I have been shooting regularly now for a couple of weeks - 3-4 days each week @ 2+ hours per session. I shoot at a bench supplied at the range, so different benches depending where I get assigned. I have noticed a numbness in my right pinky finger along the bottom edge (I am right handed). Yesterday I paid more attention to my shooting posture. I shoot with a bipod and a bag for the stock but mostly use my right arm as the rest - on my elbow without the bag. Well this really seems to be the cause as I'm pinching the nerve and really noticed it last night. My question is "What have folks been using in the way of 'cushioning' to take the pressure off the direct elbow to wood position?" I did move my position back so that I was not using my elbow and definitely could feel the difference - and the shots got worse! I have been toying with the idea of going to a really stout tripod that will hold the rifle completely to alleviate some of the "elbow leaning" but not sure if that will work on the bench as well as I want to reduce the pressure - it certainly will do better than my tripod with the V holder that I use for hunting! Any suggestions would be great!
Numbness from Shooting
- Thread starter Pfddi
- Start date
Something soft but not too soft like a sock filled with rice, sorbathane pad, memory foam, something to cushion your arm so the nerve doesn't get too much pressure on it.
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I have had a piece of foam, sometimes carpet, to put under elbow. This post reminded me to buy a gel elbow rest.
Allen
Allen
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@Healthservices that was too easy! I just ordered a 2 pack from Amazon! They arrive tomorrow and they will be tested tomorrow. Now if only pellets were that cheap!
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I'm not a doctor BUT this may also be coming from your wrist and not just your elbow. Carpal Tunnel syndrome can show up as numbness and tingling in the fingers. Basically, using a mouse, keyboard, phone or gripping things for extended periods of time will cause the nerves going through the wrist (the carpal tunnel) to get inflamed. In addition to the cushion you should be conscious of how often you grip things and consider wearing a wrist immobilizer. Anyways, don't take my word for it, see a doctor because once a nerve is too far gone you can't save it...
-Marty
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Thanks Marty,
I have been using a keyboard/mouse for over 40 years now and have taken a lot of steps to avoid carpel tunnel. Wrist isolation on typing; switching the mouse buttons to left handed avoids the thumb/forefinger problem. I have been using a ergonometric track ball for the last few years. I have had friends and colleagues that have gotten it and the isolation of the bottom of my right pinky and the fact that I really paid attention to it the other day pointed me to my shooting posture with my right elbow worked into the wooden bench!. Tonight I will take my tripod and shoot from it and not use a bench at all as another test. The gel pads should be here tomorrow so I will go out and give them a whirl. Just got an FX chrony, so I must go out! LOL
-Paul
I have been using a keyboard/mouse for over 40 years now and have taken a lot of steps to avoid carpel tunnel. Wrist isolation on typing; switching the mouse buttons to left handed avoids the thumb/forefinger problem. I have been using a ergonometric track ball for the last few years. I have had friends and colleagues that have gotten it and the isolation of the bottom of my right pinky and the fact that I really paid attention to it the other day pointed me to my shooting posture with my right elbow worked into the wooden bench!. Tonight I will take my tripod and shoot from it and not use a bench at all as another test. The gel pads should be here tomorrow so I will go out and give them a whirl. Just got an FX chrony, so I must go out! LOL
-Paul
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I have nerve damage because of CIDP, an autoimmune disease that has similar affects to MS. It affects the feel and coordination of fingers enough to be problematic with shooting. And many other things too. Light triggers, clumsy safeties, loading magazines, feeling scope clicks, etc., all compromised. There are quite a few causes of nerve problems and if it's persistent it might be wise to mention it to your doctor. Caught early enough some causes are reversible. Some, like diabetes, MS, CIDP, etc., need long term treatment.
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Unfortunately, I have had diabetes for going on 37 years now and have managed it fairly well - no nerve problems and still excellent circulation in the limbs. I thought that may have been part of the causation.
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I went out today and took a large pillow as I had nothing else until the gel elbow pads arrive tomorrow. Well I am happy to say that it really helped! A bit clumsy and took a while to get use to, but none the less effective. I also used my tripod more - which I use exclusively for varmint shooting - and shot with it for a stretch. Between the pillow and the tripod, I must say that the numbness did not get any worse today which was a first. Plus it showed that I need to practice more with the tripod!
I play a lot of golf which also does not help with a tender elbow. But it is my left elbow that suffers more from the golf than the right. Playing the guitar suffers the most from the golf elbow.
I will post thoughts on the elbow gel pads when I get them in and go and shoot again tomorrow. The range is only 15 minutes from my house so I'm lucky to be able to go out often.
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I went out today and took a large pillow as I had nothing else until the gel elbow pads arrive tomorrow. Well I am happy to say that it really helped! A bit clumsy and took a while to get use to, but none the less effective. I also used my tripod more - which I use exclusively for varmint shooting - and shot with it for a stretch. Between the pillow and the tripod, I must say that the numbness did not get any worse today which was a first. Plus it showed that I need to practice more with the tripod!
I play a lot of golf which also does not help with a tender elbow. But it is my left elbow that suffers more from the golf than the right. Playing the guitar suffers the most from the golf elbow.
I will post thoughts on the elbow gel pads when I get them in and go and shoot again tomorrow. The range is only 15 minutes from my house so I'm lucky to be able to go out often.
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I got the pads in and I must say they have helped significantly. I was able to shoot for an hour and not have the numbness that I had with pure wood. I also ordered a cf tripod with a ballhead so that I can use it standing and sitting and give my elbow a break! I use my Primos when I pest, but I think the new one will be even more robust.
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First know it’s ulnar nerve compression and or inflammation at wrist elbow or neck - ice all three areas and avoid tightly bending elbow and wrist especially at the same time - use a more relaxing posture
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I use the soft foam padding in my clam shell style gun case. Keep a bunch of rubber bands in it and can roll up the padding to make two supports.
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Also (to the OP) if you sleep with your arms sharply bent you can have ulnar nerve issues also, Happens to me but it's improving.
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I've fractured both my elbows so know that feeling.
I made braces for my elbow shooting posture that helped and also put a better then stock grip on my shooters that helped a lot.
I made braces for my elbow shooting posture that helped and also put a better then stock grip on my shooters that helped a lot.
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To the oP-
Go to your Home Depot tool aisle. They have these bags with hand pumps attached to them, like when someone takes your blood pressure type of hand pumps.
These bags are meant to help door installers by sliding them under the door and pumping the door up so hinges are aligned with the hinge cut outs on the door or frame. I’ve been meaning to grab one of these just for that purpose of elbow comfort on the bench.
When shooting is done, bleed the air out, and it’ll neatly pack in your gear bag
Amazon has them also-
Go to your Home Depot tool aisle. They have these bags with hand pumps attached to them, like when someone takes your blood pressure type of hand pumps.
These bags are meant to help door installers by sliding them under the door and pumping the door up so hinges are aligned with the hinge cut outs on the door or frame. I’ve been meaning to grab one of these just for that purpose of elbow comfort on the bench.
When shooting is done, bleed the air out, and it’ll neatly pack in your gear bag
Amazon has them also-
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Bigragu, great idea, wish I knew about them when I was working. The biggest set of doors I made were a set of doors for a church, 6'x9'-6"x2-1/4", walnut.
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Thanks for all the tips, guys. I have put 2 gel packs together and that helps. @Bigragu that may be my next purchase to help stave off the numbness. I have been icing and that also seems to help and I have tried to sleep with the arms out instead of folded. I sleep for s**t at my age anyway so I try and reposition. The new tripod arrives today, but have babysitting duty so I don't think I'll get out with it until tomorrow. I got the Leofoto combo that they target for shooting so I can use it both at the bench as well as sitting and standing.
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