Bad back and neck

[danny]

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

Say what you will about Chiropractors, and people do, and mostly negative things, however, my first experience with chiropractic was courtesy of my regular medical doctor.

I went to him for some chronic lower back pain that had flared up. I had to drive to him in extreme pain, lifting my legs by grabbing the pant leg and lifting my foot to clutch and brake. I had no idea how he would treat me, but, well, he did chiropractic adjustments on me.

I won't tell you that I went home feeling like I had a miracle cure (there isn't one) and was 100%, but, I was able to drive home relatively normally and with a lot of immediate pain relief. I have had traditional treatments with drugs, etc., and I can tell you that chiropractic has provided me the most and most immediate pain relief.

From my experience, it is not a given that all traditional medical doctors do not believe in chiropractic. It seems that certain progressive types that are not pill dispensers find at least some value in Chiropractic treatment.

Danny

 

[hogpatrol]

For a friend of mine (RIP) who had very limited neck and shoulder movement, a buddy and I made up this standing rest for him. At least it kept him shooting on his farm.

 

[jepp2]

my first experience withchiropractic was courtesy of my regular medical doctor.

My hat is off to your Dr. for his advice. My experience is that most the folks that are critical of chiropractors have never been to one.

 

[danny]

My hat is off to your Dr. for his advice. My experience is that most the folks that are critical of chiropractors have never been to one.

Not only his advice, but the fact that he actually did chiropractic adjustments on me himself. That was a real crash course in the validity of Chiropractic for many things.

Danny

 

[BoydAllen]

What if you were able to put a camera on your scope and use a monitor that was flat to the ground. or at whatever angle works the best for you? You might even be able to use a wifi link. That still leaves you with the issue of observing conditions, but some sort of mirror setup, like a periscope might be able to handle that. or a low power rifle scope with a prism mounted to the eyepiece, since recoil would not be an issue. For a spotting scope, for mirage a regular spotting scope with an angled eyepiece set up to point up might help. Yes, this is a collection of crazy 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.

Nude Nut,
Funny you should mention laying at an angle,as I have in the last few days just started using this method and tilting my head more than holding it up.
Have been working on rifle set up (cheek comb and butt stock) and so far I think I am getting closer.
It will add weight to the butt stock from my fat head resting on the stock and I hope it does not effect my POI
Time will tell
Thanks fellas for all the good info
Bench

 

[johnfred1965]

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

A STEEL plate? I must have had better insurance, mine is titanium!!

 

[500Stroker]

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 broke my neck and my back in two different accidents years ago. To make a long story short, I shoot of the bench.
A licensed Massage Therapist has done me more good than any other treatment I have had.
Good luck

 

[Just Dave]

Muscles and ligaments can often be corrected with REGULAR abdominal and core muscle training. Nobody mentioned an inversion table yet, and that surprises me , My table sits in a spare bedroom, with a heating pad velcroed to it for when I overdue lifting. It really is a miracle worker. . But I have same issue with my neck. An accident, along with constantly cracking my neck as a teenager has brought on degenerative arthritis in the top 3 vertebrae. I can no longer work above my head for very long, and sometimes if I turn my head wrong, it feels like I could be paralyzed.. Shooting prone hurts, but I've found gentle massage, ibuprofen, and hanging your head down, while lifting shoulder blades, helps keep pain to a minimum. I try not to lean into the stock, as the pressure you apply changes as the day progresses, and your muscles tire. This year I am going to try using a tall Caldwell shooting rest, placed next to my stock to support my chin along with a small pillow to support my upper body. But I have yet to find the right combination.

 

[K22]

I here you brother shooter. I have degenerative disc disease in my L4 and L5 vertebra and I'm in almost constant pain, some days worse than others. My condition does not lend itself to surgery so I'm stuck with it.

I can't shoot prone any more, would need a crane to pick me up. I'm a long time avid varmint, predator and big game hunter. I now shoot off a chair with a shooting cross stick. Not as effective as a bipod prone but I still manage to do well, about 85% hit rate on varmints by limiting my range to about 250 yards and selecting optimum setups on tree lines.

You may have to make some changes to your approach to your sport/hobby but you don't have to give it up. You can still shoot even if it's just for fun and enjoyment. I shot competitive bulls eye for over 30 years but had to give it up due to an elbow problem but I still shoot a lot of pistol but with two hands. Can't compete in matches anymore due to bulls eye requirements of a one hand hold but I can still shoot. I do compete but now its against myself, recording every shot and score striving for continuous improvement.

Just don't give up, improvise and keep shooting. Hope this help. Best Wishes.

 

[Rancher Mike]

My neck hurts less with a high rest and my elbows almost directly under me, less kink in the neck.

 

[akajun]

I have been dealing with back and neck issues since I was 35 or so. Bouts of frozen shoulder and pinched nerves have sidelined my shooting several times. For a while after shooting a string of slow prone I would have stay on all fours for a few minutes before I could stand.
I’m very athletic , doing CrossFit and running 4-5 days a week. It was recommended that I go see a PT and a sports Massage therapist. It took about 5-6 visits but they busted all the tightness out of my back and neck and showed me some new stretches I can do myself to keep loose. I still go see them every 6 months or so for a tune up but am pretty much pain free.
Now this is important, go to a PT that works with athletes and tell her what your goals are. A lot are just going through the motions and collecting a check. Whenever I left pt I was akwAys hurting. Same thing for massage therapist, there is nothing that felt good about those visits, in fact I often had bruises and left sweating and exhausted. But a few days later wow did I feel better .

 

[Twicepop]

If chiropractors are such a good thing, why do you have to keep going back to them? IMHO you go to doctors for a permanent solution to what ails you, chiropractors only "temporarily" alleviate symptoms.

 

[butchlambert]

If chiropractors are such a good thing, why do you have to keep going back to them? IMHO you go to doctors for a permanent solution to what ails you, chiropractors only "temporarily" alleviate symptoms.

An old high school buddy was a DO. Part of their training was chiropractic adjustment. Just never helped me with the problems that I have had.

 

[mongo chicago]

Welcome to the "falling apart club". Been going to a chiro. for decades. Not a cure but temporary relief. C curve in neck goes opposite of what it should. Don't shoot any prone anymore. Only standing or benchrest. Change what you can and accept what you can't and still have fun.

 

[Gina1]

Welcome to the "falling apart club". Been going to a chiro. for decades. Not a cure but temporary relief. C curve in neck goes opposite of what it should. Don't shoot any prone anymore. Only standing or benchrest. Change what you can and accept what you can't and still have fun.

+1

 

[Joe Salt]

I just had the nerves burnt in my back, it's been two weeks and so far so good! At least know when I bump into something or someone it doesn't feel like someone shoving a knife in my ribs.
Had the cortisone shots but they didn't help for very long, they say this may last a year or more. Here is hoping I want to keep shooting.
Damn old age, knew I was going to get old but not this fast!

Joe Salt

 

[jamesdmock]

I just had the nerves burnt in my back, it's been two weeks and so far so good! At least know when I bump into something or someone it doesn't feel like someone shoving a knife in my ribs.
Had the cortisone shots but they didn't help for very long, they say this may last a year or more. Here is hoping I want to keep shooting.
Damn old age, knew I was going to get old but not this fast!

Joe Salt

They say that BR is an old man's sport, and I know why. That is the only type of shooting that our old bodies can tolerate. I, like many of the above have back and neck problems...along with torticollis. After mis-diagnosing the torticollis, the surgeon removed three discs from my neck and replaced with bone and a slab of titanium. I have 8 screws holding the plate in place. Now arthritis has added more pain and my shooting days are limited...but I still try a little long range BR shooting.

 

[akajun]

If chiropractors are such a good thing, why do you have to keep going back to them? IMHO you go to doctors for a permanent solution to what ails you, chiropractors only "temporarily" alleviate symptoms.

Like how MD’s always fix the problem on the first visit, or without side effects?
Chiropractors work some time, just like PT, massage therapy and MD’s.
Find a Chiropractor who will tell you when he can’t help you. Mine was able to bust loose my frozen shoulder but revered me to a MD for muscle relaxers , and PT for dry Needling.

 

[Geno C]

Drs all told my father in law that he needed rotator cuff surgery. We don't have time for down time in the summer so he tried dry needling and after 3 times he says he's almost completely pain free. That's enough for me to try it if i need it someday.