Bad back and neck

[bench]

Well I am going to try and shoot some FTR but my big problem is I have lower back problems and neck problems which makes it very hard to tilt my head up to see thru the scope easily.
I have placed a pillow under my chest and belly area and that works good.
My neck is the last problem to over come,any IDEAS

I could build a BR rifle so I can sit at a bench but that will take to long for this season and just want to use my FTR rifle.

Thanks for any ideas
Bench

 

[Bamban]

How about resting that eight pound ball you carry between your shoulders on the comb? Set up scope height and proper eye relief to facilitate comfortable and enduring relaxed neck with the cheek resting on the comb. Hey, you gain additional eight pounds to the rifle legally.

 

[johnfred1965]

Wish I could help, but I am in the same boat. disk surgery in my lower back and fusion surgery in my neck. It doesn't help my scores any, but I come off the gun every few shots and lay face down to get the cramps out of my neck and back. Be sure to watch the clock though.

 

[jepp2]

Already have my flame suit on. Have you ever visited a chiropractor? My experience is that for some problems, they can be extremely helpful.

 

[nmkid]

Think what you may...Chiropractors have done my lower back and neck wonders!

 

[geraldgee]

Had a motorcycle accident 40 yrs ago. Hospitalized, MRIs, acupuncture, you name it- I tried it. On a dare, I visited a chiropractor- he was the only one who could help. Jump forward 40 yrs - when my lower back acts up, I hightail it to a chiropractor. Been helping me for 4 decades.

 

[SierraCJ5]

A friend I shoot with is in the same situation after multiple neck and back surgeries. He suffers debilitating numbness and pain if he puts his spine in certain positions. He brings a portable bench to our club matches and shoots FTR from the bench. Not sure you could get away with this at the high level matches but no one has ever had issue in our group. After all, it's better to have shooters and than not.

This is a nice portable bench: http://www.knotholedesigns.com/

 

[Gina1]

Had/ have back problems.. That's why I now shoot bench rest.

 

[bench]

SierraCJ5,
Shooting from a bench would be wonderful but I think I need to try whatever I can to a least get thru the pain for one season and then I will know what I need to do going forward.

 

[Geno C]

As long as your back problems aren't disk related and more muscle/ligament then I suggest a chiropractor. If it's disk, I say tread with caution. Chiropractor took my slightly budged disk and made it way worse to the point that I just had surgery to fix it.

Neck is more often than not muscle/ligament. I would try a chiropractor first, there are a couple different trains of though when it comes to their techniques so if one doesn't work, another might. If you've tried all of that, the pillow and properly adjusted cheek piece are about as good as you can get without going to a bench....

 

[mikeinct]

whatever path you choose..struggle on the mat..or try from the bench..If it hurts, STOP..get up & stretch..Don't over do it..Neck pain radiating down into your arms can really hurt you...from a guy with a steel plate in his neck..be careful...mike in ct

 

[Nude nut]

As long as your back problems aren't disk related and more muscle/ligament then I suggest a chiropractor. If it's disk, I say tread with caution. Chiropractor took my slightly budged disk and made it way worse to the point that I just had surgery to fix it.

Neck is more often than not muscle/ligament. I would try a chiropractor first, there are a couple different trains of though when it comes to their techniques so if one doesn't work, another might. If you've tried all of that, the pillow and properly adjusted cheek piece are about as good as you can get without going to a bench....

My spinal surgeon made it very clear to stay away from the bone crunchers they do more damage than good.

Cheers Trev.

 

[Nude nut]

Well I am going to try and shoot some FTR but my big problem is I have lower back problems and neck problems which makes it very hard to tilt my head up to see thru the scope easily.
I have placed a pillow under my chest and belly area and that works good.
My neck is the last problem to over come,any IDEAS

I could build a BR rifle so I can sit at a bench but that will take to long for this season and just want to use my FTR rifle.

Thanks for any ideas
Bench

I suffer the same issues my fix was to actually try get evening thing as low as possible rear bag scope height and I lay in an angle to the rifle not straight behind I'm actually tilting my head not lifting it up may be worth a try it don't effect my scores any.
Cheers Trev.

 

[jepp2]

My spinal surgeon made it very clear to stay away from the bone crunchers

Pretty much the standard opinion of the American Medical Industry. Only use them, nobody else is qualified.

These are the same folks that kill 250,000 people every year due to "medical mistakes"

And the same ones that wrote 257,000,000 prescriptions for opioids in 2013.

 

[Twdmar]

We are often our own best medicine and should not necessarily rest on doctors or chiropractors. Get some light dumbbells and start streching. Get a yoga dvd for back pain.
Start slow and go at your own pace. Spend half an hour daily. Do it for good not just til you feel better. And get a theracane and/or see a massage therapist. If you get stronger and become more flexible it will help immensely.
Stare less at your computer/smartphone looking down as well.
Finally, an adjustable cheekpiece is probably a requirement.

 

[VaRandy]

Already have my flame suit on. Have you ever visited a chiropractor? My experience is that for some problems, they can be extremely helpful.

My chiropractor found the problem right away. My wallet was too fat. Boy did he fix THAT problem.

 

[butchlambert]

Quackopractors do not cure bad disc. Wife has gone 2 one every couple weeks for many years for an "alignment". I've had 3 neck fusions, between the shoulder blade, and lower back and a lot of titanium. No pain at all since the last surgery about 10 years ago, just don't bend well. Listen to Bamban's post above if you insist on shooting FClass.

 

[Lone Hunter]

whatever path you choose..struggle on the mat..or try from the bench..If it hurts, STOP..get up & stretch..Don't over do it..Neck pain radiating down into your arms can really hurt you...from a guy with a steel plate in his neck..be careful...mike in ct

Agree with Mike. Titanium doesn't bend. I've got an H plate in my neck with 4 screws. I hurt for 3 days after shooting a match. Matches are getting fewer and fewer unfortunately. There is not an exercise that will help with the pain either and I will not take pills. Not because I'm tough but because I'm scared I might like them too much...Enough of that in this country now..

 

[butchlambert]

Agree with Mike. Titanium doesn't bend. I've got an H plate in my neck with 4 screws. I hurt for 3 days after shooting a match. Matches are getting fewer and fewer unfortunately. There is not an exercise that will help with the pain either and I will not take pills. Not because I'm tough but because I'm scared I might like them too much...Enough of that in this country now..

You are correct for the most part. I have 2 of the plates in my neck, but fortunately I have no pain, but not much movement either. Not like an owl anymore.

 

[VaRandy]

I have the same problem, neck and lower back discs. I built a first rate PRS weapon before finding I could not remove the prone problem. Probably worked out ok because since retiring, I have sworn off alarm clocks or timers! If I could find a PRS course without a timer, I would consider the pain to shoot prone to try my hand at it.