A as in Arthritis . Of all places my big knuckles in both hands. Do not want to think about the R word yet. But I will strap one on if it will put me back in a tree in Oct. however anybody else dealing with shooting a bow with arthritis? Does it get worse? Homeopathic? 50 hasn't been to fun for me.
im 18 and already have it seasonally:( years of wrestling and wrenching ( ie knucle busting) make my knuckles extremly painful in the winter. cant wait till im old lol.
Joebuck,
Know how ya feel. I just got some ointment from my Doc for just this problem. It's called Voltaren Gel. Just started using it, hope it helps. I'll give it a couple of weeks and see if it helps.
It's hell getting old, ain't it?
Welcome to my world, the big "A" has been an issue for me for years and it just never goes away. Plain Aspirin works as good as anything and keep moving.
Meloxicam(Rx) and Tylenol Extra Strength. Helps a lot. Shoulders, wrists, knees, and now the bones in my hands. Yep, if I knew I was gonna hang around this long(58) I would've taken better care of myself :biglaugh:
My advice to you is to Start Drinking Heavily. Won't help your Big A or your other Big A but you'll feel better for a while and then not. LOL
50? Damn , you are getting old, I won't be 50 till Sept 13th.
Getting old aint for wimps but it sure beats the alternative. ha ha My seventy pound bows bows feel like ninety.
I was nearly crippled for a couple of years while my (at that time) rheumatologist allowed the arthritis to progress - and was very happy to do so. Finally I took charge and got a new doc. Now I take an injection of Humira once every two weeks and am pain free. Mostly back to normal except the damage that was done while I saw the 1st doc is irrepairable.
There are a lot of new meds out there which can help the pain/swelling and possibly stop the progression of arthritis. Osteo is different than rheumatoid & I wouldn't pretend to know what all your options are
My word of advice is don't be satisfied with a timid doctor that will allow you to grow ever more miserable without offering you all options. For an active outdoorsman, arthritis can not only limit you physically but erode you mentally. There is hope my brother - get you a double scoop and a good doctor. May October find you back in high cotton!
joebuckI am 54 and have Osteo A. I also have to take spinal epidurals for my back degenration. I have found that shootin light 50 lbs. or so bows actually helps my OA in my upper body as long as I don't shoot long sessions. That and moderate stretching and general exercize. If I get inactive I get stiff as a 6x6 piece of hickory. Getting old ain't for sissies huh? Do you know what kind of A you have? Hang in there joebuck and keep on fightin!
I'm 58 and have had arthritis in my hands for the last 5 or 6 years.. Big knuckles and the first knuckle of my first two fingers on my string hand.. Sometimes my release is NOT textbook!!!
For some reason my system doesn't tolerate meds well.. May be a blessing.
Good luck!
I had severe arthritis symtoms in my early 30s that was a result of a strep infection not being cleared up fully and getting into my bloodstream. 6 months of penicillin cleared up that and all arthritic symptoms went away thankfully. It took 3-4 different doctors to find the cause, not just treat the symptoms.
QuoteOriginally posted by Don Batten:
My advice to you is to Start Drinking Heavily. Won't help your Big A or your other Big A but you'll feel better for a while and then not. LOL
50? Damn , you are getting old, I won't be 50 till Sept 13th.
X2
Platform shoes so your knuckles don't drag the ground might help some too.... :goldtooth:
Seriously. Smaller grip maybe??? Just guessing.
I've had it in the knees and shoulders for 4 years now according to the VA. Other than occasional pain in the left shoulder (an old sky diving injury), I found that keeping your parts moving is the best way to have long term relief. Pain was so bad in my knees for 2 years I was actually thinking about becoming one of the Electric cart folks at Walmart. Couldn't believe I was even considering it. Did the extreme, got P90X DVD and forced myself to work through the pain and move. Haven't had any knee pain now for almost 3 years.
Have no idea if this would work on knuckles, seems they get plenty of movement and workout from daily use. This did work for me on large joints, and meds did nothing, just thought I'd throw it out there.
Try rubbing with caster oil every night before bed. Cover your hands with cotton gloves to keep it on and avoid mess. No guarantees but I have seen it work for several people. Seems to work on any bad joint. After it starts working just use occasionally after hard use or when pain returns. What can it hurt to try?
I'm 58 and have had it for years in my hands,I have good days and bad all I can tell you is live with it and stay active.
Let me know if you find the magic bullet. I am 30 and have it in my hands, back and knees. My hands seem to hurt the most when driving.
At 69 years of age and severe cervical spinal canal stenosis I find that a continuous regimen of daily exercise helps tremendously. Arthritis medications have to be taken with caution as they can have secondary effects that complicate the disease. At the present time I am shooting 44#@25" even though it is painful, but pain is a matter of mind over matter part of the time. The day may not be far off when I will have to drop in poundage to around 37# or 38#, but that isn't going to stop me from shooting my bow. As many have said in previous posts you have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and continue with life.
I think I can feel the beginnings of it in my hands, knees, and elbows. I try and keep moving, that helps.
I think you should look into 99% DMSO. I have it in my fingers a bit from years of very heavy lifting and this does the trick. You can get it at some natural health food stores and it lasts forever.
http://www.yournaturalremedy.com/DMSO.html
I remember and older gentleman telling me when I was Young and dumb " if I knew I was going to last this long I would taken better care of myself" at the age of 47 I now know what he was talking about. Like Doc Dow told me use it or lose it.
I think you should look into 99% DMSO. I have it in my fingers a bit from years of very heavy lifting and this does the trick. You can get it at some natural health food stores and it lasts forever.
http://www.yournaturalremedy.com/DMSO.html
I've been shooting a release for the last 2 years. Accuracy is back and it don't hurt, fun again. No deer have complained yet, just the trad shoots..
Unfortunately a function of aging in many instances. Ibuprofen helps me, I also tape open my fingers/knuckles on my right hand. Other wise my knuckles lock up. Very painful to straighten my fingers. Could always be worse.
I am 65 and pain is there all the time, mostly in my hands from 40 plus years of keyboarding. Some days are worse than others today is a bad day. Ibuprofen does help and you can ignore it up to a point. Have dropped down to #45 and have to use an arm strap when I practice because my elbows get to hurting also. But i will be out there with my bow in hand until my son has to push me in a chair.
Don't wait to long to drop down to a lighter weight bow.
Joey
I'm only 45 turning 46 and have had it in my right hand for 5 years. Had to get one injection years ago (don't remember what). Since then take 1 alleve in the morning and it is bearable. Biggest thing I have found is that when I do something a lot that aggrevates it I try to take it easy the next day. A friend of mine swears by peppermint ointment but have never tried it.
Cut back on the Viagra and loosen your grip :bigsmyl:
Sounds like you are getting good advice from some who know. A dear friend suffers from Author as he calls it, and though I do not know his mess he swears that staying mobile works best .
Granddaddy kept a buckeye in his pocket that he would take out and roll arround in his hands. Said it was good luck while squirrel hunting too!
Good luck
Hip (replaced), knees, shoulders, neck, hands.....
I take a fair amount of Naproxen as needed. Worse some days than others. I'm thinking about using a release to spare my finger joints--Bob, how did you get that to work?
Sounds like you are getting good advice from some who know. A dear friend suffers from Author as he calls it, and though I do not know his mess he swears that staying mobile works best .
Granddaddy kept a buckeye in his pocket that he would take out and roll arround in his hands. Said it was good luck while squirrel hunting too!
Good luck
I never thought Joey would be 50....I have video of him when he looked like he was 18.
I don't have the Big A yet but I think I have everything else. My pill box is getting bigger and bigger
I've had "arthur" in my hands for a few years now and I use Bigeloil horse liniment (get it at TSC), Advil, and squeezing a soft rubber ball to keep the joints moving has helped. A vet friend of mine used DMSO on his knee injury with good effect.
Like John Melencamp said, "this growing older, ain't for cowards"
I can feel your pain. I havent shot for 4 days due to a major flair up in the first joint of my right hand index finger. I'm gonna try 3 under and leave my index finger out of it tonite.
Wow. Thanks everyone . Got some homework to do on all the advice . Biggie , send the video to Don , maybe he could get a tip because I ain't what I once wAs buti'm as good as I ever wAs once. That should be a song. Uncle Barry gave me some good stuff too. I got a gator huntin 4 weeks. And a 80 recurve to endure. Thanks again guys.
Monitor what you eat and drink and it makes a big difference. I cut all caffeine from my diet and all joint pain and stiffness disappeared completely. I still crave coffee, but would rather be pain free.
Everyone's metabolism is different so what works for me might not for work for you. That's why you should write down what you eat and drink then see how your body/joints react to the foods you eat.
Good Luck.
There is some stuff called lubrisyn is works good on joints its a liquid rasberry flavor put in water once a day and drink it good stuff helped my hands knees and shoulders alot
Also I would stay away from the dmso. It started out as a paint thiner I believe years ago and had a great side efect for pain releif but it is also cancerous be care full with it I used it for a long time till my vet told me that
osteo arthritis runs in the family but i had no problems until i was 63. it is in my shoulders for the most part . i have been very active have had some low back problems along the way .i roofed for 40 yrs and have had the same chiropractor for 32 yrs and he has arthritis in his back go figure . i guess just cross your fingers sooner or later we wind up at the pharmacy.
Dang! Getting old is no fun at all! I don't have any big A advice for ya, but am amazed at how many here share your pain. I hope something in the wide range of suggestions can work for you. You have a pile of shooting to do yet. And if it comes down to using thes big R to get it done just do it!
Must be those gluten free Oreo cookies you like so much.
Send your inventory to me if that helps.
I'm going through the "A" in my right hand my release hand. This is what I have done. I hunt and shoot indoor leagues. My hunting bow is 45# with my 27.5 draw lets call it 43# I only shot that 2 to 3 months out of the year. I have a Fred Bear Custom and went with #3 limbs for 64" This helped dramatically with then pain and a much cleaner release. I also reserved with a thicker serving[using 16 strand D97 FF] and yes I had to find nock. I use Macro nock from Black Widow. Serving size worked out to be .026. I went to a heaver arrow started at 1916 and ended up with 2016. I went with a smaller nock size than called for instead of 5/16 used 9/32 macro nock for proper string fit. My broad heads fly and penetrate very well as do my field points. I hope this helps you out. I will start another one on what I shoot the rest of the year.
Remember I'm trying to help some one with the same problem as I and this was done with a lot of trial and error, but I found what works and keeps me doing the sport that I love. The rest of the year I shoot a target bow instinctive just as I would shoot my hunting bow. Again the longer limbs is fantastic for pain relief. I shoot a Hoyt Excel 23" riser with ILF limbs medium which make a 66" bow. I shoot 36# with my draw lets call it 35# @ 27.5. Yes target arrows are Easton Platium 1913 cut to 28." I use target nibbs. I also shoot a elevated rest Napp flipper. This set up can be made to shoot off the shelf if desired. I find it only takes a few shots when I switch to my hunting bow that shoots off the shelf. You can make set up with a 25" riser to 70" and almost any weight desired. Their will be a learning curve going down to a lighter weight bow, to me it was worth it. I'm only punching holes in paper or my 3-d Target or my Block target. This set up forces me to work on Form! Also the string [D97 FF 16 strands] was re- served with .026 serving and large size Easton "G" nocks. By doing this I can shot a lot which is what I like to do. I hope this helps you out.
I got the Big "O" (Old) and I guess the Big "A" comes with it..everything else has. Bout all I can do to make it to the hot shower every morning to get things loosened up.
I know this is just another of the home remidies, but I have seen it change my Mom's life.
She would take a whole bag of white grapes and put them in a quart mason jar. Then cover them with dark rum. Let them set there for 2 weeks, then eat a spoon full of the grapes every evening. It helped her out tremendously.
God Bless,
Nathan
Nathan,
My wife uses a similar remedy she claims her Mother taught her.
Only exception is she eliminates the work of the Mason jar and Dark Rum, and the 2 week wait.
She just uses the grapes in their store bought form as white wine!
Hey, it works for her.