Stickbow shooting days over?
General Topic
So today I was doing a little task (not fighting a bear, but putting a new fitted sheet on the bed) when I felt a pop, and the tip of my right middle finger was slightly dislocated. I popped it back but it won't straighten. Doc says I tore the ligament and it will have a permanent hook in the end. Like Slick Willie's willy...
Can't shoot my recurve yet, but it doesnt seem to want to straighten out. Doesnt hurts just won't straighten out without help. I'm afraid it will lead to a pluck, even with a stiff tab. Anyone else ever had this problem?
Buddy of mine lost his right finger at the knuckle. Shot his recurve with two fingers - middle and ring fingers. Seemed to work just fine.
Have another buddy that tore his a nerve in his shoulder on his right arm. Shoots his recurve with a mouth tab... Has killed a couple of elk, mule deer and white tails with the mouth tab.
I know I could use a release... but that seems so "David Alford", lol.
Try shooting with your thumb like Joel Turner does. I’ve thought about trying that too. Finger injuries on your shooting hand stink!
Or use one of these. It’s design is hundreds of years old. So it’s definitely traditional
Sounds like it might be painful. Do they allow "duct tape" over on the LW ? Sorry that I couldn't be more helpful but have no experience with dislocated fingers. Good luck.
I think your stickbow days were over when you started shooting that compound! Haha!
I'd rather splint it straight than let it freeze "hooked" Dr didn't recommend anything?
and riding an electric bike! HaHa.
Lou moral of the story is changing sheets is woman's work.
I joke I joke if any women are reading this!
Lou, do you shoot glove or tab? Maybe a relatively stiff tab would help prevent that finger from keeping much pressure on the string during release. Especially if the finger is relaxed at the knuckle allowing it to flex back.
Stiff tab, and I'll try it. Splinting won't help because it straightens out fine if I push it straight. Just won't stay straight. Funny thing is it doesnt hurt..
If you shoot 3 fingers...maybe index and ring finger would take up the slack, and the bent one would just roll off the string (if it was relaxed)? Hell...you might shoot better, lol !
New sheets are like a girlfriend half your age. Tight at first, then you have to deal with expanding or stretched peripheles.
Captain Hook could be an inspiration.
No, but I’ve had my feet and hands lock in a crazy “you Ain’t moving” position after doing long rides (20 miles or more) on my road bicycle. If I simply relax, it goes away quickly... it has never sustained longer than a minute or so.
A friend shoots real well with middle and ring finger. An adaptation to... what?... I don't know. A level 4 archery instructor is in the Denver area who would probably have seen others with the same condition. If you think he might be beneficial, let me know.
A bareback rider I used to know had his broken/misshapen pinky finger surgically removed. It was causing him some grief in his rigging. I guess it all comes down to priorities.
Channel you inner Ronnie Lot
cut the tendon in my middle finger. jack knife folded back on me. permanent hook on the finger since 18 yrs old .still 48 years behind the stick bow. passed cliff coe. no sniveling
Deep hook! It's all the rage.
use a concho style fletchhunter release and dont look back.
Jaq, It looks like you have what is referred to as Mallet finger. That is a tear of the extensor tendon to the tip of your finger. Were you x-rayed? This injury often includes an avulsion fracture ( a small piece of bone pulled off with the tendon). Frequently, that can heal to an acceptable level with the use of a splint that holds the finger fully extended for 6 weeks or so. Also, since the injury (if it is a Mallet finger) does not limit your ability to hold your finger in a flexed (curled) position, I suspect you should not have any real issue with returning to shooting "fingers". Not sure what type of physician you consulted, but an orthopedist or hand specialist may be worth seeing. Best of Luck!
Thanks, PT. That's exactly what another Bowsite doctor told me. I'm in the mountains with no doc office around, so I "consulted" a friend GP who was fishing by my house. We have a great orthopedic center (Orthopedic Center of the Rockies) in town, but usually a few days before they can get someone in. I'm pretty sure it's mallet finger, although there is no pain associated with it anywhere, unlike the description he sent me. But another doc friend is getting me a splint to get it stabilized. Thanks for the professional advice!
I would think many guys would reap the benefits of having a finger like that
Well, try your index, ring and pinky finger. Tuck your middle away. With practice I bet it would work, depending on the poundage of your bow. And, by the way, how do you know what willy's willy looks like? Lol
I cut a tendon on the top of my middle finger. Permanent hook but I still shot recurves. It doesn't affect my ability to get a deep hook or to release.
Heck Lou, the older we get the more we learn to adjust to the new quirky injuries or minor set backs, our new Normal if ya will--------->
You'll adjust and be just fine man.
Keep the Faith,
Robb
Borrow a lower poundage lefty for the season. I’ll loan you one. Take your pick
Schafer Silvertip 47#
Whippenstick Marauder 47#
Morrison Wood ILF riser with Max 6 limbs 49#
I shot a 3d course with a guy with one arm. He was using a nice 45# Black Widow. He used a mouth tab and "drew" by pushing his bow arm forward. He was a darn good shot too.
You can easily shoot with index,ring and pinky finger. I dislocated my middle finger so bad I needed surgery and shot without it for 8 months. It takes a bit of getting used to and the string nicked it a few times and bought tears to my eyes but I figured it out pretty quick. Shawn
Thanks Jay. I actually have a 40 lb lefty I tried to learn to shoot several years ago when I hurt my shoulder. After 55 years of shooting right-handed (at that time) I never could get the hang of it enough to be consistently accurate. Decided it was easier to rehab the shoulder.
Thanks for all the positive comments, guys! Not one post about COVID, Biden, or Trump!
Damn! Then you had to go and ruin it Lou!
You can edit and remove that crap...
Full disclosure, I'm shooting a compound this season (I switch back and forth now every couple years) so it wont affect my hunt this year.
A cow moose couldn't get you but done in by a fitted sheet. Ain't that a B.
The index finger on my string hand looks very similar. I too can straighten it without pain, but it won't stay that way on its own. I guess it just gets pushed out of the way upon release because it's never been an issue.
The end of the middle finger right beside it was smashed and reconstructed 20 years ago, but has never looked or felt the same. It's mishap and bigger than it used to be and has a knot of scar tissue right in the center of the pad that feels like a bb in there, but doesn't bother anything with a leather shooting glove on.
Several years later, I had both of those fingers crushed while making a crane lift at the mill I work at, just behind the second knuckles. I was afraid to take my glove off that time, I thought for sure they were severed and laying in there. It was over a year before I could curl them and hang on to a string. They aren't pretty, but I've been shooting 65 lb stickbows through it all... except for when I was healing and couldn't.
If it was me, and didn't hurt, I'd wait a couple weeks and try shooting.
Yup...there's always a crossbow or back to rifle??
I had the same injury a few years back and wore a splint that hyper extended the joint for eight weeks and it gave the tendon time to heal. I can't tell it ever had a hook in it now.
you might give it a try.
Lou, I broke my middle finger just behind the first knuckle of my right hand in a car wreck about 15 years ago. It is bent just like yours in that photo. I have been shooting recurves since that has happened with no problem. I don't think you have anything to worry about. Keep on Keepin on!
Lou - I hate fitted sheets! Especially trying to fold those dang things! (My wife hates that I opt for the “Wad” method of storage) Now there’s another reason.
I applaud your honesty, revealing the cause of your injury and don’t normally advocate for prevarication, but you gotta make up some story. You can’t continue telling people that a fitted sheet broke you.
Maybe blame it on the cow moose that tried to kill you?
Hope it gets better with the splint and time. I think that I can speak for the kids that they wish you well and are sorry to hear that you’re now bent.
Splint it in place extended to straight and see a hand specialist as soon as you can.
I tore the top tendon off my right hand ring finger in high school football 51 years ago. The doc splinted it hyper extended for 6 weeks, but it tore again, so I said to hell with it.
Now at 68, I still shoot strictly sticks, but have dropped down to 53 pounds in my "seasoned citizen" age. At the time of the injury, I was off the bows for several months. The finger tip looks like yours, with a permanent "hook", but has no I'll effect in shooting.
One "benefit" I DID get out of it is...it ended my bowling career thereby saving me tons of money I've used elsewhere...like for archery stuff :^)
Oh man, now there is a good "nose picker' for ya.
Oh man, laughed out loud at Orions "wad" comment cause that's exactly how I "assist" my wife when she asks me to help her fold that damn fitted sheet. I just wad and throw it in the closet.
Jaq, on a more serious note ------ I hope you heal quick.
Hang in there - Bob
PTarcher is almost certainly correct. You probably have a type I mallet finger meaning an avulsion of The extensor tendon where it inserts into the dorsum of the distal phalanx ( top of the last joint). Very common. Idylwild and Prairie Dog also correct in that you need To splint your finger at the last joint ( the distal interphalangeal joint ) in slight hyperextension until you see an Orthopaedic surgeon or other hand specialist. Most require splinting AT ALL TIMES for six weeks then wean over a couple weeks from the splint. If you let it drop down you go back to ground zero and start again. PTarcher used the term “acceptable” which is important as so many want perfect. It can return to normal but smaller, acceptable amounts of slight inability to extend fully are the norm. Either way you have normal flexion and it should have minimal effect on your ability to shoot traditional or conventional archery. Have a great season and send pics!
Lou, in the background of your pic there appear to be obscenely long monkey toes attached to your feet, you could probably use those to shoot if the finger doesn't work itself out...
Peyronie's Finger?? ha
Robb
It's also called a basketball finger as many basket ball players get it from getting hit straight on with the ball. I got mine by getting hit with a football straight on. Surgery to straighten or get the little plastic splint sold in walgreens. It won't heal perfect but straight enough.
I have two fingers with the same problem. Both from playing Gaelic Football back in Ireland, one when I was 17, another when I was 24. So, I've had them for a long time, about 40 years. Apart from the fact that they look odd, I really don't notice them. They will both straighten out just fine, but they just won't stay in that position. It won't make any difference on your ability to shoot a bow.
Thanks, all, for the feedback. One of the Bowsite doctors is hooking me up with a splint. The good thing is theres no pain, and the original stiffness after the initial injury has gone. So even if I end up with a little hook it isnt stiff, and I should be able to shoot just fine with a tab. Thanks, again!
I had the Mallett thing with the ring finger of my right hand. I had my bone chip stitched down, a pin placed thru the joint to keep it rigid, and it healed in about 6 weeks. But I never got good flexibility in the joint afterwards. I would estimate you could shoot your bow just fine as it is, as you can pull the finger inward to grip the string, and on relaxing, the string will open the finger. Long term, if you want to straighten the finger, that bone chip will need to be anchored down. If you go that route, don't let them place a pin thru the joint.
Follow your own usual advice....rub some dirt on it and quit your whining. ;-)
A hammer can fix that real quick. Or just cut off the crooked part, problem solved.
Had the same "injury". Xray did show the small piece of bone that popped off when it snapped. I wasnt fighting those dreaded fitted sheets. I was catching my daughter's throws down to 2nd base. She's got a wicked arm. Wore the splint and it didn't work. Hasn't really affected me much but I'm a wheel guy and thumb release.
Jaq,
I’ve got a good friend who’s one of the best recurve shooters I’ve ever been around. He won a field trial world championship years ago. He’s also tough as nails, and once smashed his middle draw finger all to heck the day before a regional 3D shoot. It was bent, swollen and cut and he eventually lost the nail. Day after the accident he shot a 3D shoot and still whipped all of us, jut like always. He had little problem getting a clean release. I think you’ll be fine with shooting your trad bow. Heal fast and get well!
Lou - I have no doubt you’ll adapt and overcome, if only through sheer orneriness:) Hang in there! Ian
Could you tape that finger up and stiffen it that way somewhat? I will say, that was kind of an embarrassing way to injure yourself. Not sure I would have admitted to that. LOL.
Midwest, LOL! Good luck Lou!
ElkNut
Total bummer, and I hope you get healed up fast. Total bummer, and I hope you get healed up fast.However all is not lost. You could definitely try a thumb ring! A lot of people say that is scary I. However all is not lost. You could definitely try a thumb ring! A lot of people say that is scary accurate.
Just cut it off at the joint and you'll be fine, may want to put your leather tab between your teeth before putting a blade to it. be good for 3 under.
Lou, My wife not buying that putting a fitted sheet on the bed is too dangerous for me. She thinks that you probably don't want to admit that you flopped your ebike so now I still have to help make the bed....Bob
Bullelk- LMAO! Look it up boys ......
Jaq, what is your prognosis with the season nearing ? Recurve or compound ? I know that you said that you are planning on using your compound but could you use the recurve if you wanted to?......... Badbull
