Shooters and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

[SemperFiGuy]

Any Shooters Here Have Had CTS??

If so, howdja treat it?

Did it go away?

Or stay?

Did it affect your shooting, handgun or long gun?

Did it STOP your shooting entirely?

Please share your story:  When, if, and as you might wish.

New Guy to CTS:

sfg

[unfy]

I very well can't imagine!  That's gotta be horrible .

Given the industry I am in and CTS being an eventuality - I wouldn't mind hearing some thoughts as well.

[newfalguy101]

I have had both wrists cut.

When I had the first one done, I planned it for about 3 months before deer season so I could still go out.

Shooting wasnt any problem ( on about 6 weeks rest/rehab ) field dressing on the other hand was miserable and I actually PAID to have that one, the ONLY one I have ever paid for, processed.

That was something like 20 years ago, and have had zero problems since.

I was only off work a total of 6 weeks, and only that long because I managed to break the stitches in one hand ( long stoooopid story ).

DO NOT just "let it go" it wont just go away, in fact if let go long enough, you will eventually lose the ability to grip with your thumb.

These days, as I understand it, its a much simplified procedure with a dramatically shorter healing period.

[SemperFiGuy]

I have had both wrists cut.

Really great that such action has worked out for you.  It's potentially a rather serious operation, since the main nerve to the three middle fingers runs through the carpal channel.  Cut that nerve in error, it's a Very Bad Day.

I tried cortisone shots Friday.  Almost immediate relief.  We'll see if it lasts.  Cortisone has worked very well for me in the past with right shoulder capsulitis; I respond to it well with no side effects.

If the cortisone works, Hoo-ray!   If not, I'll be looking at an endoscopic approach, which is minimally invasive and provides recovery very quickly.  A neighbor used that method and healed within two weeks, with excellent relief from CTS.

I've got 15 ice cream buckets of 9mm, .40S&W, and .357Sig reloads to shoot this year.   Not to mention bricks of .22lr and 1000s of 12ga trap loads.   And 2-3 buckets of .38SPCL.  Hard to shoot up if hands are locked up w/CTS.

Thanks for sharing.

Both of you (unfy/newfalguy101).

sfg

[unfy]

Given that my back responded very well to a steroid shot, I imagine some physical therapy and a shot will be in my future down the line eventually heh.  Well, since the shot worked for SFG at least heh.

[newfalguy101]

I have had cortisone shots ( 4 ) over the years, none for CTS though, and while they have always worked, eventually, I simply hate getting them.

The last one in my thumb ( after chasing the pain for a YEAR while baffling a "top specialist" ) hurt so bad for 3 days that I was beginning to wonder if they hit something, then viola' I woke up and the pain was gone..............that's been a couple of years ago.

[Mali]

As an IT person I am high risk for CTS.  When I started noticing issues with my hands and using a keyboard or mouse I went to my chiropractor and mentioned it to him.  He had me do some stretching exercises that brought a lot of relief and still do to this day.

Grab the tips of your fingers and GENTLY pull the hand back over the wrist until you fell the stretch begin in your wrists.  This will pull the muscles that are tightening and stretch them back out.
Followup with the reverse and flip your arm over and GENTLY pull the hand down until you feel the stretching on the top of the wrist.

Repeat as necessary.

[SemperFiGuy]

Lotsa good CTS exercises on the Web, including the one described by Mali, which I've been using.

A "hand shake" is great.  Not shaking somebody's hand in the usual way, that is.   Instead, hang your hands down at your side, bend the elbows about 40 degrees, and shake the hands like you're shaking them dry.  When you get it just right, you can feel the blood pooling in your fingers.  It feels great.

Also--and I have no idea whatsoever why this one works--make a fist with your thumb inside instead of outside.  That is, bend your fingers over your thumb and hold it for 15-20 seconds.  Not too easy/not too hard:  Just right, like Momma Bear's porridge.  Then straighten out the fingers of the hand like you're gonna salute the Sergeant Major. 

Some exercises are called "nerve gliding", whatever that is.  Lots of them.  Try a wide variety and see what works for you.

And keep that wrist off the hard desktop surface when you use your mouse.  A soft gel pad under the forearm works nicely.   And take breaks.   And shake your hands every 20-25 minutes.

Oh, Yes:  Keep on Shooting.

sfg

[SemperFiGuy]

Oh-Kayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy......................


Update on the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Situation - Definitely a Nemesis to Shooters.

Well, here's what DIDN'T work:   Non-Invasive Processes
>Wore the hand splints at night, as recommended by the physician/hand specialist.
>Tried the hand exercises on the Web that seemed intuitively reasonable.   Didn't work.   None of 'em, at least for very long.  Some gave a kind of immediate relief; however, it was only temporary.   But at least, they were tried.

Here's what DID work, but only very briefly:   Cortisone Injections
>Got the injections on a Friday morning @ 9:15.   By noon both hands felt like the same ol' ordinary, everyday working hands, as always.   Lasted until Monday morning.   Then back to Square One w/CTS.

So here's what's next:   Carpal Tunnel Surgery
>Next Tuesday, after Memorial Day holiday.   Right (worst) hand first.   The left hand about three weeks later.

Results will be posted here at appropriate times for any interested shooters to review.

sfg

[newfalguy101]

Frankly, I am surprised they even tried Cortizone injections.  Those are nothing more than a temp ( at best ) fix to relieve inflammation.

Once they confirmed pressure on the nerve cluster, I am surprised they didn't recommend ( or maybe they did... ) surgery as, pretty much, the only actual way to relieve the pressure over the long haul, anyway.

Course, on the other hand, things have changed soo much since I had mine done nearly 20 years ago.........




 man writing that made me feel old!!!!   

[bkoenig]

As an IT person I am high risk for CTS.  When I started noticing issues with my hands and using a keyboard or mouse I went to my chiropractor and mentioned it to him.  He had me do some stretching exercises that brought a lot of relief and still do to this day.

Grab the tips of your fingers and GENTLY pull the hand back over the wrist until you fell the stretch begin in your wrists.  This will pull the muscles that are tightening and stretch them back out.
Followup with the reverse and flip your arm over and GENTLY pull the hand down until you feel the stretching on the top of the wrist.

Repeat as necessary.

I played drums in high school and college - drummers are also at risk for CTS.  We did this exercise as part of our warmup routine every day before practicing.

[SemperFiGuy]

Frankly, I am surprised they even tried Cortizone injections.  Those are nothing more than a temp ( at best ) fix to relieve inflammation.

Once they confirmed pressure on the nerve cluster, I am surprised they didn't recommend ( or maybe they did... ) surgery as, pretty much, the only actual way to relieve the pressure over the long haul, anyway.

Cortisone:
Cure from cortisone can be permanent.   Once I had capsulitis in my right deltoid muscle.   The deltoid muscle spasmed into many separate striations about the size of a little finger.    Pain was on about a 10+/10 scale.   I got some insight as to why folks in constant severe pain take very drastic action to get relief.

Shoulder was totally locked up.  Couldn't raise my hand to write on the classroom whiteboard.   Went to a neurologist.   He gave me two cortisone injections, one directly into the deltoid muscle, one into the armpit.  Oweeeeeeeee!   By the time I was putting my shirt back on, the cortisone started working like a miracle drug on steroids.   And the shoulder hasn't let out a peep since.   All that was over two decades ago.  Sometimes cortisone works; sometimes it's only a flash in the pan.

Physician's Recommendation:
He pretty much indicated from the get-go that surgery was a very likely option at the end.  But since the doc and I are both somewhat conservative in our approaches to things, we tried non-invasive approaches first.  Nevertheless, in the end of it all........surgery.

Summary
I'm posting this info here because carpal tunnel syndrome is increasingly prevalent, and it will affect the shooting practices of anyone involved in the shooting sports.   Might be worthwhile to have some local background available in such cases.

And..........I'm wondering what the effect of the impact of several thousand rounds of any-caliber-Bang! on the wrist of the shooting hand might be.  Could be moreso than any effect caused by a computer mouse.

sfg

[newfalguy101]

Oh I have had good success with Cortisone in the past as well, 4 shots over the years, although none of mine were effective as quickly as yours.  In most cases I was in pain for one or two days till the carrier fluid was absorbed and the cortisone could go to work.

If I recall correctly, John Taffin of Guns and Ammo and Shooting Times ( and lover of all things BIG BORE handgun ) wrote an article about his journey through CTS surgery..............its been years ago when I saw that, so I could be remembering wrong.

A quick search turned up multiple allusions to said article, but, no links to it...

[LeeM]

I know you didn't pick the time for this, but I hope you recover fast and get back to breakin them all, I can see the hundred straights coming soon.

Good luck Ken.

LeeM

[SemperFiGuy]

I know you didn't pick the time for this, but I hope you recover fast and get back to breakin them all, I can see the hundred straights coming soon.

Good luck Ken.

My kinda luck:  This condition comes roaring in just when the school year is over and Summer Vacation starts.   I had planned to spend part of every dry day at the trap range and the wet ones at the rifle/pistol range (since it has a covered firing line).

Anyhow, treatment will take 4-6 weeks.  By then, you'll be in Class A, working toward AA.  I'll have a ton of shooting to do to catch up with you.   By then you'll be shooting wobbles and doubles from the 27-yard line.

Thanks,

sfg/Ken

[LeeM]

The consensus of the guys is, that since you're having one hand done at a time, you'll probably be shooting left handed.
Hopefully I'll have my Citori back by the time you're 100%, then let the games begin.

Best Wishes.


LeeM

[SemperFiGuy]

Left-Handed..............

Actually, an interesting point.

Elsewhere on this Forum I included a posting that described my left-handed, left-eyed pistol shooting.   It noted my pleasant surprise at how well the shooting actually went while incorporating this radical (for me) change.  (Interpretation:  Most of my shots actually hit somewhere on the paper.)

As we've discussed previously, I'm an advocate of mixing it up on the trap range during practice.   Shooting lefty would be one way to do it.   Maybe a small betting pool to add some spice.

BTW.........Ever notice how few are the left-handed shooters on the trap range?   I'm thinkin' that maybe many Natural Lefties shoot Righty at trap.

sfg