friends,

as some of you may or may not know, last month i broke my right wrist and humerus immediately beneath the upper 'ball' of the bone (which fits into the shoulder socket). besides the wrist cast on my hand and forearm, i had pins put in my humerus to correct the misalignment of the bone and hold the fracture in place. additionally, i was wrapped these last 4+ wks in bandages to immobilize my arm to my side and my body (my arm was bent at the elbow and held strapped to my belly).

this past thursday i had the wrist cast, pins and bandages removed and was instructed to now begin the very first simple exercises in my estimated 8 wks of physical therapy. i am still quite bruised and swollen in my hand and upper arm, as well as my arm looking completely foreign because of how atrophied it has become over this 4+ wks of total non-use. most distubingly, it feels like a complete dead weight to me -- though i can wiggle my fingers and thumb fairly easily, the rest of my arm is like it isnt connected to me as i cant move it at all.

if anyone who has undergone physical therapy would be so kind as to share your experience, i would be very appreciative. ive never before had a broken bone or any injury to this degree which necessitated physical therapy, and though i was told and am well aware i am in for what will be a rather long and painful road towards recovery, especiallt in my case as i have certain other situations which inhibit normal healing, i feel a strong need for all the encouraging, inspiring and hopeful stories i am fortunate to have related to me. one wonderfully kind soul here has already done that, and for that i am more grateful than i can say.

thank you for reading, and for sharing with me anything about physical therapy and getting through this daunting endeavor.

i've been wondering how your appointment went
but haven't had a phone card to call you


my friend pam had a full leg cast in highschool
and her leg was all grey and withered afterward.
i shall ask her about her experience


you are quite skilled with your new typing hand though

I have never broken a bone myself but, my son broke his arm when he was 10 while playing hockey. He had to have pins put in his elbow, he went to physical therapy to help to get full use again, he was only extending his arm to form an "L" it took months of therapy and exercise to get full use and complete extention of his arm. He healed beautifully and now just has a scar to show his battle wounds. May you heal well my dear.

emm said:

i meant immediately after they took off the cast.
she of course had a complete recovery.


you should post your xray

emm said:

sweet emm, how lucky i am to know you.

yes, that withered, dead look when the cast comes off is startling. i couldnt believe it was really my own arm i was looking at. thank you for inquiring of your friend her experience. thats kind of you and i appreciate it.

ive definitely developed and cultivated new lefty-handed skills over this past month, its true. you cant imagine...

I am still undergoing physical therapy for my lower back injury from the car accident I had on my way to Michigan a few months ago

best Wishes Willy

PaisleyPark5083 said:

your sons experiences sound very similar to mine. my first exercise is to merely lean forwards and allow my arm to freely dangle, and let it swing in small circles and in a gentle pendulum-like motion -- sounds simple, but so far my arm is not hanging straight but instead in an L-shape like your son's arm was. i am trying to progress to stretching it to hang straight.

thank you for the good wishes and for sharing the encouraging story of your son's experience. i am very glad hes now healed and well.

emm said:

i saved the pins they took out!

Mach said:

thank you, dear mach.

and best wishes to you on your physical therapy. i told you once what a strong soul you are and how i aspire to be more like you...and i still do.

how much longer must you have PT?

thank you again for the good wishes.

WillyWonka said:

I can now bend to put my own socks/shoes on and stand to pull on my pants - get in and out of my car ( and bathtub )without mind blowing pain - stand from sitting without almost falling to my knees so they say end of Jan most likely

Thank you dear willy I adore you very much

Sorry I have no advice to add but and its nice to see you and i'm glad your on your way to getting better.

oh my. the two of you were very private about all of your troubles!
glad to hear you are progressing mach. what trials.

WillyWonka said:

Being an athlete and having sustained broken bones, strained ligaments, knee surgeries...and so forth, what you are going through is quite routine given any injuries.

Your feeling of dead weight is very normal. Just adhere to your rehab routine and don't worry...everything will return to normal in about a month or two maybe longer depending on the extent of damage incurred.

No worries!!

Heal up...you'll be jackin off in no time....

Mach said:

i didnt realize your injuries from that accident were so bad. im glad therapy has helped to lessen your pain. again, what a strong woman you are. may your PT continue to bring you further - and complete - relief.

i hope you shall always know how much i adore you as well, mach.

life certainly has interesting ways of reminding one to appreciate life's "small" things, yes? sometimes painful and traumatic ways, but still - the reminder will likely never be forgotten, and thats a blessing in itself. this experience of living one-handed has certainly instilled in me the simple joy to be found in being able to simply open a jar, floss my teeth, put on my socks, buckle my belt, spread butter on my toast.

heybaby said:

thank you, beautiful. i appreciate that very much.

i hope all is well with you.

DexMSR said:

thank you, sir. i appreciate your input as someone well-familiar with dealing with injuries and healing, especially regarding the deadness of my arm. its rather a distubing phenomenon to not be able to volutarily move a limb.

youve made me wonder, though, what exactly my other PT exercises might involve!

thanks again.
[Edited 1/12/08 11:31am]

WillyWonka said:

Definitely follow the instructions of your physician and therapist. If it hurts alot during therapy, take a pain med to help the pain, as the only way to regain strength, is to do the exercises.
Moving around, and getting back to a routine, albeit, limited, helps the head.
Makes one feel less "sick".
Hey, you're HERE, aren't you???? How's that for routine? Ha!

I had no idea you had hurt yourself.

I was supposed to go to PT after a knee injury some years ago but I didn't as I felt it was a waste of time and money but now, of course, I felt I sohuld have gone.

Take care of yourself and do exactly as your therapist asks.

Went through this with my son... I was sickened to the point of nausea when I looked at his arm upon removal of the cast... It looked bowed... more-so it was the natural flesh and fat reshaped by the cast. I assure you I had him thrust both his arms out monthly for inspection after some 6 months it was impossible to tell anything ever happened... He reported in pain here and there in that interim... but this many years latter... ( some 5) he is perfect as ever was... no indicators it ever occurred..

Stay to the path!

Dearest Willie ~ We’ve spoken in org notes but here are a few more thoughts. I’m certain you’ve gone through the worst of it and now have hard work ahead. Last March, I had a knee replacement and bone graft (as I had written to you) and finally am getting back to “normal” although there will always be reminders of the ordeal (such as when I try to kneel, walking up and down steps, gardening etc. as well as the cold Michigan weather causing tightness and pain). The feeling of dead weight and looking at your limb as a foreign object attached is frightening but will cease. It is gradual and one day you will just realize that it IS your limb and it will begin to feel like your spirit still flowing through it. An odd explanation but the best way I can describe it. When doing your PT exercises, try to time your pain medication to take before you begin. Your body. and therapist, will help you determine what is healing, helpful pain and what is damaging. Nourishing foods. Green teas, fruits and vegetables will help your body repair the muscles and nerve endings. Swimming is magikal for me and the hot tub afterward (when I can’t be in my beloved Lake Huron) is absolute bliss if your doctor allows it and you have access. I found that shorter, more frequent periods of pt were more helpful and more easily tolerated than trying to do a lot at one time. Also, I was most fortunate to have two wonderful friends to assist and encourage me along the way. Keeping your spirit strong is so crucial ~ my inspirations were my two friends and music. It needs to be a time to be as indulgent to yourself as you possibly can be ~ maybe some beautiful organic dark chocolate, or a nice Merlot. Perhaps a luxurious bath or engrossing yourself in an epic novel you’ve always wanted to read. Remember that the amount of work you put into strengthening your arm will benefit you throughout the rest of your life. On looking back, I wish I had done even more than I did ~ I was very persistent, but could have gone further and may have had more mobility. I can generally walk without a limp now, unless I am very tired or it is extremely cold and most days have minimal pain. All of us are sending positive healing energy and are so happy to see you back here.

A one handed typist is infinitely more welcome than a silent one and our lives are richer for having you here. All the best health and healing to you, my friend.

xplnyrslf said:

thank you, xplnyrslf. i very much appreciate your input; i have a lot of respect for your knowledge of medicine and health.

you are so very, very correct about the psychological importance of getting back into as close to ones normal routine as soon as possible, and im certainly trying to achieve that as much as ican and as quickly as feasible. ive never before had my life impacted to such a degree as i have from this injury, nor had so many limitations or had to make so many alteraltions in my day-to-day doings, and i discovered its quite easy to lose sight of yourself as a person and begin viewing yourself as 'the broken arm patient', or the (temporary, but still...) invalid. that skewed self-image takes a shorter time to manifest than one would think, and i definitely fell victim to it over the course of this past month.

as for being here, well, its good therapy for my spirit. and i imagine that had i broken both my arms, i just wouldve learned to type with my toes or my nose.

Stymie said:

thank you, dear stymie.

write me again soon, wont you?

Muse2NOPharaoh said:

muse, thank you for words of encouragement. they are very appreciated, and i am not too proud to admit how much i need/ed to hear them.

thank you again - and i am glad your son is healed and strong.

one day at a time!

MoonSongs said:

youve been such a source of reassurance and inspiration to me, moonsongs. your recent entrance into my life is like the first hint of springtime in the air.

thank you for the advice, the encouragement, the kind words -- and for being there.

you are one fantastic lady.

ZombieKitten said:

im sorry, i couldnt resist! id just watched this show in the last few days and the theme song is still infecting my brain.

thank you for the support, love.

howre things today with you?

WillyWonka said:

I've never seen that, seems we miss all the good shows over here

no probs!

Things are OK. One day at a time

ZombieKitten said:

clever girl.

very glad to hear things are going well.

Being a figue skater I have had my share of physio therapy. I've pulled muscles, sprained ankles, among other things. It's not always the nicest thing to go through but if the results are good it is so worth it. I hope everything goes well!

K

Oh my goodness! I had no idea that you've been suffering this! I'm so sorry!

I've gone to physical therapy for a few different injuries and for migraines (which involved more massage than anything - it was great!) and I must say that the therapists that I had were very good about not pushing me to the point of having horrible pain - that's not really the point. It's to get your injured parts moving again in a normal way.
You'll be able to see your progress while you're going through therapy and it will help with pain and range of movement. Just remember not to push yourself too much and to do the exercizes they ask you to do at home.
You'll do great...please keep us posted on your recovery!