TargetTalk

I am 73 years old and for the past few years shooting the prone position has become very painful, even to the point that I sometimes have to stop.
I shoot with a sweatshirt, elbow foam pad, heavy leather shooting jacket and use a Freeland prone pad. The sensation is one of an ice pick being driven into my elbow. The rifle is a heavy 17# Anschutz Match 54 target rifle.
I have tried just about every thing I can think of to make this painful position tolerable but it only gets worse. I may have to quit shooting because if it.
What have others done to overcome this painful affection?

Seems obvious, but have you been to an orthopedist? I am 62 and have had shoulder, back, neck, hip, etc. problems and the orthopedist got me onto a set of stretching and other exercises that cured (alleviated?) the problems. I would not recommend a chiropractor for this.

Best,

Joe

I haven't seen an orthopedic specialist but my regilar GP just shrugged his shoulders and indicated there was nothing that could be done. It may be worth a consultation however.

Have you tried a lighter rifle?

17 lbs sounds awfully heavy.

I'm only 41 but I get some pain with a 12lb air rifle. Can't imagine adding 5 lbs to it.

Two things spring to mind immediately; Have you had a coach look at your position and check that you're not doing something wrong with your positioning ? Or they may be able to suggest a more comfortable elternative. The specialist is also well worth visiting but if it only happens during shooting they may struggle - apart from checking for any damage. GP's generally won't have much clue (unless you find one that shoots).

Rob.

I am not a doctor and have not much knoledge about the human body, but from the description - an icepick is driven into the elbow. I sence that the placement of the elbow is incorrect - the very tip of the elbow is put under a lot of strain or (because of pressure) a nerve is squeezed. An other cause can be a deformation of the bone of the elbow.
Perhaps changing the position to a 'high' or a 'low' position (depending on the current position) can cure the problem - that way the pressure point changes to an other area of the elbow.
Seeing a doctor and showing the problem while assuming the prone position can be a good idea.

Albert
(The Netherlands)

I sure glad to hear from someone older than I is still shooting. I'm 72 and several of us older guys meet on Thursday morning for some M1 shooting.

I know what you are saying. Most of us have had the same problem

Being a former "telephoneman" and not a medicineman, I speak with no expertise except what works for me.

I have found that a callous formed on my left elbow and when it’s feel dry, I get that same feeling.

By appling a hand cream on my elbow help the problem.

Do you get shooting pains into your hand? Or just at the elbow? If you are getting pains that radiate towards your 4th and 5th finger, this may be Ulnar nerve compression.

No, just the 'pin sticking' in the elbow.

I some time think it maybe when the skin on my elbow get dry, a hair turns into a ingrown hair.

But a hand creame seems to help.

Jim Morrison: Coincidently I am a retired telephone man as well. Had 32 years with Ma Bell. The majority with Long Lines and then with AT&T after the divestiture. Been a shooter all my life but was thinking I would have to give up the position shooting with the terrible pain I get shooting prone. I have tried Biofreeze recently and it seems to help along with extra padding. Shot a possible last night and a 94 and 91 OH on A-17 targets at a match held locally.

I want to thank all who answered my post. You are all the best.