The Big A finally got me, anybody else?

[Jeff Roark]

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

[Bob Morrison]

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..

[straight_arrow]

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.

[RayMO]

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.

[East Coast archer]

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.

[owlbait]

Cut back on the Viagra and loosen your grip  

[S. Brant Osborn]

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?

[S. Brant Osborn]

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

[Biggie Hoffman]

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

[Bob Moran]

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"

[elknutz]

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.

[joebuck]

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.

[Moon]

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.

[Jake Fr]

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

[Jake Fr]

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

[arrow flynn]

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.

[Whip]

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!

[Duckbutt]

Must be those gluten free Oreo cookies you like so much.  
Send your inventory to me if that helps.

[dad]

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.