff off and don't do anything physically active for a few days I feel like I'm seizing up and find I get quite stiff and start to have some aches. Riding bicycles, walking, playing some badminton or tennis, going dancing with the missus or almost anything where you're moving fairly energetically for a few hours at least every other day will greatly help avoid a lot of it.

For example just yesterday I was living up to my user name by riding one of my motorcycles in a mini road racing event. It may seem to some like the engine is doing the work but in reality we're moving all over that bike like an apache on their war horse. By the end of the day the body knows it's gotten a good workout. I also try to get out for longer and energetic bicycle rides three or more times a week. And once the house renos are done that'll go up to almost daily when I'm not doing something else.
 
I know you don't want to hear this,But doing dishes can do wonders for arthritis in the hands/wrists.Manipulating all the various dishes/utensils in hot,soapy water[as hot as you can stand it]is great therapy.And no,your wife did'nt pay me to post this.
 
Sir go see a doctor if the pain persists more than a couple of days. They will be able to give you a real exam, take images, and then give you a real plan to help you on your way to recovery. If it is a ligament or bone issue, doing aforesaid exercises will most likely only make it worse. They can help after you have recovered to try to prevent it happening again, but your doctor can tell you what exercises and when to do them.

I would most definitely see a doctor is the pain persists.

Shawn
 
bhk,
Out of curiosity, do you have any handguns with a sharper grip angle than the 1911? Something in the Glock/Luger/Ruger Mark III angle?

I don't mean to make a scientific experiment out of your pain, but I'd be curious if such an angle helps or hurts your situation.
 
Nope, none have my handguns have that much rake in the grip. I imagine I will be doing all kinds of experiments with my shooting over the next few months. One thing for sure, I won't/can't give up shooting. I have been shooting steadily for fifty years. I may alter things a bit, but sure won't quit! I already do a lot of .22 handgun shooting. Maybe even more now.
 
I'm 63 and have a fair amount of arthritis in my shooting wrist. I still like to shoot the 45's, so I wrap the wrist before each shooting session. You can go to the drug store and buy Coban wrap for $6 a roll, or you can go to your local farm store and buy the stuff they wrap horses ankles with for $1.75 a roll. The farm store stuff comes in colors too! I'm partial to the bright orange stuff myself!!
 
bhk wrote:

Ouch! Old Age Stinks!
I have my own backyard range.
Click to expand...

I refuse to read the rest of your post as my jealously will not permit.

Just kidding, aging stinks and everyone finds a way to deal with it.

Good luck!

-Cheers
 
Getting old sucks but certainly beats the alternative. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

I've really fallen apart in the last three years. Had surgery on my right shoulder last January. Torn rotator cuff repair, scope out the arthritis, and cut
off the collar bone end. Rehab ain't no FUN. Shoulder has done very well but arthritis (diagnosed) in the wrist and carpal tunnel inflamation has made shooting any handgun with more recoil than a 45 acp or 357 unpleasant enough to quit doing it.

Monday I'm going in to have the same procedure done on my left shoulder. Hooray. I can hardly wait. Maybe by Christmas I'll be able to hold up a rifle again. I'm right handed so I'll be able to get in some handgun time, just not with the hard kickers.
 
I also have my own range here at the farm and at 71..

I shoot about 4 days a week but limit it to about a 2 hour session each day. I used to shoot a lot of hot loads in 45 Colt and 44 magnum but lately I reload them lighter unless I am hunting. I shoot a lot more 357 magnum , 38 special, and 44 special now. I don't have arthritis but will get muscle fatigue if I shoot too long at one time. I also try to skip a day between each shooting session and mix the shooting session between large caliber guns and small caliber guns. I find that this regimen works for me. Good luck and good shooting.
 
Since I have retired, I am 65 now, I go every third year to Arlington. At my age surgery, arthritis and abused muscles are a problem. Last year our kids got together, bought plane tickets and took my wife and I to Washington DC. The smithsonian, the capitol, the monuments were fantastic. I was getting achy and tired when we went to Arlington. There once again I walked the Wall. I am still old sore and slow. There is this consolation though, I have remembered how I got this way, those who were with me then, and those who rest.

blindhari
Sgt Ranger
Like My Father Before Me
 
i am at 61 and all the pain/discomfort that my fellow members are talking about also applies to me. it is what it is. we just have to deal with it. at least we can do is smile in our pain as we go shooting our guns. azrn
 
There is a reason that they make really fine, exquisitely comfortable shoes--so that older guys can wear them.

There is a reason they make shooting gloves, and .22s. The older I get, the more I love .22s.
 
I read an article a few years ago in a gun mag. The author of the article told of how after years of shooting many magnum type handguns he had done permanent damage to his wrist. I don't remember his name or if he had ever found a solution. I myself have arthritis in my right hand and trigger finger but so far it only affects me when I try to extend it in the opposite direction instead so I'm still good to shoot. Some type of wrist band could possibly help. Other than that if it were me I would try the aspirin, ibuprofin or what ever route about an hour before I began shooting and maybe cut back on number of rounds shot.
 
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