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I suffered with the little finger & ring finger asleep for days after shooting kneeling many years ago. To prevent further damage, I used an elbow pad for a season in prone & kneeling, taking care to rest the arm a lot. (Yes, learning to use the flat of your arm is far better than the elbow point!)

In kneeling, even now, I find that I just have to compromise the elbow position. My elbow lies more to the right side of the knee, so that the point of the elbow doesn't actually sit on the knee. It is not as stable, but doable with practice and by resting the arm after 4 or so shots. Experiment some, and give the elbow plenty of rest! Don't mess it up for life! Better to go slow now, heal up, and get to shoot for many years to come.

Not much help, I'm afraid, but a cautionary tale perhaps. My offhand position was somewhat extreme some years ago, with a serious amount of backwards tilt in the spine. After a few months of this, I noticed my right lower thigh, just above the knee, was totally numb over a six-inch long section. Doctor tells me I've severed a dermatrope nerve as it enters the spine because vertabrae were pinching it off when I was in position. Unfortunately, dendrites don't regenerate, so the damage is permanent. A change in position was recommended to prevent further damage.
So if your doctor tells you to stop doing it, stop! :D

Although dendrites cannot re-generate per se . . . they can sprout new connections (i.e. produce new branches). This is known . . . as you might guess . . . dendritic sprouting. Not sure how easily this occurs with the spine, but it does occur with the brain. I would think that the spine might show similar plasticity.

Craig Persel

Not much help either,years ago I was shooting 300mtrs in Aust (pacific Regionals)with 60 shot matches off a concrete mound.I must have been young and tough then but suffered numbness in my left elbow and found shooting difficult.Went to see a specialist who discovered I had chipped the nerve.They operated and rerouted the nerve up the side of my arm,and I can now shoot without any problems.At the time our mats were not up to the job
Martin Catley NZ

hello gents, just a few more thoughts on this neglected but important subject.
My experience with athletes various has been that stretching exercises will improve the resistance to these kind of nerve damage problems. Padding & correct form is also still relevant ofcourse. Another assistance, if you have sustained a numb patch or area, is acupuncture (from a suitably qualified practitioner). As a former professional acupuncturist with a special interest in sports injury ? musculoskeletal problems i can attest to the value of this treatment for nerve damage related problems> i no longer practice & am not trying to generate trade

if you do want to try this solution it is important to get treatment as soon as possible after the injury or numbness is noticed>

hope this helps
regards< solon (uk)>

solon wrote:hello gents, just a few more thoughts on this neglected but important subject.
My experience with athletes various has been that stretching exercises will improve the resistance to these kind of nerve damage problems. Padding & correct form is also still relevant ofcourse. Another assistance, if you have sustained a numb patch or area, is acupuncture (from a suitably qualified practitioner). As a former professional acupuncturist with a special interest in sports injury ? musculoskeletal problems i can attest to the value of this treatment for nerve damage related problems> i no longer practice & am not trying to generate trade

if you do want to try this solution it is important to get treatment as soon as possible after the injury or numbness is noticed>

hope this helps
regards< solon (uk)>

What is acupuncture exactly?

The ulnar nerve sees increasingly more pressure as the elbow is bent past 90 degrees. If you have intermittent numbness, you need to rest the arm with the elbow relatively straight. Some people have a naturally tight nerve that pops over the funny bone, making them more vulnerable to this problem. If your problem occurs more with direct pressure on the inner elbow, avoiding this makes sense, but may not completely solve the situation if the nerve has started to develop "changes". Like carpal tunnel syndrome (different nerve), once the condition gets severe enough, it takes less pressure and time for symptoms to show, or takes longer to resolve. Weakness in pinch or grip is a bad sign as is constant numbness.

There are other nuances of peripheral nerve problems that can complicate things, but if you trust your neurologist, that's all you have to consider for now. If you want more practical advice I'd recommend seeing a hand surgeon since they operate on nerves the most.

Hope that helps.

hi, a guest poster asked re my response "what is acupuncture".
Acupuncture is a medical treatment system popularised in China over a long period, & now available in many places around the world. Primary treatment involves insertion of very fine (average 0.25mm) needles into parts of the body. Treatment may also involve burning herbs on or near the body. There are competing theories about how it works and what it works for or not. Personally I have had good results treating nerve related problems eg sciatica, numbness, whiplash injury to neck,etc.

Points on the body are selected according to the medical problem being treated. Ususally for a numb area, most needles would be inserted near or into the affected area. Max number of needles usually about 4 to 6 per treatment , left in place for 20 minutes or so.

No, it doesn't hurt much (if properly done) ; and is safe (use of new needles / disposable for each new patient is the norm now.
Find a properly qualified person if you want treatment .
Hope this helps, regards Solon (UK)