Shooting with Arthritis - any experiences?

[Polchraine]

There was a recent missive from NICE re the use of Diclofenac and its side effects and as a result advice was given not to prescribe it.
There are other non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs out there that are better. I would suggest checking with your Doc.

I started on Celebrex, which didn't agree with me, spent years on Diclofenac and now take Naproxen. Of them all Celebrex worked best though.

I suffer with occasional lower back problems and Diclofenac was the best for me. I would take two doses and that would be enough to sort it. The doctor went by the NICE missive and moved me to Naproxen - kills the pain but does not help sort the problem.

[Demonic69]

Wasn't the NICE missive just about people with predisposition to heart issues?

[Polchraine]

I was just wondering if anyone else has a similar disorder, if it affects their shooting and, more importantly, if Firearms Licensing care about it?

Cheers

Taken from the latest Form 201 - Application

12. Personal health & medical declaration. IMPORTANT: Please read notes 5 and 6 BEFORE completion.
(A) Do you suffer from any relevant medical conditions? Yes No (If yes give details):
(B) Have you ever received treatment for depression or any other kind of mental health condition? Yes No (If yes give details)

Note 5. Personal health and medical declaration. You must disclose any physical or mental health condition that may affect your ability to safely possess and use a firearm (including a shotgun). This includes for example epilepsy, stroke, stress related illness, depression, alcoholism, heart disease, cancer etc. If in doubt, consult your GP. The police may contact your GP and/or specialist to obtain factual details of any medical history in respect of your application.

Does arthritis affect your ability to possess or use? That is what you have to answer - my feeling is that no it does not. Arthritis does not suddenly come and go, so if you are shooting you will not suddenly become incapacitated by it.

[Les]

I don't know if this is common knowledge or not yet, but I have been having problems getting my Tramadol for the past 8 days.

I normally send my prescription request into the surgery electronically, and they inform the pharmacy, and I just go and collect the various items, but I have not been receiving my Tramadol, so today I went into the surgery prepared for battle, and they told me that they can't send the prescription directly to the pharmacy any more, because as of the 10th June Tramadol is now a controlled substance.

All well and good, and I thanked them for letting me know - NOT - but I really can't see the difference between them sending the prescription to the pharmacist and me walking into the pharmacy and handing over the precription.

The end result is exactly the same. I now have to sign that I have received the Tramadol, but I would have to do that anyway if they sent it to the pharmacy for me to collect, so it just seems like bureaucracy for the sake of it.

Or maybe my brainbox isn't functioning correctly, and I'm missing something obvious?

[huntervixen]

Had arthritis for years, caused by an auto imume condition, thing is like most things in life, you adjust to it, I only shoot from my shooting table these days, allowing your body to absorb recoil better is the key....lower back and shoulder arthritis + fullbore prone shooting don't mix!

[phaedra1106]

Just checked with my GPs and they say yes it's now class 3 but there's no problem at all with requesting it on repeat prescription either by phone or electronically (I use the Patient Access portal) and just to submit the request and collect from the chemist as normal.

The only changes are that they can't issue it for more than 28 days at a time and will not replace lost prescriptions.

[Dannywayoflife]

I have had 1 hip resurfacing and will need the other side doing soon due to osteoarthritis. Keep ya chin up mucker. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! :)

[Les]

....... there's no problem at all with requesting it on repeat prescription either by phone or electronically

That's what I thought. My surgery is obviously staffed by jobsworths. :roll:

[Jenks]

I have been taking Diclofenec for years for arthritis. the medication I am currently taking Misofen (brand name) before that I was taking Arthrotec basically the same stuff both contain MISOPROSTOL which is supposed to help prevent stomach trouble. It seems to work for me. Mind you I only take it on a need to basis, some times not taking it for a week or so.

Jenks

[dromia]

I've had arthritis developing over the years mainly in my hands and shoulders.

It doesn't really trouble me unless I'm doing some thing, my hands are the worst as I have lost my grip squeezing brings on the pain and swelling. if I grip a hammer or a screw driver for instance i only get a couple of blows or twists in before the pain and the swelling sets in and I loose my grip. Most of the time I have tingling and numbness in my hand along with the dull ache. I have had to give up my allotments due to this and my time at the casting pot is getting shorter. Cutting timber is getting real difficult now gripping the chain saw really cause the hands to swell. It also affected my prone shooting as my fore end hand would get sore especially that combined with the arthritis in my shoulders means that is shoot "prone" now from the bench or trench.

The funny thing about my shoulders is I can get down shoot and get up from the prone position fine, it is the next day that the pain sets in.

One of the beauties of shooting cast boolits is I can get target accuracy without the punishment of full stoke condom loads.

I don't take much for it as in time the worst of the pain and swelling passes and becomes bearable, maybe the occasional Ibuprofen to bring the swelling down. One thing is for sure it won't get any better.

That combined with failing eyes means that I am constantly reviewing my shooting to accommodate.

Lets face it getting old is sh!te.