Arthritic Fingers?

[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.

[b.glass]

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

[jhansen]

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

[Curveman]

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!

[zilla]

I have artheritus pretty bad.  It affects my shootin hand.  Advil is your friend.. I take like 4 at a time before shootin..

[Naphtali]

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.

[Bjorn]

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.

[Crash]

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.

[kojac]

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.

[Teacher_of_the_Arcane]

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.

[artvin]

Asper cream and Advil.  Only thing that's worked for me.
Art

[ksbowman]

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

[Pat B.]

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!

[redant 60/65]

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:

[Mr. fingers]

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.

[joekeith]

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.

[D. Key]

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.

[SteveMcD]

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.

[donw]

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.

[Jimmy Mack]

Try bing cherries. They realy help arthritis and gout.