Recovery

[Kevin McCormack]

Bernie by all means pay attention to your sense of balance. I only spent a week in hospital and only 3 of those in ICU after a bout with the Reaper in 2007. When I got home from the hospital and tried to do everything normally (go up & down stairs, play with the dog, get out of bed or up off the John), I came near to several potentially bad falls (going down some stairs headlong trying to reach and grasp the bannister; trying to climb in and out of my boat on its trailer). It doesn't take much of a blow to fracture your skull, and the aftermath is usually all down hill from there. Take it easy & slow!

[6pt-Sika]

There was a gentleman at George Mason University many years ago that was head of their shooting team and thirtyfive years ago I got to know him a bit . He was a big advocate of mental imigary and muscle memory . He advocated taking an empty gun that you shot and shooting mental practice rounds in the house . Sounds kinda corny but I found it helpful then . In your case you could start by mounting the gun while seated . Maybe 20-50 times until tired , then perhaps mounting and swinging while seated . As your strength comes back then go to standing and doing the same thing . I realize mentally imagining a round of sporting would be a little difficult as I at the time imagines skeet birds and trap birds . Even if you went through the motions visualizing skeet birds I don’t see where it wouldn’t be helpful . Worst case you should be able to build muscle memory and strength . Hope this is helpful .

[Bernie Cross]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

Bernie, I don't live too far from Hill Country. Where do you live? Where do you normally shoot? I am in recovery from about seven years of spinal injury and surgery. I can walk, a little bit, and I shoot three or four days a week but sit more than shoot. However, I go to my gun clubs every day they are open, and still buy guns as many as I can.

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

There was a gentleman at George Mason University many years ago that was head of their shooting team and thirtyfive years ago I got to know him a bit . He was a big advocate of mental imigary and muscle memory . He advocated taking an empty gun that you shot and shooting mental practice rounds in the house . Sounds kinda corny but I found it helpful then . In your case you could start by mounting the gun while seated . Maybe 20-50 times until tired , then perhaps mounting and swinging while seated . As your strength comes back then go to standing and doing the same thing . I realize mentally imagining a round of sporting would be a little difficult as I at the time imagines skeet birds and trap birds . Even if you went through the motions visualizing skeet birds I don’t see where it wouldn’t be helpful . Worst case you should be able to build muscle memory and strength . Hope this is helpful .

You echo the advice two others have given. Sounds like a plan.