Any tips for shooting with an injury?

[Hokkmike]

Fell of my bike two years ago. Broke my humerus and ball (in the shoulder socket). They healed up OK with no surgery. The rehab was all right - but I guess I didn't push it hard enough.

Now to shoulder a rifle and shoot off hand is very awkward (somewhat painful) and a little time consuming to get a good sight picture.

It seems to have dampened my enthusiasm for hunting. Shooting from a bench is still OK - but it is not helping my problem.

Any suggestions as to how to overcome my deficit?

[Cyclops]

I hear you. Six years ago I damaged my right rotator cuff beyond surgical repair. I shoot hand guns and the bad cuff meant a terrible time controlling the stability of the gun. I was lucky to get within 6 inches of the aim point. Then I went to see a Physiatrist (rehab doc) who gave me a prescribed regimen of exercises. Prior to that an Orthopedic specialist told me that I would be luck to get back 50% movement in my shoulder. Following the advice of my Physiatrist I now have 95% movement in the bad shoulder.

Yes, when I shoot with arms extended it hurts, but I can shoot accurately. When I first had the rotator cuff injury I could not even hold a handgun up in firing position.

You can win the battle. You need the right kind of Doc and Physical Therapist to get you there.

[Yellowfin]

Shoot rifles prone with a bipod and suppressor.

[Gunsnwater]

My wrist took 4years. I like the idea of the right rehab people. That excludes all the regular rehabs you can find easy. What ever that word is.... Get one of those! Mainly don't give in or up. Use past recoil pads, use a sled when bench resting. Get good air guns to keep up your skills. Dry fire. One of those laser kits would be good. ( want one! ) hang in there.

[WVBob]

After my shoulder surgery I could not use my .308 or .270 for 3 years. For the first two years the best I could do was use a .30-30 from a rest. Then I tried a .243 and it worked. It's been 7 years since the surgery and I can shoot the .308, I have not hunted with it because I like the .243 and .30-30.

[MOUNTAINORACLE]

When I broke my right arm all I did was shoot pistol, rifles, and shotguns from the left side until the right arm healed up and was able to go back to the right sied

[dk99358]

Another vote for finding another therapist/doc and trying it some more. Plus I've noticed that I need to keep doing some of the exercises (stretching/weights) a couple of times a week or I get 'stiff'. After my first rotator cuff surgery (one month before deer season) I hunted with a handgun in the opposite hand.

Have you tried handling something like the Ruger Compacts or Savage Lightweight Hunter? Smaller and lighter may allow you easier control and movement.

Best of luck,

Dale

[ungawa]

Switch hands and close your dominant eye. It will never feel as natural, but it will work nearly as well with practice. You will have to dry fire to get proper trigger control. I would suggest dime/washer. Suggest lots of sessions with .22s or BB guns with buddies.

Everything new you learned as a kid came really easy. As we get older, we realize everything new we try to learn seems extremely hard. At first. But becomes easy soon. That's one of the lessons I learned hard at first and then easy

[RockIsland]

I broke my right hand and the knuckles on my pinky and the finger next to it almost a month ago. Set the bone back in place and I've had it in an ace bandage ever since. Missed out on deer rifle this year and a waste of a doe tag. It's just starting to not hurt all the time. I still carry and I've been practicing on my slow draw.

I've been itching to do some chootin' but I'll probably have to wait a few more weeks.

[wellcraft]

so is shouldering the rifle the issue or recoil or both? if shouldering the rifle is the issue you may not have healed as well as you think you did and it might be prudent to visit a physician for a examination. as someone else suggested physical therapy may be a option or if recoil is the problem you may want to have your barrel threaded and add a good muzzle break. a good muzzle break can make a world of difference in felt recoil, just make sure you buy one that works and not just looks cool.