Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Crash on September 02, 2008, 09:20:00 AM
-
I have bad fingers on my drawing hand and it seems to be affecting my shot. I am having difficulty shooting consistently and I am losing my confidence. How do I overcome this? I normally shoot longbows and have dropped poundage but it doesn't seem to help. Would a recurve help? Would it help to shoot the highest poundage possible to get a cleaner release? Anything short of shooting a release. Somebody help me please, I know I can't be the only one.
-
Dr. Ashby has a problem with his fingers but I don't know if it is arthritis. The solution to his problem was to go to a high poundage bow so that the string basicly slides out of his fingers at full draw. I don't know if that would help you but if you try it, it would be interesting to know if it did.
Hope you find a solution.
Bona
-
Crash,
I doubt that a recurve is going to solve the problem for you. Going up in draw weight might do it. You could also experiment with your drawing technique, try three-under for instance. There's also the possibility of using a thumb ring. If you try that you will need a lefty bow if you are right handed because using a thumb ring requires the arrow to be on the other side of the bow. I know you said that you don't want to use a release but have you considered a rope release? It's not strapped to your wrist and permits a really clean release.
Good luck,
John
-
Would a bit thicker, stiffer tab help? There would be no shame in shooting a release if you are injured; particularly if continued shooting with a tab or glove will only aggravate the condition. A good hand Dr. may be able to suggest something. Good luck!
-
I have artheritus pretty bad. It affects my shootin hand. Advil is your friend.. I take like 4 at a time before shootin..
-
Originally posted by Crash:
I have bad fingers on my drawing hand and it seems to be affecting my shot. I am having difficulty shooting consistently and I am losing my confidence. How do I overcome this? I normally shoot longbows and have dropped poundage but it doesn't seem to help. Would a recurve help? Would it help to shoot the highest poundage possible to get a cleaner release? Anything short of shooting a release. Somebody help me please, I know I can't be the only one.
Welcome to my world. Until my thumb became afflicted also, I used a thumbring that I acquired from a Tradganger. Several things occurred, all of which were good. After a few days getting used to the different stress on my hand, I was able to draw easily. I was able to draw significantly more weight than I was with my forearm oriented for conventional drawing. I am informed this has to do with forearm muscles being rotated/stressed less than via conventional draw. And the release was much closer to what occurs when using a mechanical (Winn Freeflight C-12) release. . . . And then my thumb went.
I now use Winn Freeflight C-12 relax-release. It puts zero stress on my fingers. Forearm, wrist, and metacarpals are what accept the stress. And the act of release emulates finger shooting. You do not pull a trigger; you relax your "trigger" finger to shoot.
Hope this helps.
-
Attaching a layer of leather into a tab has been a big help for me. No idea if it was officially arthritis or not but my fingers sure were sore.
-
Thanks for the tips. My fingers don't really hurt so much as they are stiff and thus my thinking that it is affecting my ability to get a clean, consistent release. I have a bow that is a little more poundage and may give it a whirl to see if it allows a cleaner release due to the higher poundage. I have to be careful not to go too high though, because my elbow starts acting up then. If you don't have rheumatoid arthritis, pray you don't get it.
-
I was haveing some big problems with my hands and shoulders. I loaded up on water (half your body weight in fl oz) and suppliments (Omaga-3's and MSM)
This has made a HUGE differance but I believe the water has done the most.
-
Crash,
I saw a guy with a mangled hand shooting. He had a strap that fastened around his arm above the elbow, and down the back of his forearm, fastened around the wrist, and into his hand. He was using two fingers on the string, but the pull was from the elbow...minimum stress on the hand.
-
Asper cream and Advil. Only thing that's worked for me.
Art
-
I know what your talking about, my middle finger is twisted and my index is affected on my drawing hand with arthritis.Ibuprofen and flexall 44 help when it really flares up. A heavy bow and dry weather helps on the release. Ben
-
I switched from right handed shooting to left handed and pray my left hand doesn't give up on me... I'm now shooting pretty good as a lefty and am looking forward to hunting season..
Good luck however you attack it!
-
Crash I'm 61 years old this year, and for last 5 years I've been taking Glucosamine for my joints, it works for me and a lot of other people I have talk to. But you have to take it every day, so that it stays in your joints. And before a 3-D shoot alittle advil helps. Give it a try. :cool:
-
I have psoriatic arthritis. I take prescription lodine daily and once a week I give myself an injection of Embrel.
So I know the arthritis pain and stiffness. I have shot a compound bow with fingers forever and in Jan I got my first recurve I figured Id use the same tab i used with my compound. (a neet super leather).Well I think I bruised a nerve in my hand righ off the bat. I laid off shooting till it healed. My finger would continue to get sore with the tab. Almost to the point where the string felt like it was right on the bones. Its pretty painful. I bought a Big Shot glove from American Leathers and my fingers no longer get sore. And after I got use to it or it broke in I really like it. I don't buy heavier bow theory. It makes sence to a degree but you don't want to cause further damage to your joints.
As far as over the counter meds Aleve was recomended by a Pharmasist freind. 2in the am then 2 before bed. Be careful though it can be hard on you stomach. If you arthritis does get bad see a DR. there are alot of treatment options.
Good Luck.
-
I know about Arthritis, it sucks. I've been on Fentynal patches, synthetic Morphine, for a few years now. Change the patch every 3 days. It's the only way I can stand it. Mine isn't just in the hands though, it's worst in the knees. Has really messed with hunting. It's hard to hunt when in so much pain. It just takes the fun out of every thing.
Hope yours doesn't get any worst than it already is. Good luck, and hang in there.
-
Don't shoot the messenger here, ok...I also have arthritis in my shooting fingers but mostly at the base of my thumb. I purchased a Q-Ray bracelet on line and within 24 hours most of my pain went away. Having acreage, I found myself struggling to hold a hammer when working around the place until I bought the Q-Ray. After about 5 years now I can do most anything I want to. The pain is about 95% gone. Just wear it 24/7/365. Don't know about everyone but it sure helped me.
-
I had been diagnosed with Arthritis in both hands and other joints several years back. I have found that Aleve and either Tiger Balm or Aspercreme works for me. I also use a Big Shot Glove which has some substantial padding in the fingers.
-
go to a mechanical release aid...i made that transition a while back...don't worry about the 'trad police'; it can and DOES work.
i found i am getting much better accuracy, less strain in drawing the bow, better arrow flight and i am able to shoot more poundage.
you can still shoot 'off the shelf' if you wish, too.
i prefer a rotating head release aid as i cant the bow, i use no sights.
the hardest change you have to make is in your mind.
-
Try bing cherries. They realy help arthritis and gout.
-
Thanks for the tips guys. I knew I wouldn't be the only one with this problem. I have seen a Dr. and am taking Celebrex and Plaquenil.
-
I dont have arthritis but my neighbor does, really bad. He had to give up shooting and almost had to retire because of the pain in his right wrist. His doctor tryed something differnt. He put him on high doses of vitiman D. After about 3 weeks he was back to work and back to shooting his bow. He's been on the vitiman D for about 2 years now with no more pain or sighns of the arthritis. Ya might want to ask your doctor about this...Good Luck...Dave
-
grippers or a bucket of rice work on your hand strength. then soak in ice water for 2 min then hot water 1 min 3 rounds of that and advil. my wife had carpal tunnel issues that fixed it right up
-
Crash
If you decide to go lefty I may have a bow for ya I use a Super glove from Alaskan Bow hunting co. it helps with my release. Mike
-
15 years later and this topic is still helping. Sadly, the middle finger on my string hand is killing me. It doesn't hurt shooting but the night after I shoot it wakes me up and I can no longer straighten it. It really sucks. The ring finger on the same hand is also starting to hurt. I know it is arthritis, but I'll get it confirmed with a doc soon. Here we go.
I guess I'll try the release when I can no longer stand it.
-
Don't shoot the messenger here, ok...I also have arthritis in my shooting fingers but mostly at the base of my thumb. I purchased a Q-Ray bracelet on line and within 24 hours most of my pain went away. Having acreage, I found myself struggling to hold a hammer when working around the place until I bought the Q-Ray. After about 5 years now I can do most anything I want to. The pain is about 95% gone. Just wear it 24/7/365. Don't know about everyone but it sure helped me.
I had a very similar experience with an UltraBand bracelet. I am almost embarrassed to mention this, because my thinking is very scientific 99% of the time. But I was walking around a Sportsman's Expo one day, and since I had nothing better to do I glanced at the UB display and the guy asked me if I had any aches and pains. I explained about some shoulder pain I was having, and he said, “here, try this on.” The pain went away as I was standing there! I've worn one ever since, more than 10 years. I was in line for knee surgery, and before my number came up, my knee pain went away! A few years later, the assistant for my arthopedic doctor called and asked if I had a new doctor. I told her that no, the pain just went away. Nobody had ever heard of chronic knee pain just going away by itself.
A funny thing happened last year. The clasp on my UB was worn out, and it started falling off my wrist all the time. It must have fallen off and been returned by strangers at least 20 times, which is another strange story in itself. Anyway, I waited until there was a sale, and bought a new UB for 50% off. A month or so after I started wearing the new one, I started getting the same old aches and pains as before. I still had the old one, so took the clasp off the new one and put it on the old one. The aches and pains went away again. I guess either my body didn't like the new UB, or maybe it didn't work, but the old band worked fine with the new clasp.
Sorry to ramble on. I still half don't believe it myself, but I’ll keep on wearing it until it doesn't work anymore. At 78, I still get up and go shoot my bow just about every morning without any pain. It's possible that it's just a placebo effect, but I would think that 10 years is a long time for a placebo effect to last.
-
This old thread still has lots of meaning for those of us that have arthritis in our hands. My fingers in both hands got so bad I could only shoot a few times before the pain made me stop. I could not make a fist with either hand, they were so stiff.
Six months or so ago, my wife and I went on a strict, very low carb diet. No sugar, bread, potatoes, or other high carb foods. We also stopped using any seed oils, like corn oil, soybean, or canola. We cook in bacon grease, beef tallow, or olive oil. The weight came off easily. I lost over 50 pounds. However, the best thing that happened was reduced pain and stiffness from arthritis! It’s nearly gone from my hands now. I can shoot as long as I like without pain now.
Some say giving up on sugar and carbs is not worth it. I’ll say it is! I feel years younger and can do things I haven’t been able to do in many years.
-
Congrats on being able to shoot more often. :clapper:
-
I may have to try it Chuck. I have to do something.
-
How are the fingers on your other hand? If okay try shooting opposite handed. A release aid may be helpful. I know a few trad archers that successfully used a release aid due to finger injuries.
-
After 40 plus years of painting and spraying finishes, my hands are terrible arthritic. I bought the new Barbee tab with the little tube adder and can shoot my bows again without pain. It act as sort of a release aid, taking almost all the pressure off my joints. Might be an option.
-
Do you have a picture of it?
-
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
-
Where do you buy one? I've been a glove shooter for years but if it helps with the pain, I'm sure I could get used to shooting a tab.
-
Tart cherry juice and vinegar may help as well as bing cherries.
Also, I went to a physical therapist who specializes in hands and he devised a set of stretches or exercises that really helped me. It might help you as well.
-
Jimmy, I have something that might help.... let me find it.....
-
Here ya go Jimmy.... try this for kicks and see, it will relieve pinch for sure. But, it sounds like you might be torquing the string if the outside ring finger hurts.
https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=175231.msg2955797;topicseen#msg2955797
And yes, glucosamine can help .
-
Good stuff all around. :clapper:
-
Check out "Red Light Therapy". I know some people that have had great results using it.
-
Another for trying lefty. I've had a lot of issues over the last 5 years. Mostly w nerves. I tried a few different kinds of releases but just couldn't get them to work.
When I had some fingers straightened on my right hand and able to grab the bow I shot lefty. It only took a month to get used to it and be accurate. I did use a sight of sorts (single nut) to help w accuracy. I just didn't feel as good being a lifetime right handed shooter.
I'm back to somewhat normal right handed and instinctive. Just needing to ramp up in poundage before season. Good luck w your quest. Don't give up!!!
-
I use Voltaren creme.
I take supplements and they help- a little.
-
You are what you eat. Most foods today are processed junk and it will eventually come back to harm the body, and maybe the mind, too. Eating real foods, exercising daily (not weekly), and getting in good sleep time is all like putting money in the bank of life. But equally important, it will improve your life in the short run as well.
Splitfinger grip archers should have a good 80% or more of the string holding weight on the middle finger, most of the rest on the ring finger, and near nothing on the pointer finger. Yer grip becomes a release aid of sorts. This is nothing new and has been dogma going at least centuries back.
-
Great posts T & R. :archer2:
-
I use Voltaren creme.
I take supplements and they help- a little.
Supplements are Extremely Important - particularly from the last half of the last century 'til today, primarily due to the humongous amount of processed foods people are ingesting after the end of WWII. A visit to a naturopathic doctor is good thing for at least understanding what foods are good for you, and what are not so good, and thus a map of what's uniquely best for each of us can be drawn up ... and followed.
-
I’ve found that most of my health problems, especially the ones that affect my enjoyment of bowhunting, are caused by inflammation. For me, inflammation is caused by sugar and carbs. A year ago, I decided to do something about the pain and stiffness in my joints and the general lousy felling That was keeping me from shooting my bow and making it hard to get around in the woods. I went on a very low carb diet of healthy meat, eggs, and low carb vegetables. A year later, I have lost over 50# of fat and most of the pain and stiffness in my joints. I can climb trees easily again and walk for miles without pain and fatigue.
I’ve had several people tell me they could never give up their sweets, bread, and starchy food. It’s really not that hard if you are motivated. It’s worth it if you really want to stay fit and hunt and shoot like you used to. I’m 69 and can do things I couldn’t do 10 years ago.