Numb finger!!??

Ulysseys · March 29, 2014, 12:13:00 AM

I was shooting today...not a very long round, and developed a numb middle finger tip just after shooting. It hasn't gone away. I'm not new to trad archery or shooting, anyone ever experience this? I'm wondering if I should lay off of shooting for awhile.

March 29, 2014, 03:45:00 AM

You either lit up a nerve or pinched off a blood vessel. I would bet its the nerve, a lit up nerve is why am up at this hour. Mine is from a dislocated rib, I have a spot that goes from numb to itchy, besides the ache. If you did some damage to the finger joint area, which can happen when setting string right on finger crease, or torquing the release fingers, you may want to lay off shooting for a time. I now shoot mostly left handed because of finger damage.

TGbow · March 29, 2014, 05:20:00 AM

Make sure you have enough protection for your fingers. You may need to go to a thicker tab or glove. I had the same thing happen in the past using too thin of a glove.
I now use a tab and never have that problem anymore.
Also, make sure you're getting a deep enough grip.
Better to get use to thicker finger protection than to damage your fingers.

arrowbuster · March 29, 2014, 06:34:00 AM

My middle finger used to stay numb. I shoot quite a bit. I switched to the big shot glove and it has gone away.

lbshooter · March 29, 2014, 06:42:00 AM

I have had this happen and as stated in the prior posts, it is caused by lack of finger protection causing nerve or vessel damage. If the numbness goes away when shaking your hand in a lowered position, restoring blood, it's generally a vessel. If not, it's a nerve. The numbness should go away n a few days. I use a Howard Hill glove with the nylon inserts which helps. About 20 years ago damaged my arm muscle overdoing it with a heavy bow, causing perrmanent vessel/nerve damage that results in occasional hand/finger numbness. It really shows up when riding my motorcycle, or shooting heavy bows for extended periods. It disappears when I restore blood flow by lowering my arm and shaking it.

tradarcher4fun · March 29, 2014, 08:21:00 AM

I had a similar issue with numb fingers. I tried a bunch of different tabs and gloves and ended up with the Big Shot glove. Glove is very comfortable and lots of protection for finger tips.

bogeyrider63 · March 29, 2014, 08:28:00 AM

I had this last year on my ring finger and it took me all summer for it to go away. I had to switch to heavier glove, used a howard hill glove with the nylon inserts. Just in the last couple of weeks i also bought a big shot crossover glove. Along with not shooting for a month or so and switching to a more protective glove worked for me.

Mojostick · March 29, 2014, 09:18:00 AM

With the ring finger, you may be raising your elbow a tad and that puts a tiny twist with a focal point of the end of your ring finger. A possibility, anyways.

bogeyrider63 · March 29, 2014, 10:02:00 AM

mojo, that is for sure. kind of my nemesis. If i do not focus on back tension, i tend to draw with a high elbow. This not only causes problems with my ring finger, but also i then tend to put alot of downward pressure on the arrow causes flight issues.