AGED HAND ISSUES

[Nicholst55]

I'm 80+ with arthritis, still enjoy shooting, ice is a big help on hands and knees, plus I use tight golfing gloves at the range, huge benefit. I can shoot
45acp and 40, however I notice the high power 40 is getting hard to rack.

Have you looked into an NSAID (anti-inflammatory)? Aleve for OTC, or Naproxen for prescription. I also use Sodium Diclofenac Topical Gel and a CBD transdermal salve. All work, to varying degrees.

 

[baboon]

You just need machine pistol therapy for you gimpy hands.

 

[single stack]

Arthritis stinks.

I was scoring at a Sporting Clays tournament on Memorial Day. I had to declare “trapper not ready” when my right hand cramped up and I couldn’t hold the pen for a minute.
Index and thumb both curled in at once.
I still carry a semiautomatic. The wife had to go to a S&W airweight .38. She simply couldn’t rank the slide any more.

 

[jimbo]

Arthritis stinks.

I was scoring at a Sporting Clays tournament on Memorial Day. I had to declare “trapper not ready” when my right hand cramped up and I couldn’t hold the pen for a minute.
Index and thumb both curled in at once.
I still carry a semiautomatic. The wife had to go to a S&W airweight .38. She simply couldn’t rank the slide any more.

I can relate. Getting old is not for sissies

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

I've recently had to stop shooting as my shoulders are candidates for replacement surgery. The shoulder cartilage is all used up, so it's now bone on bone...

I've been told by my family doctor, the success for this type of surgery is either a great success or not...no middle ground.

It's a gamble I'm not willing to take.

Plus, I'd rather live with the pain than the face the enormous amount follow up PT, ugh!

 

[oldag]

I've recently had to stop shooting as my shoulders are candidates for replacement surgery. The shoulder cartilage is all used up, so it's now bone on bone...

I've been told by my family doctor, the success for this type of surgery is either a great success or not...no middle ground.

It's a gamble I'm not willing to take.

Plus, I'd rather live with the pain than the face the enormous amount follow up PT, ugh!

The shoulder rehab is really tough.

 

[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

Oldag,

You've been through it or know someone who has?

About two years ago, I completed some shoulder PT and found it utterly useless in ameliorating the pain.

I discussed my reluctance regarding shoulder replacement surgery with the PT guy who was quite ambiguous in his opinion of having the surgery and it's potential for a negative result...

On the othe hand, the 'Ortho Doc' was quite eager for me to have the surgery...in a kinda creepy way.

He initially tried the old steroid shot in the shoulders modality without success, that is it didn't provide 'any' pain relief

So now, I just a take a daily meloxicam pill (an NSAD) along with a gaba pentin and that's it...for now.

 

[oldag]

Oldag,

You've been through it or know someone who has?

About two years ago, I completed some shoulder PT and found it utterly useless in ameliorating the pain.

I discussed my reluctance regarding shoulder replacement surgery with the PT guy who was quite ambiguous in his opinion of having the surgery and it's potential for a negative result...

On the othe hand, the 'Ortho Doc' was quite eager for me to have the surgery...in a kinda creepy way.

He initially tried the old steroid shot in the shoulders modality without success, that is it didn't provide 'any' pain relief

So now, I just a take a daily meloxicam pill (an NSAD) along with a gaba pentin and that's it...for now.

I have known several (maybe a half dozen?) people who had shoulder surgery. And observed a number of people doing rehab after surgery (while I was in rehab for knee surgery). The rehab was tough. Almost everyone seemed to come out better eventually. Not all, but I can't say if that was the fault of the surgery or because they did not do the rehab as prescribed. Not doing the rehab is a sure fire way to lose range of motion. If you can find a good surgeon who specializes in shoulders and does a lot of that work, I would think your odds are good.

As far as PT instead of shoulder surgery, I really can't provide any useful information.

Sorry that your shoulder is causing so much pain.

 

[leVieux]

I have this on a gun or two… (charging ring) they work well for me

Halo charging ring from Tandemkross

View attachment 473036

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Neat.

Thanks !

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[leVieux]

Oldag,

You've been through it or know someone who has?

About two years ago, I completed some shoulder PT and found it utterly useless in ameliorating the pain.

I discussed my reluctance regarding shoulder replacement surgery with the PT guy who was quite ambiguous in his opinion of having the surgery and it's potential for a negative result...

On the othe hand, the 'Ortho Doc' was quite eager for me to have the surgery...in a kinda creepy way.

He initially tried the old steroid shot in the shoulders modality without success, that is it didn't provide 'any' pain relief

So now, I just a take a daily meloxicam pill (an NSAD) along with a gaba pentin and that's it...for now.

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Be sure you see an upper extremity specialist if you need surgery.

BTW, Gabapentin must be taken daily to work; it is not an “as needed” medication.

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[Mowingmaniac 24/7]

Oldag,

Thanks!

leVieux,

"extremity specialist" - That's the first time I've heard that term, by it, do you mean an 'ortho doc' or some other specialty?

I know some folks prefer a 'neuro surgeon' (me) for things like 'spinal fusion surgery' and others go with a different kind of specialist, like an ortho doc for spinal surgery.

 

[Paul Saver]

My whole body hurts..................

 

[leVieux]

Oldag,

Thanks!

leVieux,

"extremity specialist" - That's the first time I've heard that term, by it, do you mean an 'ortho doc' or some other specialty?

I know some folks prefer a 'neuro surgeon' (me) for things like 'spinal fusion surgery' and others go with a different kind of specialist, like an ortho doc for spinal surgery.

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For surgery, you want someone who does a lot of that specific operation.

Practice makes perfect.

Some Orthopedists specialize in hand, arm, & shoulder. Other “Plastic Surgeons” also do that.

Which part of the State are you in ?

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[ChiefPilot]

I still travel back to Minnesota for a while in the summer and every year I qualify about a hundred retired LEOs from my agency and several others for their LEOSA carry authority.

I see a lot of issues with them not being able to correctly manipulate the slides and even the slide & mag release.

I have often recommended the various tip-up barrel firearms options or the S&W EZ route. Also, since so many of them carried revolvers, I do recommend they return to their roots and return to a J or K frame size S&W or Colt.

Some have tried the various options with pretty good results. I've always said, carrying anything is better than carrying nothing if it's really needed.

I am also not a big fan of the EZ models and would prefer the tip-up option.

Mostly seeing physical issues causing their difficulties and not being out of shape.

Like it's been said before in this thread above - Getting older isn't for sissies. You gotta be tough to really keep yourself able to enjoy life after 60.

YMMV

 

[leVieux]

I still travel back to Minnesota for a while in the summer and every year I qualify about aq hundred retired LEOs from my agency and several others for their LEOSA carry authority.

I see a lot of issues with them not being able to correctly manipulate the slides and even the slide & mqg release.

I have often recommended the various tip-up barrel firearms options or the S&W EZ route. Also, since so many of them carried revolvers, I do recommend they return to their roots and return to a J or K frame size S&W or Colt.

Some have tried the various options with pretty good results. I've always said, carrying anything is better than carrying nothing if it's really needed.

I am also not a big fan of the EZ models and would prefer the tip[up option.

Mostly seeing physical issues causing their difficulties and not being out of shape.

Like it's been said before in this thread above - Getting older isn't for sissies. You gotta be tough to really keep yourself able to enjoy life after 60.

YMMV

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Welcome to TGT. Thanks for your service to our retired LEO Community.

leVieux

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[ChiefPilot]

Thanks. I never charge them for this service. All they have to pay is any range fees involved. Paying it back to so many that were my mentors early in my career. 38 years on the job got me to meet and serve with so many great folks.

How things are now, it's good to be retired........

 

[leVieux]

Thanks. I never charge them for this service. All they have to pay is any range fees involved. Paying it back to so many that were my mentors early in my career. 38 years on the job got me to meet and serve with so many great folks.

How things are now, it's good to be retired........

Don’t loose heart; many of us still support our Police.

 

[Nicholst55]

On the subject of surgery, my youngest son is a Rehab doctor (PM&R). He says this about surgeons in general: 'when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.' Meaning that to a surgeon, everything looks like a candidate for surgery. Hence why @Mowingmaniac 24/7's Orthopod is eager to operate, while the Therapist is more reserved. The therapist sees both the good and the not-so-good results of surgery. My wife is sufferung from a frozen shoulder; the Orthopod has wanted to operate since day one. The Physical Therapist, not so much. Therapy initially provided a great deal of relief, but that has tapered off significantly. Steroid injections have not helped. My wife is somewhat fanatical about doing the therapy at home, so that's not the issue. An MRI is scheduled for later this month, so that should give more insight into just how bad the situation is. Knowing my wife, she will choose to suffer rather than have surgery.

 

[leVieux]

On the subject of surgery, my youngest son is a Rehab doctor (PM&R). He says this about surgeons in general: 'when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.' Meaning that to a surgeon, everything looks like a candidate for surgery. Hence why @Mowingmaniac 24/7's Orthopod is eager to operate, while the Therapist is more reserved. The therapist sees both the good and the not-so-good results of surgery. My wife is sufferung from a frozen shoulder; the Orthopod has wanted to operate since day one. The Physical Therapist, not so much. Therapy initially provided a great deal of relief, but that has tapered off significantly. Steroid injections have not helped. My wife is somewhat fanatical about doing the therapy at home, so that's not the issue. An MRI is scheduled for later this month, so that should give more insight into just how bad the situation is. Knowing my wife, she will choose to suffer rather than have surgery.

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One cannot generalize or project from anecdotes.

In most cases, it can be wise to get several evaluations & opinions. It would be wise to have a PM&MR evaluation or a Rheumatology consult BEFORE deciding on surgery. Or, on a specific Surgeon.

And,

All surgeries are not the same.

Some 20 years back, a friend in the LRGV did need bilateral knee surgeries. I tried to send him to a Surgeon @ Methodist in TMC, but he wanted to stay near home & went to a guy in Harlingen.

The guy did the old 3-piece prosthesis implants & Friend was in severe pain for weeks.

Then he learned that the newer & much less painful 5-piece surgeries would have been done in Houston, & he could have avoided most of the torture.

If one is to undergo any very serious, painful, & life-altering procedure; one should do their homework first.

Additionally, remember that in modern Medicine, things can & do change rapidly. Don’t decide without learning of ALL OPTIONS.

Since you are around H-Town, i specifically recommend you speak with Dr. H.B. Spangler @ Green Oak MRI at Humble, TX. Dr. Spangler taught MSK Diagnosis @ both Baylor & U T Houston for years. He doesn’t operate, but can direct you to the best specialists. Be warned, he is very hard of hearing.

leVieux

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[leVieux]

Forgive my ignorance, but I genuinely want to know ... even prepare, if possible. What causes the weakness in the hands with age, is it universal, is it avoidable?

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Aging is accompanied by generalized loss of skeletal muscle ‘’mass’’.

Virtually all us Elders have some form of arthritis.

Treatments only ‘’help’’; can’t cure or reverse those.

Sadly, the alternative is to just go ahead and die !

leVieux

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