Tendinitis and shooting.

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  • RachelMarie

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    De Quervain's Tendinitis to be exact.

    How should I handle this while shooting? My wrists are not always in pain, but I usually feel discomfort after shooting for at least a few days. Sometimes the pain starts after the first shot, or in mid-range time.

    I need to keep up on training and such so I usually try and shoot through the pain. And after a while, when it gets bad enough I end up getting an injection of corticosteroids into the tendon. (That being said, My doctor is giving me one more injection before the last option, surgery.)

    I do physical therapy at home but no matter how much I do, I'm always on the verge of pain. Even playing a round of catch with my husband will get it to flare up pretty good.

    My doctor has given me splints (which are always in my range bag when not on my wrists) but after talking with a few fellow shooters I've decided against using them while shooting (I don't want to be reliant on them in a situation where I need to use my firearm.).

    So what should I do? Should I put these splints on at the range once (and if) the pain hits? Or should I continue shooting through the pain? I was told to avoid activities that cause the problem but that would leave me rather bored. But when it flares up really bad, it's hard to do the smallest things. It's amazing how useful your thumbs are.....

    Any ideas?


    Btw....Said splints make me have constant "Thumbs up". It's rather entertaining, really.
     

    UncleMike

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    My Wife can't sleep without her splints and sometimes she damn near cries from the pain.
    Her tendons are ruined and there isn't much that she can do about it.
    Her problem was caused by a LOT of heavy lifting as a CNA for over thirty years.
    I'd advise that you get the problem fixed while you're young.
    The older you are, the less chance you have of surgery fixing it.
    Mike
     

    ruger1800

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    had tennis elbow so bad a few years back i couldnt shoot a handgun if i tried, just took it easy for a year, healed on its own, you maybe aggrivating your condition by trying to work thru the pain, may be better to rest and see if it will heal on its own.
     

    AuntieBellum

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    I actually dropped my music major in college because of the pain from tendinitis and carpal tunnel. It was pretty much impossible to play my clarinet for four hours a day (or half that), as was required. :(

    That said, I just had to let it rest up. I still absolutely cannot write more than a paragraph or so at a time, and I certainly can't open jars and such, but it's generally much better now unless I push it. Also, shooting rifles hurts much less than handguns. I know, not the best solution. I still practice with my handguns, but I immediately put the splint on and take some ibuprofen as soon as I'm done shooting. I don't want to limit my options for movement while shooting, so I don't wear it during.

    Soooo...I don't have a solution. However, GhostofWinter just had surgery on his hand Friday, so maybe he'll have some insight here for you soon. I'll keep reading to what other suggestions everyone else has, too...
     

    BE Mike

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    Bullseye pistol shooters often get "shooter's elbow". It is the same as "tennis elbow". The best thing is to prevent it in the first place by stretching the tendon daily. Many find using a strap (found at any drug store) below the elbow stops the pain. Strengthening the muscles that support the affected area is helpful.

    I know that you have a different problem. If you tried aspirin and cold (ice) packs after shooting and they don't help, it seems that stopping the activity for a long period, like a year, is the only cure. When you start back up, try the stretching and strengthening slowly.

    If you are shooting pistol, and that is causing the problem, you might be able to switch to rifle or even air gun during the healing time. My wife had surgery many years ago to correct a similar problem. Although she doesn't have pain now, she lost some gripping strength and never took up the hobbies that brought it on, like macrame, needlepoint, and shooting.
     

    USMC_0311

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    Even playing........with my husband will get it to flare up pretty good.

    Quit that!! :D


    My doctor has given me splints (which are always in my range bag when not on my wrists) but after talking with a few fellow shooters I've decided against using them while shooting (I don't want to be reliant on them in a situation where I need to use my firearm.)

    Who and what did they say? I don't think you would become reliant on them at all. If you train with them on and you have no pain then thats good more time to train. When/if the time comes you will react just the same and not even think about it. Unless of course these splints cause you do something you wouldn't normally do.


    So what should I do? Should I put these splints on at the range once (and if) the pain hits? Or should I continue shooting through the pain? I was told to avoid activities that cause the problem but that would leave me rather bored. But when it flares up really bad, it's hard to do the smallest things. It's amazing how useful your thumbs are.....

    Any ideas?


    Btw....Said splints make me have constant "Thumbs up". It's rather entertaining, really.

    :yesway: Then again there is the Marine Corps way

    NO PAIN NO GAIN!!
     

    Mr. Habib

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    What remedies have you tried besides rest and injections? When I was playing softball I would often get tendinitis that would last for weeks or months at a time. One time I had it in my elbow to the point that I could no longer lift weights or hit in the batting cage for about six weeks. Rest, ice, Glucosamine, Chondroiton Sulfate, nothing seemed to help. I happened to run into the sponsor for one of my teams one night who happened to be a nutritionist. She had me try large doses of vitamin B6. I took 500mG 3x a day. After about two days my elbow was noticeably better, and after about 1 1/2 weeks I was back to heavy lifting pain free.
     

    sloughfoot

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    I wouldn't keep shooting through the pain. I had horrible tendonitus in my right arm and shoulder about 10 years ago. It caused me to back off on pistol shooting and I got real active in rifle shooting. The tendonitus has eased since then.

    I have had a trapped Ulnar in my right arm for the last year or so.. My little finger and the ring finger on my right hand is numb. I can still shoot the rifle and a pistol, but it is strange, but not painful.

    They two may be connected?

    I don't think you should be shooting if it is painful, but I am not a Doctor.
     

    RachelMarie

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    I know shooting through the pain isn't great...I know.

    This all started 3 years ago. And it's always there, for the most part. I didn't even start shooting/training until last year. But, as I said...it's always "uncomfortable". If I stopped everything I did that gets it to flare up, I wouldn't have much to do. Working in the garden does it. Opening a 2 litter does it. Turning a door knob does it...etc. Point being, damn near everything I do with my hands, gives me some sort of reaction. Be that Pain, stiffness...something. Once (if) it flares up again to the point of not being able to handle it, I will accept the fact that surgery is the best bet....But I would also like to hold off as much as long as I can in hopes that (by a miracle) it will heal on it's own. But so far...for the last 3 years, it hasn't gone away at all. It's always there. Lightened up a bit...tolerable...still there.
    I don't stretch the tendon daily (Though I may start), I do it as often as I remember and then when it's bothering me.

    I heard that it is possible that my shooting/aiming may be different if I train with them on. It would be different if I wore them all the time, but I don't. So if I'm used to shooting with extra wrist support, in a situation of Self Defense I don't have that support I'm used to, my aim might be off. That being said, most self defense situations are at close range so the chances of my aim being off that much, is pretty slim to none (IMO). But still...worth it?

    Habib..I had never really thought about vitamins. I Thank You for pointing that out. I will be researching that!!

    And though switching to rifle for a while is a great idea because they're a blast to shoot...I don't carry a rifle around for SD. I practice with my rifle as well but my handgun is most important to me, personally. I like to shoot as much as I can with the gun I'm counting on to Save my life (if the situation ever arises).

    Thanks for the replies...Lots of good ideas here....Thanks for letting me rant...:)


    USMC..."No pain, No gain." It's what I tell myself everyday through my workout. lol.
     

    GhostofWinter

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    I wish I could give you some great advice, but all I can tell you is to NOT wait til itis so bad that they can't help you. I struggled and fought with my Carpal tunnel for about 15 years. BUT I noticed in June that I had lost feeling in my left thumb and two fingers (I am left handed) I knew that if I left it be I would end up incurring permenant damage,so I had the surgery. I noticed that the feeling came back in two of the fingers almost instantly. The other I am hoping comes back as it heals. I also noticed that I would have discomfort for several days to a week after shooting in competitions or one of our meet and shoots we have been having up here in NWIndiana. I chose to bite the bullet and have it taken care of on MY terms. I can pretty much kiss the remainder of this year's competition shoot goodbye, BUT that just gives me time to get ready for next year :)
     

    XtremeVel

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    My doctor is giving me one more injection before the last option, surgery.)


    Is the doctor that has been treating this your general Physician, or a specialist in this ?

    " Shooting thru the pain " and electing surgery, IMO, are (2) choices at the extreme ends of potential options. I don't think I would elect either without at least consulting someone that might specialize more in this. Maybe you have already done this, I just couldn't tell by your initial post.

    I can in recent memory recall a few things where a general Physician was used with very little, if any, positive results. When a specialist was consulted, more options were available along with MUCH better results.

    Ask MrsXteme sometime about her experience with her " wound ". She was treated by her General Phy for OVER 6 months with absolutely no results. Finally, after going to the St. Joe wound clinic, she was completely healed in under 30 days ! Ok, done with my rant on the medical field. LOL
     

    Woodsman

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    ... She had me try large doses of vitamin B6. I took 500mG 3x a day. After about two days my elbow was noticeably better, and after about 1 1/2 weeks I was back to heavy lifting pain free.

    I had similar results using a complex vitamin B supplement for carpal tunnel syndrome. It was darn near a miracle as as far as I can tell. My wrists have not bothered me for a long time.
     

    ROLEXrifleman

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    Maybe it's time to address the activities that cause the pain and try some lower impact hobbies.

    1) Cooking
    2) Cleaning
    3) Laundry
    4) Knitting

    Just to name a few.... I mean you are a woman and I am shocked that you own a gun let alone are allowed to use the computer and go on the internet unsupervised and post about it. Next thing you'll say is that your husband allows you to vote!
     

    RachelMarie

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    Maybe it's time to address the activities that cause the pain and try some lower impact hobbies.

    1) Cooking
    2) Cleaning
    3) Laundry
    4) Knitting

    Just to name a few.... I mean you are a woman and I am shocked that you own a gun let alone are allowed to use the computer and go on the internet unsupervised and post about it. Next thing you'll say is that your husband allows you to vote!


    You sir, are a turd! That's right...I said *TURD*. :rolleyes:
    You should be thrilled my wrists hurt or I would beat the crap out of you! :popcorn:

    ETA...This is not a serious threat and I'm pretty sure no one is (*) so PLEASE do not hit me (Or him, for that matter) with an infraction. Holla.
     

    ROLEXrifleman

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    You sir, are a turd! That's right...I said *TURD*. :rolleyes:
    You should be thrilled my wrists hurt or I would beat the crap out of you! :popcorn:


    this makes no sense and just reinforces the fact you should be making dinner and not thinking.

    if I am a "Turd" as you stated and you beat me, which by the way is a threat and punishable by law, arent you in turn actualy beating crap and not beating crap out of crap since a turd is crap?

    Just want to put that out there and get it cleared up b4 I go on another sexist rant.... that is all... just sayin' :yesway:
     
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