Look Ma, Two Hands!

[riverc0il]

recovery is going quite well. i can now type with two hands, writing is more of a problem but i can sign my name without heavy preassure. am also starting to use my first hand for some easy light weight holding and balancing which has been a tremendous help. the last week and a half has been interesting finding one handed solutions, everyday i seem to gather more stregnth and flexability to make a few more solutions not needed.

i can bend my arm about 100+ degrees which is right where i should be at just over a week after the surgery. PT is going quite well and my PT guy says i should probably squeeze in some february turns though i am still aiming for a march return. staples come out on tuesday and i should be out of the splint/sling permanently within two weeks. things are looking good so far.

 

[JimG.]

Nice! Internal fixation is a real blessing. In the stone ages you would've been stuck in a cast for 6-8 weeks.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Good news, Steve. Keep it rested and make a full recovery.

 

[riverc0il]

Good news, Steve. Keep it rested and make a full recovery.

thanks! the funny thing with this type of fracture is that resting the arm doesn't help at all. exercising and stretching are the fuel for the recovery. the actual bone won't be healed for weeks, but parts that move heal up through motio, but not much, just a little at a time.

it is really interesting seeing the improvements on a near daily basis. gets very exciting when i am able to stretch something just one or two degrees more than the previous day. i am constantly comparing the ease of motion of my left arm to the struggle of my right, and it is indeed amazing how much we take for granted. such simple motions become extremely complex when you can't do them any more.

good point jim. someone a couple hundred years ago before surgery and what not with my injury would never have fully recovered. likely had very limited movement for the rest of their lives. to me, it has become an annoyance, a curiosity, a challenge to overcome. modern medicine is amazing and not to be taken for granted despite our usual lack of need for services.

:beer:

 

[bvibert]

Thats great Steve, I'm glad to hear things are going well. You'll be making turns in no time! :beer:

 

[ctenidae]

I know what you're going through, Steve. Not the surgery part, but the pain and limited motion bit, for sure. Two biggest difficulties I found were 1) remembering to NOT put my house keeys in my injured-side pocket and B) zipping my pants one handed. Try it sometime- it ain't easy.

 

[riverc0il]

i can finally zip two handed, it is the greatest thing since sliced bread. when i first got back from surgery, dressing up to go to work took over five minutes, over two minutes just for the pants buttoning a shirt ain't so hot either.

 

[teachski]

Sounds like you are well on your way, Steve! Keep it up and you'll be back on the snow in no time.

 

[ctenidae]

The day after I racked myelf up on the bike I had several meetings in NYC. I had to get my sister-in-law to button the top button of my shirt and cinch up my tie. Not easy.

Glad to hear you're improving rapidly, though. The milestones are great to hit, aren't they?