string hand trouble

[PAPA BEAR]

i have been having serious pain in the three knuckles of my shooting hand while shooting.i have dropped down in wieght to 50 or less even,still have this pain.tried laying off shooting completely for over a week at a time then shoot light poundage and within 5 arrows the pain is back.this really sucks.i really feel like someone made a voodoo doll of me and is just goin down the list one at a time.several people i have talked to believe i have developed arthritis and may have to stop shooting trad bows.this will be the dagger that kills me if so.it hurts in the knuckle joints of all three fingers.i find it hard to believe that i would get arthritis in all three at the same time.any ideas what to do??????? thanks.

[joevan125]

Larry how old are you and theres nothing wrong with shooting a 40lb bow.

[PAPA BEAR]

turned 49 today actually.i cannot shoot 40 pounds for elk,i just wont do that.not ethical in my own opinion

[joekeith]

What's the Doc say ?    you have seen a Doc for this I hope.

[joevan125]

I have a friend who has the same problem you have and he shoots a release and he is very accurate with it.

I see nothing wrong with using a release because it will allow you to keep shooting trad bows.

If it were me i wouldnt hesitate to try one and if it came down to it i would shoot a compound before i would give up bowhunting.

[tj69]

I had very similar problems the last few weeks.
Do you feel the pain only in the knuckles or is it in the tendons in the wrist and forearm  too?
I had a  shooting break of 2-3 weeks and  I have swichted to a cordovan tab.It is more  distributing the pressure of the string.
Now it is getting better.
Hope you get well soon!
regards

[Joshua Lee]

Maybe try taping your knuckles to give a little support.  What a day to have a birthday, I bet you've gotten a few gag gifts.  Also, you could look into a release?  Is the pain only when you shoot or is it constant?  Is it worse in the morning and does it go away after you start moving around?  Any other medical history, gout, tick bite, STD, etc. Any swelling, redness? These are a few questions that can get us a diagnosis.
Good luck
Josh

[PAPA BEAR]

i wont be shooting a release with a trad bow...just not the same.may as well be shooting a wheelie bow imho.just in the joints of the knuckles nowhere else.i no longer have medical coverage from my employer,this is what happens when you get hurt on the job i guess.it is what it is i guess.

[rastaman]

"any ideas what to do?" See a doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist????? Get it checked out to be sure it isn't something serious.

[PAPA BEAR]

the pain is non existant when i am not shooting for a day or two.start shooting and bam..there it is again.my fingers do look swollen after shooting,not red but swollen some comparatively..yea..being an april fools baby has its share of very interesting gifts for sure.i always told my mom the joke was on her though.

[Buckwheaties]

Shoot a release if you have to. Not a big deal and sure beats giving up Trad or hunting.

[Danny Rowan]

Capazisun cream. Relieves joint pain, trust me it works, my knees have been killing me, put some of that on as directed and the pain is gone.

Kmart or Walmart should carry it or any of the drug stores.

I had a similar problem years ago when I was shooting a 96lb. bow way too much.  I put the bow down for two months, took full doses of glucosaminechondroitin with msm and hyaluronic acid,(these are natural supplements).  My chiropractor thought that it was a form tendonitis. Eventually that got better.  I also developed over use arthritis in both hands, work related, that went away when I went on two cycles of CMO from Vestalcare. More recently I jammed the first joint in my index finger that acts up when I shoot a lot.  I am also a classical musician and I had to make a decision to protect my hands so i have dropped my bow weight down to the low 50s and shoot mostly left handed now. I still take the supplements everyday. The good quality stuff works better than the cheap stuff, but I still need to take it everyday and the effects do not show up for a while. It is more of a preventative, I do not believe there are any quick fixes for wear and tear on the body.

[NorthernCaliforniaHunter]

Happy Birthday!

I second the taping of the joints as a precaution, and supplementation for joint health. Capazisun, arnica and even tiger balm are all good for external medication. Internally I'd add joint support compounds to your daily regimen. Think anti-inflammatory.

Good luck!

[PAPA BEAR]

thanks...i'll give it a shot,hope it works.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Larry try all of the above and really focus on the chondroitin.  It helps me a lot.

If none of that works, try a thumbring. It is traditional and lots of archers shoot really well with them.  Oh and lay off the 300 shots at a time one the range for a few months and it should help minimize the impacts.  Sounds like tendonitis to me too.

[HATCHCHASER]

I have heard of people using a leather strap for a release aid. Just wrap it around the string and hold it. Don't know if it would be any easier on the joints but may be worth looking into. Don't know all of the details of exactly how it works but I think it might fit your case. It wouldn't be as mechanical as a compound release.

[frank bullitt]

Larry, all good stuff from the brothers. I would also try and contact Don Thomas and ask for his input on this. Nothing like having a doctor who loves the bow and arrow!

[Ground Hunter]

Call the Doc!!!  Good luck.  H

[PAPA BEAR]

whats his trad name?...don thomas?