I've had aching wrists and thumbs from shooting bigger loads. I'm surprisingly decrepit for a person of 60 (got diabetes in my 20s) and my joints are stiff and I often hurt a lot, it seems more this last year and in more places than ever.

A month or so ago I hurt something in front of my right elbow. If you hold your hand straight out it's located at about 4 o'clock around my elbow and extend a couple inches toward my wrist. It feels like a muscle or tendon. About the time this started, I was firing some max .357 loads in a 686 and I wonder if the shooting isn't what caused it. I've taken it easy on it but it still hurts bad especially if I try to pick something up with my hand toward the ground. When I make a tight fist it hurts more.

Again, I've been taking it easy but went to the range and shot several 9mm pistols (I did shot good at least), no hot loads, but one light Kel tec pistol that had some kick to it and I only put like two mags through it.

Now my elbow/muscle is hurting like bejeezes, so I guess whatever caused it I didn't give it time to heal but it didn't seem like it was getting much better at all. It seems either very slow to heal or not healing at all. Anybody have similar problems and did you get it from shooting hot loads.

PS: Whether it's what hurt me or not I've decided that max .357 are better left to younger hunters.

PPS I've been complaining about the DAO Kelt Tec being hard to control but I noticed all of my shots pulling to the right. I was careful to clean up my technique and it continued. Before I got too far in my analysys I noticed the the rear sight was swung far right. Fixed it last night. I'll try it sometimes with LIGHT loads and see if I get the bullseye better.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Sounds like it could be Radial Tunnel Syndrome. Get it looked at.

i hurt my elbow shooting 9mm out of a plastic gun, one hand dueling stance.
it took 2 full months to heal.
you are rushing it, rw.

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susie

Did it using a steel framing hammer every day about 25 years ago,it takes several months to heal.The last time I was shooting a 1911 with heavy loads,my wrist got quite sore.Thats never happened before!!


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The symptom of palm facing down and not able to grasp and pick something up is a possible sign of tendinitis better known as tennis elbow I had your similar symptoms.....mine came from lifting and carrying my granddaughter. Time and rest of your arm will help heal.

If I understand your description correctly your pain is located near the lateral epicondyle, maybe a couple inches towards the hand from the lateral epicondyle, over the extensor tendon area (?).



If that's the location it sounds like you have a condition called Tennis Elbow and also referred to as lateral epicondylitis, more properly a disorder of the common extensor tendon of the that attaches to the lateral epicondyle. Shooting could have aggravated it.

Here's how to get it better:

1. Stretch the muscles of the back of the forearm. Hold a stretch for 10-15 seconds and then relax the forearm for 15-30 seconds. Repeat 5 times. Do this twice per day.


2. Apply ice to the lateral epicondyle area for 30 minutes after stretching (twice per day) either via ice pack or ice massage. Tennis player use a technique called ice massage. They massage ice with a pound or two of pressure directly onto the skin over the sore area over the lateral epicondyle. After about 1 minute it will get so cold you cannot stand it so stop for a few seconds to a minute until you think you can stand it again and massage with the ice again. Spend about 30 minutes with this technique. Either way apply ice for 30 minutes after stretching.

3. Obtain a Tennis elbow brace from a local sporting goods store or Walmart, Walgreens, or similar store and use during the day especially if performing any activities that require significant use of the elbow including next time you go shooting.

A good rule of thumb is it takes about as long to get over a tendonitis as you've had the problem so expect it to be about a month for you to recover. If not better in a month get it checked out by your doc or an orthopedist.

Sometimes firearms can help problems. Firing a Barrett .50 cal Model 82 cleared up my stuffy nose for about an hour so you can believe the stories about it clearing your sinuses.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

Using a computer mouse at work, I started getting a pain at the elbow location you describe.
I got a vertically oriented mouse, and the pain stopped.

Evoluent VerticalMouse Vertical Mouse ergonomic mouse ergonomic computer mouse carpal tunnel syndrome repetitive stress disorder RSI

This thread hit me at just the right time. My shooting hand is acting up. Its the thumb, mostly by the first knuckle (going back from the nail is the worse) and the whole thumb hurts a bit(sometime severe) when worked. This started a few days ago and seems to get worse during the day and after a night sleep seems much better. I'm doing my best to do as much as possible with my left hand now hoping rest will help.

I would be afraid to shoot a handgun with my right hand now so have switched to a left carry and will use my let hand to shoot. Fortunately I have practiced much weak hand shooting and can carry with confidence, hopefully this clears up soon or a visit to the doc will be forthcoming.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

That's the reason God invented the 38 special.

I carry a set of Ace elastic wrist-wraps in my range bag. When I know that I'm going to be doing a lot of shooting, (more than 150 rounds) I put on the wrist-wraps.

I have the same thing, went to PT for weeks, thing that helped the most was some kind of strong tape that he would tape on my arm pulling the muscle toward the inside before final taping. I also use a tennis elbow wrap from time to time when it acts up. Might pay to see a PT as the longer it bothers it may heal wrong and the muscle fibers bunch up .

Norm

See post six. He hit the nail on the head.

Sounds like a case of " magnumrecoilitis". Best to use lighter
loads.

Is that another way of saying the Barrett kicked the snot out of you?

I hurt my forearm playing golf well trying to play golf with borrowed clubs that were a little too long. Any ways my friends girlfriend is a massage therapist and she put the hurt on me with a deep tissue massage it hurt worse afterwards for a day but the next day it felt great and problem was solved.

I guess my point rwsmith is maybe massage therapy for your aches and pains could be an option.

As usual a lot of you are familiar with the problem. I'll give it time, baby it, wrap it, shoot lighter loads left handed, ice it, do the exercises and if it doesn't get better I'll get the massage and get with a PT. It sounds though like it can be easily hurt again so I'm going to take this seriously.

I'm definitely going to eliminate the max loads. They are ferocious. I usually do a few just for fun but it seems I'm at an age where I get hurt more easily.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I've had elbow pain from various sources over the years - racquetball, keyboard/mouse, etc. What helped me is to strengthen the muscles of the forearm that support the elbow. Wrist curls with a barbell, reverse curls, flexing the wrists with a dumbbell held vertically in each hand.

The older you are the easier it is to get hurt and takes longer to get better. That's why I shoot a lot of 22.

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Old Age Ain't For Sissies

RW,
If as you say, it is a coupla inches towards your hand from your elbow, it may be Radial Tunnel Syndrome. My got quite severe. It takes a long time to get better. Once mine started feeling better, it turned out I also had tennis elbow. That sucked.
Anyway, get a good PT and follow directions. All of the above is good advice.

After spending a couple hours last week breaking a cast iron gear box apart with a couple of sledge hammers so the welder would be able to cut the gears and bearings off the shaft my right hand is still hurting. I decided to shoot 22's yesterday but it feels like it will be a Governor and 686 day tomorrow at the range.