One Month Down-The Broken Arm Saga
I had surgery one month ago today. I "celebrated" by doing 200 air squats and 20 single arm dumbbell strict presses at CrossFit with Buds.
It's hard to believe I have made progress when it feels like regular, flexible movement is an impossible lifetime away. This is when it helps to know that Buds had this same injury and surgery 20 years ago and he has nearly full flexibility back in that wrist, and he certainly has no weight restrictions on it. (Five rounds, 6-rep bench press at 165 pounds today.) That helps me keep going with my three rounds of massage and stretches each day.
For my future self: When I went to my PT session on December 12, my PT told me I had been doing too much. The people who don't have pain are the ones that it happens to. It doesn't hurt, so you keep doing more and more, until it is a problem.
So, I accepted that, or, I'm trying to accept it; while also trying to remember to keep moving that shoulder and elbow through their full range of motion so I don't have future problems with them, and also, don't do too much with the right arm because I do not want to injure it...
Overall, though, I'm healing.
Pictures of stitches ahead, so if that bothers you, don't look.
The surgeon told me to wear the splint all the time except when showering or sleeping. I tried to get used to sleeping without it, but it felt so tender and I was hyper-aware of it, it was hard. In talking through it with the PT, she suggested I go ahead and wear it at night until I see the surgeon 5-weeks post-surg.
The focus for now is on breaking down and stopping build-up of scar tissue, and trying to increase range of motion. In addition to massaging with a wound cream, I have this torture device:
These "fascia scrapers" are big in the workout world, so Buds and I probably would have gotten one eventually anyway. They make it easier to dig into a specific spot and "smooth out" muscles compared to just using the thumb.
The range of motion movements aren't painful, but my brain just has a hard time understanding why my arm won't just do what I want it to do; what I am used to it doing.
The wrist forward and backward bending does not hurt. I just can't do it. The exercise that does cause discomfort is attempting to hold the elbow at my side with the arm in a 90 degree angle and turn the palm up.
It has been interesting to see what new exercise or device the PT tries out on me each time. This last time I got to have my arm in a fluidotherapy heat machine like this one.
You put your arm in the sleeve and it's in a chamber that is slowly heated and, despite the name, does not have fluid in it but munched up corn hulls. Those blow all around the limb, heating it and making it feels weightless.
No idea if it actually makes a difference, but anything that makes my fingers feel warm is a win for me. Interestingly, Buds remembers having his arm in warmed rice pellets back in his PT days, so possibly a similar machine, or a precursor to this machine.
The PT also fashioned a mold of my scar to wear at night to help with flattening the wound.
I wear this under the splint when I sleep. It's quite comforting to wear.
This is where things stand for now. I see the PT two more times before I see the surgeon on January 8. She took measurements on my first day, and she'll take them again on the 7th, hopefully seeing some improvement in range of motion to share with the surgeon.
The plan for now is still no weight bearing for 3-4 months. I'm very interested to talk to the surgeon and see the next set of x-rays to be reassured that all is healing well and that maybe starting to get some regular use back can happen sooner rather than later. No one minds tying my shoes and zipping my coat, but I'll be glad to do all those things for myself again someday soon.
I hope to return to work when using the arm is an option. I was texting with my boss today and he assured me they'll be glad to have me back, after I can safely use the arm. I am grateful to not feel rushed, but to feel like there will still be a space for me.
Do some wrist stretches and enjoy that feeling.
