Age Related Shooting Question

[lsu11b]

I figure this is the best place to ask these questions:

1. Does carpal tunnel more or less mean an end to shooting as a hobby? I work at a computer and between the mouse and typing, my right wrist hurts more and more each day. Any suggestions / recommendations for relief? Did surgery actually help?

2. Age seems to be catching up to me… between sports / military related injuries, I seem to hurt more and more with each passing year… im beginning to wonder if I’m at the point that purchasing new guns / optics is a waste of money and I should pick a new hobby.

This may be more or less arriving at my mid-life crisis but not sure. Happy to hear thoughts from some others who enjoy this.

 

[Milf Dots]

You should have a tilt-adjustable keyboard drawer, ergonomic keyboards and mice, to alter the angles your hands/wrists are working at- change it up daily or at least weekly. There are all sorts of keyboards designed to fight Carpal Tunnel- some are thick top to bottom and have what appear to be two sunken keyed areas in it designed to fight CT. Others are curved up in the middle.

The 5 best ergonomic keyboards of 2023

Ergonomic keyboards can help improve your typing posture and reduce discomfort. The best ergonomic keyboards also feature wireless connectivity and keymapping.

www.zdnet.com

 

[JimTN]

Can't speak to the Carpal Tunnel issue, I've been lucky with this. I spent most of my professional career around computers, but still fortunate to have no issues.

I do participate in RFBR games (ABRA/ARA), and i do notice after a 6 card match that both of my hands will be stiff/sore the next day from running the bolt and loading rounds. I also notice the same stiffness, etc., after a CF range session, or a day (or four) of varmint shooting pdogs & sage rats. Processing brass will provide the same symptoms. I do get short breaks between cards at RF matches, time to clean the bore, hang a new target, chat with fellow competitors, etc., I try to take a break during CF range sessions and when out in the varmint fields, but when conditions are good, and lots of opportunities to shoot another varmint present themselves, I suffer some from my stupidity later on. Unfortunately, it's a age related thing, and I've learned that my body doesn't always agree with what my mind believes is possible. My mind still thinks like a 22 y/o, the body does not work like a 22 y/o.

As you age, you may/will change what you want to try in the shooting sports, I chose RFBR as I can sit at a bench, and with time/effort I have acquired the equipment to make it fun/enjoyable and comfortable for the most part. Prone shooting is a no go for me due to various HS sports injuries and old age. Varmint shooting requires a portable shooting bench/stool that works well for me and is fairly easy to deal with at 68 y/o. Optics change as I have crappy eyesight, so I found some scopes that work well for me at the ranges I prefer to shoot at and don't break the bank if one gets damaged in travel.

 

[lonegunman762x51]

I shot for the military for 17 years in addition to my regular duties. Mostly pistol, eventually I had about a dozen classifications in various pistol, rifle, air pistol and shotgun sports. Then I had some horrible version of tennis elbow than took months of physical therapy to work thru. I detached my biceps muscle a week before the nationals moving something extremely heavy and it required surgery and months of physical therapy to recover from. Combined with 27 years of PT and two worn out knees, my scores have plunged in retirement.

But, I fully retired recently and am back on a normal sleep schedule and am seeing some improvement. Occasionally, I still nail a 99/100 on a target and see a flash of the old brilliance and that makes me happy enough to keep going. I also shoot some of the events I used to pass up because they require some skill and in the past were just to easy.

These days, I am building some rifles I've always wanted and buying a few things I have always wanted. The plan is to enjoy shooting sports for as long as they are legal in our rapidly failing nation.

 

[308pirate]

I figure this is the best place to ask these questions:

1. Does carpal tunnel more or less mean an end to shooting as a hobby? I work at a computer and between the mouse and typing, my right wrist hurts more and more each day. Any suggestions / recommendations for relief? Did surgery actually help?

2. Age seems to be catching up to me… between sports / military related injuries, I seem to hurt more and more with each passing year… im beginning to wonder if I’m at the point that purchasing new guns / optics is a waste of money and I should pick a new hobby.

This may be more or less arriving at my mid-life crisis but not sure. Happy to hear thoughts from some others who enjoy this.

Carpal tunnel: see a legit orthopedic surgeon. There are surgical and non-surgical remedies that work.

Movement and pain...How old are you? I'll be 58 this summer and I have had quite a few injuries over the years, some severe enough that required major rehab before I was able to walk normally again. Getting fit and staying fit has been a huge help lately. I can't run long distances to stay fit so I swim on average 4000 yards a week instead.

This was 3 months ago

 

[Hobo Hilton]

I have had both carpal tunnel and "trigger finger" surgery on both hands. Good as new.
Other's who have had this will say "I should have got it corrected much sooner"...
No shots, no PT go directly to a top shelf surgeon.

 

[lsu11b]

I have had both carpal tunnel and "trigger finger" surgery on both hands. Good as new.
Other's who have had this will say "I should have got it corrected much sooner"...
No shots, no PT go directly to a top shelf surgeon.

Good to know, I have an doc appointment coming up to get the ball rolling, I figure other people have gone through the same thing.

 

[lsu11b]

I shot for the military for 17 years in addition to my regular duties. Mostly pistol, eventually I had about a dozen classifications in various pistol, rifle, air pistol and shotgun sports. Then I had some horrible version of tennis elbow than took months of physical therapy to work thru. I detached my biceps muscle a week before the nationals moving something extremely heavy and it required surgery and months of physical therapy to recover from. Combined with 27 years of PT and two worn out knees, my scores have plunged in retirement.

But, I fully retired recently and am back on a normal sleep schedule and am seeing some improvement. Occasionally, I still nail a 99/100 on a target and see a flash of the old brilliance and that makes me happy enough to keep going. I also shoot some of the events I used to pass up because they require some skill and in the past were just to easy.

These days, I am building some rifles I've always wanted and buying a few things I have always wanted. The plan is to enjoy shooting sports for as long as they are legal in our rapidly failing nation.

This helps, overall know as I age things will degrade. I’m starting to come to terms with “there’s just some things I’m not going to be able to do as well as is used to”, but still wake up and think about building a 300NM. Overall it is sounding more like my own anxiety than reality

 

[lsu11b]

Wish you would have shared your age. I'm 53 and have similar problems. My Dr has not been helpful. I've been told arthritis, though only as a suggestion, not with authority.

I have mild to moderate pain (not muscle pain, pain in bones or nerves maybe) doing anything requiring grip strength. Loss of grip strength. Loss of vigor/ambition to run a carbine or handgun hard.

Getting old sucks.

I’m 38, which overall isn’t old. But I’ve had 3 back surgeries, shoulder surgery and it is getting hard to pull the trigger sometimes. At this point I think it’s more anxiety on my end and I may be somewhat overthinking it. I mainly worry about dropping a significant amount of coin on rifles / scopes that end up just sitting in the safe due to health issues when the money could have been spent taking the kids on a vacation.

 

[chevy_man]

I’m 38, which overall isn’t old. But I’ve had 3 back surgeries, shoulder surgery and it is getting hard to pull the trigger sometimes. At this point I think it’s more anxiety on my end and I may be somewhat overthinking it. I mainly worry about dropping a significant amount of coin on rifles / scopes that end up just sitting in the safe due to health issues when the money could have been spent taking the kids on a vacation.

You should take the kids on a vacation. It can be a vacation to shoot varmints and you'll need at least 2 rifles per person.


I'm 36 and shooting is easy. The dirtbikes and snowmobiles beat me up more than they used to. I'll be sore for 3 days after a day sledding, while I'm never sore enough to notice after a match.


Get the carpal tunnel fixed. It's an easy outpatient surgery, they just go in and remove some of the bone that's pinching off the nerves. There's no PT cure for having a nerve tunnel that's too small.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

I’m 38, which overall isn’t old. But I’ve had 3 back surgeries, shoulder surgery and it is getting hard to pull the trigger sometimes. At this point I think it’s more anxiety on my end and I may be somewhat overthinking it. I mainly worry about dropping a significant amount of coin on rifles / scopes that end up just sitting in the safe due to health issues when the money could have been spent taking the kids on a vacation.

I can relate.
I will extremely oversimplify... Find your happiness. Spend your time and resources being happy.
I went out and looked at zero turn mowers capable of cutting 6 acres in a timely manner. I'm 72 years old.
I have to ask myself how much longer will I live. A $15k mower might outlive me.
What I want / What I need / What I can afford... LOL

 

[greg1147]

Fortunately I never had the CT issue, but working in construction has taken its toll. See the specialist they know, sometimes. Everything in moderation, I'm 76 and hurt from areas sometimes I didn't even know about, but I still shoot,not just from the bench either, and work as RSO.
Getting old does suck.

 

[chevy_man]

Don't forget, you can buy a used Corvette for $25k and gets yourself some new balance shoes to go with your jean shorts at any time.


Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if it's for you...

 

[308pirate]

I’m 38, which overall isn’t old. But I’ve had 3 back surgeries, shoulder surgery and it is getting hard to pull the trigger sometimes.

Go see a GOOD ortho surgeon. See what he or she can do to fix what other doctors either missed or fucked up.

I haven't had surgeries, ever, but I had a severely impacted lower back from a fall years ago (still need chiro therapy from time to time), trigger finger in both hands, tennis elbow many times, and a 2nd degree ACL (acromio-clavicular ligament) tear that resolved with immobilization and therapy.

I don't know how fit or strong you are but you can never be fit enough IMO.

 

[Ronws]

I think I figured out why I have that weird pain in my left wrist.

Half a century of holding up the poster of Cheryl Tiegs with my right hand.

 

[Holliday]

I figure this is the best place to ask these questions:

1. Does carpal tunnel more or less mean an end to shooting as a hobby? I work at a computer and between the mouse and typing, my right wrist hurts more and more each day. Any suggestions / recommendations for relief? Did surgery actually help?

2. Age seems to be catching up to me… between sports / military related injuries, I seem to hurt more and more with each passing year… im beginning to wonder if I’m at the point that purchasing new guns / optics is a waste of money and I should pick a new hobby.

This may be more or less arriving at my mid-life crisis but not sure. Happy to hear thoughts from some others who enjoy this.

My hands really started bothering me last year. It was really impacting my ability to do things. I started taking two of these every day about 6 months ago. The difference is night and day.

Zyflamend™: Herbal Pain Relief† & Inflammation Support†

Experience purely herbal pain relief†, joint support, and healthy inflammation response with Zyflamend, our best-selling herbal supplement.*†

www.newchapter.com

 

[918v]

I figure this is the best place to ask these questions:

1. Does carpal tunnel more or less mean an end to shooting as a hobby? I work at a computer and between the mouse and typing, my right wrist hurts more and more each day. Any suggestions / recommendations for relief? Did surgery actually help?

2. Age seems to be catching up to me… between sports / military related injuries, I seem to hurt more and more with each passing year… im beginning to wonder if I’m at the point that purchasing new guns / optics is a waste of money and I should pick a new hobby.

This may be more or less arriving at my mid-life crisis but not sure. Happy to hear thoughts from some others who enjoy this.

Learn to type with two fingers

 

[mosin46]

get an evaluation by a reputable orthopedic surgeon. hand specialist much preferred. i had the same,to me carpal tunnel,symptoms. evaluation and xrays showed serious arthritic degeneration in both thumb wrist areas at a much younger than expected age. 2 surgeries gave rapid recovery to pre symptom function/strength levels.

 

[ForgeValley]

I deal with 'intermittent' carpal tunnel, haven't been evaluated for the surgery yet. Couple of things have really helped me. Braces you wear on your wrist at night. And learn to be ambidextrous with the mouse.

 

[mrdrar]

Ergonomic keyboard for wrist pain as above (not something pretty). See a hand surgeon who should order nerve conduction tests before operating. Lay off the magnums. Use shooting gloves.

 

[Fx51LP308]

For me, it's about being "cross eye dominant." I'm Rt. handed, but left eye dominant as I have a 1.25 diopter astigmatism in the Rt. eye. If I do the "triangle" test with my hands, I'm almost dead on with my left eye but way off with the right. So, I'm learning to adjust to that. I'm not sure at this point how well corrective lenses could be, but I'm willing to give those a try... perhaps even contacts if it really would help.

The pistols aren't really an issue. I can shoot those cross-eyed without much difficulty. I don't have a lot of difficulty either with the ARs. But my Ruger RPR (.308) is a different story. That's going to take a little mastery.

 

[lsu11b]

I can relate.
I will extremely oversimplify... Find your happiness. Spend your time and resources being happy.
I went out and looked at zero turn mowers capable of cutting 6 acres in a timely manner. I'm 72 years old.
I have to ask myself how much longer will I live. A $15k mower might outlive me.
What I want / What I need / What I can afford... LOL

Makes sense haha. Everything associated is a “want”…. I definitely don’t “need” any new rifles haha.

 

[lsu11b]

I deal with 'intermittent' carpal tunnel, haven't been evaluated for the surgery yet. Couple of things have really helped me. Braces you wear on your wrist at night. And learn to be ambidextrous with the mouse.

What braces have you used? The normal ones they sell at Walgreens?

 

[Maggot]

Im fortunate, everything is fucked up but my wrists.

Doesnt CT come from just locking our wrist or other body part in one position. Be conscious and stop every half hour and stretch and rotate? fo things to loosen the ligaments, muscles, and other stuff. A buddy swears by a Cannabis cream he gets. Havent tried it but he swears it helps him.

 

[Srgt. Hulka]

I think I figured out why I have that weird pain in my left wrist.

Half a century of holding up the poster of Cheryl Tiegs with my right hand.

Cheryl Tiegs……

My wife and daughter both have had CT surgery. It worked well for both of them.

 

[Plumb Bob]

I had the CT surgery done on both wrists and it was instant relief. Mine was done 10 years ago and I'm still pain free. Good luck and I hope you get the same results.

 

[ForgeValley]

What braces have you used? The normal ones they sell at Walgreens?

I got these on Amazon. My hands can go numb at night if I don't wear them.

 

[Milf Dots]

Lovely hands.

 

[Aftermath]

Carpal tunnel: see a legit orthopedic surgeon. There are surgical and non-surgical remedies that work.

Movement and pain...How old are you? I'll be 58 this summer and I have had quite a few injuries over the years, some severe enough that required major rehab before I was able to walk normally again. Getting fit and staying fit has been a huge help lately. I can't run long distances to stay fit so I swim on average 4000 yards a week instead.

This was 3 months ago

Not too bad, even without the pink shorts.

I have been using bee venom therapy for the various pains. It definitely works but also definitely not for everyone. I haven't "treated" myself in about 3 months and I can tell. I'll be starting my own hives this spring and should be able to keep stinging myself year round. Plus the raw and truly local honey...also beneficial in so many ways.

 

[ForgeValley]

Lovely hands.

Lol, not mine for sure. They doc looked at my hands and said, 'you do manual labor for a living, don't you'?

No, my hands have just had a hard life.

 

[Pharmseller]

This is what happens when you give a 15 year old boy Viagra.

What is carpal tunnel?

Correct

 

[Ronws]

Cheryl Tiegs……

My wife and daughter both have had CT surgery. It worked well for both of them.

And I have to wear glasses. (no line bifocals.)

 

[NotByWorks]

I had a similar problem with my right worst due to the computer mouse. Started using my left hand for the mouse and eventually the right hand stopped hurting. Of course the left wrist started hurting after while. I found retirement completely solved the problem.

 

[308pirate]

Not too bad, even without the pink shorts.

I have been using bee venom therapy for the various pains. It definitely works but also definitely not for everyone. I haven't "treated" myself in about 3 months and I can tell. I'll be starting my own hives this spring and should be able to keep stinging myself year round. Plus the raw and truly local honey...also beneficial in so many ways.

Pink shorts add 0.5 to any hit factor

 

[stanley_white]

Off and on I think about usage mechanics as well.

For example, an AW magazine where I can push the bullet straight into it will be easier to load than an AICS magazine as I age. Do I need to change my equipment? I don’t know.

45 caliber handgun cartridges are easier to manipulate due to their size than 9mm / 38 caliber ones.

Handgun sights that permit more light to flow through gaps on either side of the front sight are good as are the XS Big Dots etc.

I have a Browning (Miroku) low wall 45 Colt that I call my “Old Man Gun” due to the gross motor skills it requires to operate.

-Stan

 

[Plumb Bob]

Word of caution here. If you get the wrist braces get them off the internet or your local store. I got one at the doctors office and they charged me $350.00 for a wrist brace that's from $15 - $35 on the internet.

 

[EddieNFL]

Arthritis in the hands (and most other joints). Pretty constant pain in the thumbs aggravated by range time. I figure I have a few shooting years left.

 

[mtrmn]

Had elbow-wrist-hand pain for years. All the drs said carpal tunnel, but I never went to a specialist for it. Still have it but much better since I started taking B6 twice a day, in addition to B12 and B1. When I added the B6 is when it improved vastly. Could be a coincidence, but it's been like 3 years now since I started the B6 and after about a month the pain subsided considerably. Worth a try....

 

[Aftermath]

Arthritis in the hands (and most other joints). Pretty constant pain in the thumbs aggravated by range time. I figure I have a few shooting years left.

My main issue was pain in the left thumb metacarpal bad enough that it hindered gripping really anything. Even holding a glass of water.

I started bee venom therapy, self prescribed, dosed and applied, last year. I sting myself at the base of the thumb right at the wrist with 2 bees every 3 days. It wasn't immediate relief, took about 2 weeks before I noticed an improvement. After maybe 2 months, I was pain free. Not just pain free but a general whole body feel better. I have to stop during the cold months because the people I have been getting bees from do not want to harass their bees during the winter. It only takes about 2 weeks and I start feeling that pain coming back. It's arthritis, I do believe. This spring, I am starting my own beekeeping so I can keep dosing even in the winter. Plus have honey and pollinators for the gardening and such. I think I am also going to try reducing the dose once I feel no pain. It took about 2 weeks to notice the pain again so I am going to work towards 2 weeks between treatments and see if that is enough.

It's definitely not for everyone. I mean, obviously, if you are allergic, don't. LOTS of folks can't imagine intentionally causing yourself some pain but its really just a mild irritation. As far as self inflicted pain, this is on par with bicycling until your side hurts and your ass is sore. Or lifting weights and having sore muscles after. No pain, no gain. I do recommend giving it a try for 3-4 months.

 

[Bullfrog08]

CT.....shit, I had surgery in August this yesr. By October back to normal. No pain, just a tender palm for a month. I couldnt hold my phone for more than 1 minute without hands going numb. I put off for 5 years. Dumb!!! Easiest surgery ever and no rehab.

My doc used a new technique, where I was awake the whole time. I had to pay $1500 for this machine not covered by insurance, but it was worth it! I drove myself there, drove myself home. One little dot on each wrist.

 

[308pirate]

Handgun sights that permit more light to flow through gaps on either side of the front sight are good as are the XS Big Dots etc.

The ultimate solution

 

[stanley_white]

The ultimate solution

View attachment 8328973

The ultimate solution if you dig on batteries.

-Stan

 

[308pirate]

The ultimate solution if you dig on batteries.

-Stan

Tell me you don't know about modern red dot sights without telling me you don't know anything about modern red dot sights.

My first Trijicon RMR went 3 years of constant on before I got spooked and changed the battery. It was still running fine then. They are what I use for self defense.

I still haven't changed the original battery in either of my Trijicon SROs, and the oldest one is four years old. Granted, I don't use them for carry so they're off when the guns that have them are in the gun room.

Almost all modern handgun red dots have battery access without having to remove the optic from the slide. It takes literally 5 min or less once every year or two. Most of them use 2032 batteries which are available at any hardware store or pharmacy in the country.

The one in that picture is a C-More RTS. It has a much shorter battery life but it's meant for competition, not self defense, and its dot is huge and way brigther than almost anything else.

 

[Milf Dots]

Tell me you don't know about modern red dot sights without telling me you don't know anything about modern red dot sights.

My first Trijicon RMR went 3 years of constant on before I got spooked and changed the battery. It was still running fine then. They are what I use for self defense.

I still haven't changed the original battery in either of my Trijicon SROs, and the oldest one is four years old. Granted, I don't use them for carry so they're off when the guns that have them are in the gun room.

Almost all modern handgun red dots have battery access without having to remove the optic from the slide. It takes literally 5 min or less once every year or two. Most of them use 2032 batteries which are available at any hardware store or pharmacy in the country.

The one in that picture is a C-More RTS. It has a much shorter battery life but it's meant for competition, not self defense, and its dot is huge and way brigther than almost anything else.

There you go making too much sense again...

 

[stanley_white]

Tell me you don't know about modern red dot sights without telling me you don't know anything about modern red dot sights.

My first Trijicon RMR went 3 years of constant on before I got spooked and changed the battery. It was still running fine then. They are what I use for self defense.

I still haven't changed the original battery in either of my Trijicon SROs, and the oldest one is four years old. Granted, I don't use them for carry so they're off when the guns that have them are in the gun room.

Almost all modern handgun red dots have battery access without having to remove the optic from the slide. It takes literally 5 min or less once every year or two. Most of them use 2032 batteries which are available at any hardware store or pharmacy in the country.

The one in that picture is a C-More RTS. It has a much shorter battery life but it's meant for competition, not self defense, and its dot is huge and way brigther than almost anything else.

I know about them.

I do not value them.

I never will.

Whatever superiority they provide you, I am glad they provide it.

-Stan

 

[Porksboy]

Worked with my hands (Auto mechanic and Watch maker) 40+ years. Expect to work another 20 or so. Been shooting just as long. I do the first and second exercise daily and have no issues.

 

[308pirate]

I know about them.

I do not value them.

I never will.

Whatever superiority they provide you, I am glad they provide it.

-Stan

Ok boomer

 

[stanley_white]

Ok boomer

Our talents choose us.

-Stan

 

[Emerson0311]

I deal with 'intermittent' carpal tunnel, haven't been evaluated for the surgery yet. Couple of things have really helped me. Braces you wear on your wrist at night. And learn to be ambidextrous with the mouse.

Ambidextrous use works. I am right handed. Years ago I started using my left hand for the mouse due to workout and construction work pain in Rt elbow and wrist. I also eat very little sugar and quite low carb intake. 52 last fall

 

[Ronws]

Ambidextrous use works. I am right handed. Years ago I started using my left hand for the mouse due to workout and construction work pain in Rt elbow and wrist. I also eat very little sugar and quite low carb intake. 52 last fall

I am left handed for writing, eating, ass wiping, and paying homage to Cheryl Tiegs. I am left handed with a pistol. However, when I was 12, we were learning shotgun with a semi-auto. I was instructed to fire it right handed. Which I did. And it has been a habit since then to shoot long guns right handed.

I started teaching myself how to play guitar in October of 1974 and all I had was an old acoustic guitar with nylon strings and Mel Bay's Book of Chords. So, I learned guitar right handed but it felt left handed to me because the left hand does so much work.

I golf right handed but it feels left handed to me. I bat right handed.