Elbow Pains from Springers?

[DMikeM]

Not sure if this is the right gate. But here goes.
In the last couple of months I have been experiencing serious pains in my "LEFT" elbow and upper forearm. I am right handed and cock the guns with my right arm almost exclusively. I shoot often maybe over a 1500 rounds a month between 6 guns. I am wondering if any of you other shooters out there has the same trouble or should I look elsewhere for the cause. I am actually going to try cocking with the left and steadying the gun with the right.

[Chortdraw]

How does cocking the gun with the right arm make your left arm and elbow have problems? I am right handed and always cock my gun with the left arm. Helps build up the left side which is my weaker side. Maybe I don't understand what you mean?

[Bentong]

I do warm up if I am going to shoot over 10 shots. As we age need to loosen up muscles so no after pain.

[wrecktangle]

My guess is that everyone has their own style of cocking a springer. I place the butt into my hip, holding the forestock with my left (just below the pivot point), and pull down the barrel with my right (I'm right handed and shoot right handed).  I let go of the forestock, and place the pellet into the breech with my left hand, while still holding on to the barrel (or cocking lever if I'm shooting my TX200) and the butt still into my hip . If I've been lucky enough to get several hundred shots through on a saturday or sunday, the next day my right forearm and elbow have a little discomfort.

[DMikeM]

My guess is that everyone has their own style of cocking a springer. I place the butt into my hip, holding the forestock with my left (just below the pivot point), and pull down the barrel with my right (I'm right handed and shoot right handed).  I let go of the forestock, and place the pellet into the breech with my left hand, while still holding on to the barrel (or cocking lever if I'm shooting my TX200) and the butt still into my hip . If I've been lucky enough to get several hundred shots through on a saturday or sunday, the next day my right forearm and elbow have a little discomfort.

I cock mine the same way, which is why I am asking if anyone else here has experienced Left arm problems from right handed shooting.

[Rico14]

You might be experiencing what is commonly known as tennis elbow. I get it once in a while from too much fishing and casting. Using your thumb, you can feel the "knot" in the muscle in your forearm. Press down and rub it to try to loosen it up. When I get it, it takes at least a week or so for it to calm down. Of course, that's with no fishing, and in your case, no shooting

[Atchman2]

Mine hurts a lot after I shoot my magnum springers for awhile.  I just put BenGay on it.  When it bugs me too much I grab the sidelever that I can cock with my right arm.    

As I rapidly close in on 50 there isn't too much that doesn't hurt from time to time.  

[only1harry]

Is the pain there constantly or does it come and go?  I would visit a doctor and have them do an EKG.  I have been cocking Springers for 3.5yrs and rarely get pains in my left arm.  Usually the right arm which I cock with, since I am right-handed, but I wouldn't call it "serious pain".  Some discomfort or some mild-moderate pain, but it usually goes away after 3 days.  You may have some arthritis or something else going on with your left arm.. that gets inflamed when you shoot a lot.  I usually shoot 100 shots in one sitting, sometimes 150 and most of my guns are Magnums.  I found out that if I stretch before hand and then take my time with cocking the guns, I 'm not hurting as much.  Your muscles needs to be "warmed up" before, and also when you start shooting, don't make any sudden or jerky movements.  Use the most comfortable position to cock so you don't strain your muscles and joints.  

Also do you rest your left elbow on a desk a lot? or lean on your left arm while on the couch watching TV?  We are more fragile as we get older. We an inflame nerves and muscles much easier if we are not used to exercising them often.

[RedFeather]

Here's a little test.  Next time it bothers you, take a tennis racket in your left hand and have someone lob a couple of balls to you.  If you have tennis elbow, you will know it when the racket connects with the ball.  Even these new rackets that weigh next to nothing.  Hurts just south of the elbow.  You can get an arm brace for tennis elbow if that's the case.  They help but aren't a cure all.

[DMikeM]

Well can't find any knots (yes close to 50 here too). The pain is constant but becomes near unbearable at times, then goes down to a moderate annoyance. Gets so bad I can't even pick up a full coffee cup without excruciating pain. Tried some shooting after work today using the B28 and cocking it with my left arm, loading with my right. Magic, no pain cocking at all, mild discomfort after 15 shots so I put it up. I find if I make a fist with the left hand it triggers this pain, but the more I force it the less it hurts after. Doctor owes me a couple visits so I think it is time for him to have a look at it.
Pain is bad above elbow more then below, no rackets here, have braces and they help a little but make the rest of the arm hurt.
Using the B30 side cocker makes it hurt worse, go figure. I shoot mostly the B40 under lever, and the B28 Break Barrel.
Thanks for the input guys, so far it is still a mystery.

[yote300wsm]

Atchman2, has AARP found you yet? They found me ONE DAY before my 50th.

[Onebaddj]

I have tendenitious in both of my elbows and it get really fired up sometimes. Sounds funny but you probably need to stretch your forarms before you shoot. Google search tendenitis and you should find stretches to loosen up a little. Sometimes when mine gets really aggrevated i loose my grip and my pinky's go numb. Head it off now so it dosnt get to that point.

[bobbyjim]

I am right handed but cock all my rifles using my left arm including my Sheridan. For some reason I have always used my left for doing everything from shoveling to fishing. I cast with my right arm and real with my left hand. One thing about that is finding left handed bait casters cheap on sale as there is little market for them. I have also had tendinitis in both elbows and I am 64. Got it real bad last time from doing several days worth of digging. The first time the doctor gave me a 30 day prescription and told me it would take forever to go away on it's own. The 2nd time I didn't go to a doctor and took about a year to stop completely.  I haven't had any problems for years but don't do anything stupid like digging trenches by hand. If you keep aggravating then it will never go away.
Time to learn to cock using your left arm.