Shooting with Arthritis - any experiences?

[Demonic69]

Hi Everyone.

Recently my knee and elbow have swollen up, become painful and generally just p!55ed me right off.
After several months of pushing I'm, hopefully, going to be referred to a Rheumatologist soon.
Finally got prescribed some meds, Diclofenac is great stuff
My mum developed Rheumatoid Arthritis in her twenties and there's a possibility that's what's ailing me, yay.

I was just wondering if anyone else has a similar disorder, if it affects their shooting and, more importantly, if Firearms Licensing care about it?

Cheers

[NoEntry]

I shoot with arthritis, its a real pain. Nothing at all to do with Firearms licensing.
I have difficulty on my elbows so I shoot almost exlcusively off a bipod.

BUT

There was a recent missive from NICE re the use of Diclofenac and its side effects and as a result advice was given not to prescribe it.
There are other non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs out there that are better. I would suggest checking with your Doc.

I started on Celebrex, which didn't agree with me, spent years on Diclofenac and now take Naproxen. Of them all Celebrex worked best though.

regards

Mike

[shotgun sam]

I have osteoarthritis and also prefer to shoot off a bipod with the rifle no such benefit when out with the shotgun.
With the shotgun I tend to be out decoying and get very sore and stiff after a few hours but if it is a good day on the pigeons the adrenalin kicks in but I suffer later.
Take the meds and carry on shooting you are sore and stiff if you do not exercise and sore and stiff if you do too much just find what is right for you.

Sam

[Demonic69]

Thanks for the reply Mike.
I hate medication :( I've never had to take anything routinely before and always try to stay away from taking anything, even painkillers like paracetamol.
I also seem to react quite badly to things like Tramadol and other stronger painkillers.
It was tough even to get Diclofenac from my Doctor, hopefully the Rheumatologist can work with me to get something that works and isn't going to do more harm than good.

Thanks Sam, I'm already seeing the "over-did-it-yesterday" days

[Les]

Diclofenac is great stuff Cheers

I hope that you have also been prescribed the medicine that stops the Diclofenac from eating your stomach. I ended up in hospital with a perforated ulcer caused by Diclofenac that almost had me pushing up daisies!

I suffer from Osteoarthritis which hasn't really affected my shooting, apart from the fact that I can no longer shoot from the prone position. A diet of painkillers, supplemented by the occasional intake of food, fortunately keeps most of the symptoms at bay.

[phaedra1106]

Osteoarthritis here as well, both knees (very bad), both hips (bad and worsening), left shoulder (along with a damaged rotator cup) and my left thumb!.

Diclofenac (mainly Ibuprofen) for 5 years, Naproxin for 3 months (gave me severe leg cramping at night), stupidly large amounts of Tramadol topped off with Paracetamol for the last 7 years, all it does is take some of the sharp edge off the pain, if I take enough to significantly reduce the pain I'm unable to drive or shoot.

Taking Diclofenac or any Ibuprofen (Brufen) based medication you should really take an antacid such as Lanzoprazole, as Les said above it can have serious effects on your gut, a sure sign is if you get any acid reflux.

Most of my shooting is indoors sitting, the odd monthly prone outdoor range date (or in a fox hole if I can get in/out!) sees me knackered after about 1-2Hrs and by the time we get home I'm not able to go anywhere for the next couple of days

Apart from that, just keep smiling and taking the tablets things could be a lot worse! :lol:


Edited as I need to get this off my chest, sorry

For me things are looking a lot worse, been at my GPs twice this week about my recent test results (not good at all). I went this morning and when your GP starts a conversation off with "Well, I'm giving you 3 months" it tends to make you sit up and pay attention rather quickly!. Luckily he meant 3 months to improve my recent results, not going into details in case my kids read this but if things don't improve I'm looking at some unpleasant surgery and major changes to my lifestyle (didn't know I had one!) and medication that would probably mean I would have to give up driving and shooting.

Got two specialist clinics appointments next week to go through the various options. No idea where this is going to end up but hopefully it won't be the worse alternatives.

[Christel]

Thing about any form of arthritis is that one needs to find the level one can cope with, it is how your body reacts after the event that is the telling thing, not while one is doing whatever one is doing.

If that makes sense.

No matter how many painkillers one takes, it makes no difference when you are all seized up due to having over done whatever.

[Sandgroper]

Taking Diclofenac or any Ibuprofen (Brufen) based medication you should really take an antacid such as Lanzoprazole, as Les said above it can have serious effects on your gut, a sure sign is if you get any acid reflux.

Any NSAID - Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug should always be taken with food to prevent irritation to the stomach lining. If you're having to take Lanzoprazole or similar then you really need to get it checked out as the NSAID could simply be adding to the irritation caused by something else.


For my own arthritis (Left Shoulder) maintaining the muscle mass in the shoulder is the best thing. Yes, overdoing it will hurt like hell, but gentle exercise has been better than drugs for me, so far.

[karen]

Ginger tablets - might need to take them for about a month before you notice any difference but they do work. You can get them at Sainsburys, Holland & Barrett etc. Or even raw ginger!

Worked for my knee!

Love

karen

[Demonic69]

Mmmm, I do like ginger! Thanks Karen :-)

I don't read my own signature!