AWAKE.........

Hi Karen,It's my left arm. I can't lift any weight, hold it straight basically it's useless and really painful. Thinking of it in reality I would not be able to do it I think it's wishful thinking. I can't even hold a cup of tea, but thanks for replying and sorry to have bothered you. I was just thinking if paralympians can do it maybe I could.

I asked to stay on their list and they were understanding so hopefully I will get there one day.Might take up bowls as nothing wrong with right arm.

xx

GBear night night sleep well.

I reduced my pain meds and gp went mad , after I returned the morphine tablets he upped the dose on the Zapain (codeine phosphate) and that seems to be working.. I have oramorph which I take just before bed and during the day if I need it and it seems under control at the moment.. I think that's why I think I can do things like the archery but when I wrote it down it was ridiculous to think I could.

xx

And  i forgot to say something but its gone, i simply can’t n remember, it will come to me, i sure, i hope.

Sorry Karen if you've replied but my meds have kicked in and I really must get into bed or I'll still be in the chair in the morning! Speak tomorrow xx

 - we've just started bowls! It's fun - it does work muscles that you don't think it will, but you only need the one arm!  That might be a good thing to try - our local club are very welcoming and willing to teach beginners - have you got one close to you? 

I think archery might be pushing it a little at the moment with the difficulties you have, although I have seen someone shoot with feet and teeth, so it IS possible to adapt (my teeth wouldn't last long if I tried!)  I struggled with archery once I had injured my shoulder and eventually had to give up! 

It is worth discussing the limitation with them . Do you have a stretchy band around? Try wrapping one end around your right hand, and hold that out to your side, with your arm parallel to the floor. Then wrap the other end around you left fingers so the length between your hands puts your left hand at your chin. Then see if you can pull it back with your left arm, but try to use your back muscles rather than arm muscles (if that makes sense). If that is doable, then you would be able to shoot a left handed bow. 

My Olympic Recurve weighed 2.8kg, and I couldn't lift it even a dozen times after I was done with treatment. Even by taking some of the stabilisation off, it was still a struggle, even though I'd reduced the draw from 30lb to about 25lb. Now I shoot barebow, so no extra weight on the bow and it weighs about 1.4kg. I'm back to 30lb draw and can shoot it all day. I don't have the co-ordination to change to left handed, but if you learn it that way it's fine apparently.

Now, bowls has become enormously popular in recent years. Someone on here has given it a whirl lately - I think. A huge part of any sport is the social aspect of it. And that is something very valuable to our wellbeing. So don't write bowls off - it is massively competitive these days, and a great social thing to do.

In terms of Para Archery, yes, it is possible to shoot with one arm. And a lot of people do it very successfully. There aren't a huge number of clubs set up for it though. I can make some enquiries if you like. Where are you based (roughly)?

xx

Oh, Cathy got a post in about bowls while I was typing. That will teach me to write War and Peace!!!!

I got in a sneaky one whilst you were typing your far more useful answer re: archery than mine was! 

I'm ambidextrous  - right handed for writing (although I can write almost as well left handed) but strongly left eyed, so I was a left handed archer - it's probably easier to adapt to shoot with your non dominant hand initially rather than change - I can imagine that would feel odd! 

I've discovered that I'm also a left handed bowler, I'm not sure why as the left-eyed bit really doesn't come into that! 

See, I told you I wasn't normal!!! 

Well, I have to shoot with my left eye shut. I am definitely right eye dominant, but for some reason when aiming my left eye tries to take over. 

So I guess I'm not normal either!! 

No guessing really - I knew that already.

Now I'm talking rubbish, so I think I'd better go and try to sleep. I don't function well on 3 hours.

At least I can hide in a grade 1 listed loft with no mobile signal for the rest of the week.

Woohoo!! Peace and quiet!!

Sleep tight everyone

Just a quick one to squeeze in,

Goodnight all,

Hey LondonLass, do you realise that this thread is nearly one year old??? i clicked onto the start rather than the latest post!,

Cwtches,

Gay xxx