Olecranon Fracture: Part Four

It's been a while since my last update. I kept meaning to write as I had a few ups and downs, but then went away on holiday and thought I'd wait until I was back. Which I am of today. 

A few weeks ago I tried to go to Open Gym at my CrossFit box (Open Gym is basically CrossFit without a class - you do what you want). I was curious to see what I could do and how well I could do it. Turns out I couldn't do much. It was very disheartening. I left after doing some pretty pathetic squats and felt sad. I did go home and pause my membership (finally!), and sign up to a normal gym though. I think I'll be able to do far more on machines instead of having to trust my body (and by body I mean elbow). I'll also be able to sit on a bike which will do for cardio. I start this week - a good thing considering how out of shape I've got. This is the longest I've not done exercise for a very, very long time. I initially lost 6.5 kilos which was all down to not exercising, but have managed to put 4 of those kilos back on thanks to eating badly and sitting around. I cringe to think of the state of me. I can't stop thinking of visceral fat. That said, it does give me motivation to get going. Watch this space. 

I also had a bit of a bad run at the physio. They essentially said that they weren't sure why things weren't progressing more, and than I would have to wait until my next x-rays (on Tuesday - today is Sunday), and to hear what the surgeon says. So they think I've hit a wall, and honestly, I felt like I had as well. However, I did start going to a private physio just before I left for my holiday, who is far more tough and after just one session increased my mobility. He gave me some new (painful), exercises to do, and in the 10 days I've been away, I'm sure mobility has increased again. 

I can't make my physio on Tuesday morning due to x-rays, but that's OK - the surgeon will probably measure me anyway. I'm curious as to what's changed. 

As usual, it's ups and downs. There are things that I can do now, which I couldn't do a fortnight ago, but somehow this only makes the things I can't do (wash my face with both hands!), seem ever further away. I'm trying to set myself milestones, such as undoing my bra behind my back with my right hand, to keep track of improvement, but it's hard to remain positive when each and every morning I had to slowly ease my elbow back into life. It hurts. Every single morning. Then I have to do my exercises. Which hurt. There's just a lot of hurt. 

Enough downs. Let's see what Tuesday brings. 

Olecranon Fracture: Part Three

Time for a short update. At the physio just before Christmas I had good news: I lacked 35° in extension (30° when assisted), and I could flex to a whopping 105°, an improvement of 15° in 12 days. I left on a high. 

I trained three times a day over Christmas, but knew I wasn't doing it as thoroughly as I did at home (or at work for that matter), and by the time we were home I felt as if I'd hit a wall. My arm was sore, extremely stiff, and this morning it caught up with me and I cried while making my son lunch. Woe is me. I went to the physio again the day after we got back, but we couldn't really work much on flexing my arm as it was too stiff. That made me worry that I'd reached full flex, which only made me worry about the rest of me. I can reach my head, and I can feed myself, but I have to bend my wrist at such an impossible angle it hurts. My shoulder pushes forward too, which is very tiring after a short while. I worry about the future, not only of my elbow, but also of my shoulder, wrist and forearm. Am I going to screw those up too? Will this make my entire right arm a real pain in the arse when I'm much older? Am I more susceptible to arthritis now? Christ, I hate this. I absolutely hate this. 

I bought some wrist weights when we got back, thanks to a tip from someone who had a much worse break than me, and who was kind enough to share some thoughts on her experience. I can't tell you how much it means hearing from people who've gone through a similar thing. I'm so surprised by it, but it helps immeasurably. Hence these posts. Maybe someone will stumble across them, and maybe they will help them in some way. 

Anyway. I thought I'd provide some photos. These were taken this morning, post exercises. For the record, it's two months and nine days since the accident, and one month 23 days since the cast came off.

Here is my arm fully extended

Here is my arm fully flexed. Not a very straight upper arm but there you go

This afternoon I went to the physio again. I had a different guy work on me, and he was good. He massaged my elbow a lot which both felt incredible and hurt like hell. He explained things to me, which I really appreciate. I hate not knowing what's going on or why things are like they are. The bad news is that my skin is becoming too used to not stretching so I have to manipulate both the skin around my scar and the skin in the inside of my elbow. My forearm muscles are far too used to not doing much and have shortened as a result, so I have to work on stretching them too. The good news is that extension is up to 26° (not assisted!), and flex up to 111°! So there is some improvement. Thank God. 

He reminded me, as everyone does, that it's a slow, slow road. Perseverance, patience, and positive thinking. My mantra from now on. 

Olecranon Fracture: Part Two

I had to miss my physio session yesterday due to a poorly son. A big shame as I'm finding them far more important to my mental state than I would have thought. Having a professional tell you what's happening while they push you and pull you is calming, encouraging, and motivating. Having never experienced anything like this before, I'm surprised at it all. 

So today is a bad day. I don't feel as if there is any progress. My arm gets up to a right angle and then just hits a brick wall. I can't believe it'll get any further up. 

I forget about it sometimes. If I'm working or watching TV, even - if just for a moment - sometimes while getting dressed, but then I go to brush my teeth, eat something, drink something, etc., and I'm reminded at just how far away my right hand is from my head. Then I wonder how on earth I'll ever get closer. And don't get me started on straightening it.

Ugh. Misery.