Olecranon fracture: Part eight

I've had a few people reach out to me via Twitter and Instagram to hear more about recovery. This makes me very happy, as it's precisely what I did and what I couldn't stop doing when I first broke my elbow. Although every break is different, it's still nice to be able to tell someone that everything will be OK, and it feels like shit now, but it will get better. 

Anyway. In light of that, I thought I'd give a very quick update. There's not that much to say though, as really, I'm just waiting until October – one year after my accident, and time to get the metal out! I'm very excited about that. I'm pretty sure it's all in my head, but I can't help but feel that the metal is somehow preventing me from fully flexing/extending my arm. Even if it is all in my head, at least when it's out, I'll know that this is as good as it gets. I can't let go of things until it's out.

I went to a CrossFit physiotherapist about a month ago to get some new stretches. It was good to have a change, and I feel as if they're doing good. They're a little less passive than before too, which is nice. 

Anyway. Life is pretty much normal bar the aches, the occasional spikes of pain, the general stiffness and the immense irritation/frustration when I work out. Ho hum. Roll on October. 

Olecranon Fracture: Part Seven

A very short update on things. It's been exactly a month since my last physio appointment. Time has flown by. I've been doing my exercises twice a day, morning and night, and hate them. But - there's improvement. I'll keep doing them, as the physio said, until I feel things have levelled out. 

So, the flexibility. Once I've stretched, I can touch my shoulder. I'm still about an inch or two away if I try cold. I can fully straighten my arm against a wall - using my knee to push my elbow out. Hopefully the photos will give you an idea of what I mean. If I'm not pushing, there's still a good couple of inches of air. But as I can push it straight with relatively little pain, I'm hoping that one day - once my muscle is back - I'll be able to pull it straight myself. 

All in all - it's good. I'll report back in another month!

Touching my shoulder for the first time since October 19th. The joy!

My good arm flat against the wall

My wonky arm flat against the wall - with help of knee

Olecranon Fracture: Part Six

A good week was had last week, and a good weekend too. After the news from my surgeon last Friday, I saw my kommune physio (the one given to me by the hospital - for free), on Wednesday and told her about both the surgeon and my private physio, whereupon she told me that we'd actually used up all my appointed time so she could give me a measure and some advice, but then I'd have to be on my way. She was very pleased with the range of movement. I wish I could remember the degrees now, but I can't.

Short of the long is that it's now me, painful stretches at home, and gym time. I'll see slow improvement over the years (!), and while it'll never be straight, and the likelihood of me touching my shoulder is pretty slim, it'll get to the point that I rarely notice it. So I'm told.

I really hope the creaking goes, and the general stiffness too, but only time will tell. Here are some photo updates. 

A huge improvement from the last time I took photos back at the end of December. In a painful, passive stretch (pushing my arm against a wall, towards my shoulder), I can just about touch my shoulder, although I have to use my other hand to bring my fingers down on to it! Still, that's something. 

Another good thing is that I went to the gym today. Finally. I could have gone sooner, really. I just fell into a hole after this accident and it's taken me a long time to climb out of it, and back in to any form of exercise. It felt good. A good session on a bike, and then on a rowing machine! Really didn't think I'd be able to, but I could! Kettle bells as well! I hit a lot of other machines, mostly to see what I could and couldn't do, but really, there was little I couldn't do. It felt tight, and sore if I pushed it, of course, and it's depressing to see how weak I've become, but I'm so excited to really be on the path back to the old me. 

Now I just have to find the time for workouts between mother duties and work duties. Can't complain though. 

Suppose I should do those evening stretches.