med math question

Recovering from spinal fusions, surgeon advised to not pick up anything over 5lbs for 8 weeks.  Would holding a 2.5lb pistol one handed at arms length be more than 5lbs torque?

2.5# pistol @ 2ft = 5#/ft. It’s a moment about the shoulder to CG of pistol.
Jon

Is your health worth asking the question.
I would rather put off playing a little while rather than chance being denied permanently early.

Put gear granny cart along with folding chair that supports your back. Practice from the seated position until DR gives you go ahead, if you have to shoot.

IF YOU HAVE TO SHOOT.  

I remember Doc Young telling me that he used to train free pistol using a tripod as a support. He was doing this because it allows you to use the majority of your shooting muscles and the tripod would provide a near perfect hold. This would allow you to work on your trigger control, sight alignment, etc. So you might consider setting up a tripod so that you can rest your firearm on it and still use some of your other shooting muscles. It also helps teach you what a tin looks like and feels like when you shoot it :-)
Lots of value training like this.
Jon

Jon, the tripod sounds like a good idea, and not inconvenient as the airgun range is in my basement. When I was scoring Sanderson at Perry a couple of years ago he was only a month or two from back surgery, and had to lay in the grass between strings because of pain, and even so, went clean at 50 with the big gun. hard holder!

I had surgery at the lumbar 4-5 several years ago.  The torque at that location from holding the gun out is quite uncomfortable.

Not only do you have to hold up the gun, but the arm too.  Take a break.

Shooting seated will put more stress on your lower back than shooting standing (if L3 or lower).
If you have to shoot seated, you should support your arm to lessen the load bearing by your back. Not the same as shooting but at least will work for trigger control.

23 years as a spine surgeon