Pain in nuckle of index finger

Seeking Trad Deer · February 14, 2007, 07:34:00 PM

I've had some soreness in my trigger finger (right index finger - I'm righty) the last five weeks or so. Went to see the doctor and he took some xrays and said most likely it is arthritis in the nuckle of my finger. Being only 38 and not having a family history of this kinda threw me back. Anybody else have this happen? Doc said keep shooting the bow as long as you can handle the pain. Offered anti inflamatory drugs but I passed on em. :confused:

TXRED · February 14, 2007, 07:46:00 PM

Yeah Mike,I've got the exact same problem;does wonders for your release,huh?Unfortunately,I can't offer a sure cure,but I do feel your pain,bro.I don't try to medicate mine,just kinda grin & bear it.First one to find a cure,please post!

BaldyLocks · February 14, 2007, 08:44:00 PM

Are you shooting a long bow or a recurve? I am 6'1'' and have the wing span of an albatross. I was recently shooting my friends black widow recurve and it was much shorter and more weight and really put a lot of pressure on my index finger. I shoot a 66'' Horne longbow and it doesn't do that as bad. Maybe try three fingers under. I know that I enjoy shooting so much that I just gut it out and space out my practices. But when it really counts, I just need one!!! Hoe this helps a little.

Baldylocks

bowhunter97 · February 14, 2007, 10:01:00 PM

I had the same thing happen to me last summer but it was may middle finger. I switched to a tab for a few weeks pain went away and hasn't came back so I,m back to shooting with glove. don,t know what the deal was?

Tim Grant · February 14, 2007, 10:22:00 PM

I am currently having the same problem with my middle finger. A sore blue spot just above the joint. I'm going to try a tab for a few days and see if it will heal.

ksbowman · February 14, 2007, 11:03:00 PM

I have the same problem with my middle finger,arthritis in the first and second joints.The first joint has a big knot and a nice twist,the second is not as advanced and just swells and hurts. The doctor has me taking one Aleeve at night and it helps sleeping,but I'm not about to quit shooting. Good luck,Ben

Matty · February 14, 2007, 11:43:00 PM

me too I go to a therapist who does COLD LASER THERAPY....it's just the new ultrasound...just tons better, I find it helps

Steve Lundberg · February 15, 2007, 01:04:00 AM

I had the same problem a few months ago. Joints in my fingers hurt for a day or two after lengthy shooting sessions. I tried the glucosamine/chrondroitin that is sold by several different suppliers. (I get mine at Costco.) After about two weeks of taking it I did not get any more pain in my finger joints. Sorry to say it did not help my accuracy any tho - LOL.

buck-tamer00 · February 15, 2007, 01:43:00 AM

i had the same thng happen to my middle finger last year, its totally numb now, i shot through the pain, i wasnt gonna let anything stop me from doin what i love!!! but man was the pain a b¥£#% back then!!!

guzzi2000 · February 15, 2007, 08:10:00 AM

I had the same problem with the middle finger, swollen knucle and very sore. At my age 53 I figured it was arthritis, but being new to trad archery I didn't want to stop shooting. I tried 3 under for most of last summer and into the fall. It seemed to help with the pain. For what ever reason in the fall I was able to go back to the split release. The finger seems good now.

Seeking Trad Deer · February 15, 2007, 08:44:00 AM

Thanks for the input guys. I shoot three under and recurves. Funny thing is that I haven't shot in over a week and I still get the pain. I don't think it is related to shooting in my case. The knuckle hurts just to touch it and the finger seems a bit swolen. that cold therapy sounds interesting Bill...can you tell more about it? I have four blown back disks and the pain injections really help. Was hoping there was something like that for a knuckle.

dan ferguson · February 15, 2007, 10:28:00 AM

i,m curious what kind of string knocks do you guys use, brass, floss etc

bowdude · February 15, 2007, 10:56:00 AM

A bit off topic but might help. My son was having trouble with target panic. The kind where the bow poundage quadruples with an arrow on the string. He started playing with a release and get this, switched from righty to lefty. Seems to have gotten over it. He went to left after one day I pointed out - "why do you shoot that wrist rocket slingshot lefty?" Now he shoots better than me most days. Go figure. :rolleyes:

SteveL · February 15, 2007, 03:36:00 PM

I go thru long stretches where my middle finger just kills me. That's when I pickup my recurve and start shooting with a release. I can't quite use a release on my longbows though. It's amusing what kind of distintions we make about the endeavor of archery. Anyway I have just as much fun with the release. I'm not about to let getting old slow me down much - will be 54 soon.

Barclay · February 15, 2007, 06:13:00 PM

I have the same intermittent pain in the knuckle of my right index finger. Mine is from previous jobs as a CAD draftsman and technical illustrator... years of using that finger to work the computer's mouse, left clicking and turning the mouse's wheel to scroll etc.
I haven't noticed shooting my bows to aggravate it. It usually flares up after I spend a few days working on the computer more than I normally do.
My pain goes away after I cut back on the computer stuff, usually the next day.