Sore Bow Hand

[BJ_Bear]

I am shooting a new 35# longbow, pulling 29".  I am a new archer (haven't shot in 45+ years).

I have been trying to tune my bow and have developed a very sore hand where the bow rests.  It has been sore for the last two weeks, much too sore to shoot.  My left thumb is actually tingling!

I guess it may be vibrating,  but I couldn't feel it.  I really need to figure it out.  Do any of you have any smart ideas?

thx

[moebow]

BJ,

How tight are you holding the bow??  The harder you squeeze or grip the bow, the less forgiving the results both to you physically and to the shot.

Generally, IF IT HURTS, something is wrong!!

Arne

[BJ_Bear]

I don't think it's too tight.  I try to hold a bow just tight enough to not drop it.

 It is a rather straight grip so I'll try shooting with a leather glove and  add a leather wrap to the handle.
I will also increase the brace height a bit, maybe that would help.

In any event, thanks for the response....

BJ

[Pete McMiller]

Bernie,

A couple of things come to mind and they are - nerve impingement and arthritis.  I get both on occasion.  There is a nerve that comes from the area of your left shoulder blade and goes over the shoulder and down the left arm to your fingers.  I get a theraputic massage once a month and much of that is directed to my shoulders to keep them from tightening up so much I can't shoot.  

I also have arthritis in the base of my thumbs that when really bad makes it very painful and difficult to shoot.  Shooting a straight grip longbow centered on my lifeline has really helped.

If you haven't shot in 45 years, your body needs to be retrained and, as you know, at our age the body doesn't appreciate the change to it's routine.  I've been shooting since the early 60's and my body still rebels.

Hang in there and take it slow.

[McDave]

Being over 65, I have my own list of afflictions, and have friends of my age who have others.  The most common ones relating to archery would be string arm shoulder or bow arm elbow, followed by arthritis problems in the fingers, etc.  (The etc. means that we could go on discussing our various afflictions all day if we were so inclined, which we're not).

Generally, the problems we have have developed slowly over time due to overuse or aging joints and connective tissue that don't stretch and recover like they used to.

Your problem sounds different to me, more like an injury than inflammation from overuse.  I wonder if you could be impacting a nerve in your hand with the bow handle?  I know some people who ride bicycles have to be careful how they grip and weight the handlebars or they will damage the nerves in their hands.  I don't think the symptoms you describe are common, at least I haven't heard about them before.  I'm pretty sure they will go away after a while if you don't do things that would prolong them (like shooting the bow).  But after they go away and you start shooting the bow again, you may want to experiment with a different pressure point of the bow against your hand.  For example, try moving the pressure point more toward your thumb and away from the center of your hand, or the other way if it's already close to your thumb.

I would suggest going to a neurologist, but at this point I'm afraid it would be like the old joke where the patient tells the neurologist, "Doc, it hurts when I do this," and the neurologist responds, "Well, then don't do that.  $100 please."

[BJ_Bear]

Very good ideas, I'll try to shoot some later today or tomorrow and see what develops!

Thx to all,

BJ

ps - Thx for reminding me how old I am...I sometimes forget!

[mahantango]

Where on your hand are you putting the pressure of the grip? Check out Moebow's youtube video on grip (and all his other ones for that matter).