broken humorous recovery (arm wrestling accident)

[aaoude]

It is now 6 months this week since my (fracture) radial nerve palsy began and I'm pleased to say that over the past 6 weeks the speed of recovery in the wrist has been amazing to watch. I have now got full lift of my wrist and there is quite a bit of strength in there. My fingers I can hold out straight, in line with my wrist when it is flat. Being able to get the fingers out almost straight is allowing me to use my hand so much more.

I returned to work TODAY after my 6 months of solid/daily physio+rest routine - they reckon I'm 2-3 months ahead of schedule with my radial nerve due to the amount of physio I've done myself this last 6 months.

The elbow is now my worst nightmare, not being able to bend it enough to do everything I know I can do with my hand.

Had my 6-month x-ray last week and the grand canyon cracks are finally starting to calcify so all the consultants were correct when they said that a fracture as bad as mine could take 6+ months before it even begins to calcify/heal.

Trying to get the elbow to bend more now that I have the confidence to put a bit more force/weight through the arm, still being careful though.
With my wrist bent I can touch my mouth and am able to eat a yoghurt with a small spoon - still can't bend enough to enable me to brush my teeth or shave though, only been 1 week since that good news x-ray so I'm hoping to get a bit more bend out of the elbow if those triceps and everything else at the back of my arm will let me!!!

Aaoude - I feel your pain, quite a few times after I've had my arm down for a while and after doing dumbbell curls when I then come to take the dumbbell the other way to work the tricep I now have to start VERY slowly and I can feel if it is going to nip me. The other night it felt like someone had stuck a knife in my triceps and twisted it, was so painful - just had a hot bath and went to bed, was fine next day.
I'm finding that if I do the tricep curls slowly and *feel* the tightness as if it will cause that pain I either don't do no more on it or I try to rub/massage the back of my arm with my fingers and that loosened it off enough to do the physio.

Federov99, I very happy to hear of your progress. My break was no where near as bad as yours and I'm sure dealing with the repercussions for you must've been a huge nightmare. I admire your patience as I've had to deal with the limitations only a fraction of the time you have and it was driving me crazy. I said in the past I am lucky because I didn't get any radial nerve palsy and I didn't have to deal with the "wrist drop"; well that's true, however, a few weeks ago (as stated in my previous post) I had a pinched nerve problem, I think it was inflamated because I was rubbing my arm the wrong way (and perhaps against the metal plate). Anyway, I kept testing my arm and trying to feel the pain to understand what it was exactly. A few days later, I lost a little sensitivity on the back of my hand and my grip. Turns out I was playing with the radial nerve and I must've damaged it or something. Up until now, I am much weaker when trying to push up with only my fingers on my broken arm hand as opposed to the other hand. My wrist is strong though so I'm hoping the full strength will come back, I can imagine how long it took you guys who've had real radial nerve damage.

I am now back at the gym and lifting 15lbs and man do I feel sore after... but it's good to be back at the gym. I will say this though, even though I'm getting back to 100%, I do still feel the implant in my arm when I squeeze the muscle... it's not too bad but it sure feels different then my other arm, hopefully the muscles will get used to it in the next few months as I continue to go to the gym.

[Fedorov999]

Thanks guys.

15lbs is that US pounds or metric?
My weights are in Kg, I started 3 weeks ago doing the Pec Deck with no pin (5kg), then last week tried it on 10kg which was real scary putting that much through my arm with it outstretched. I'm now up to 15kg but taking things VERY steady, think it'll take a bit longer to get past 15kg!

Also went out on my mountain bike, boy do you feel EVERY bump/shock coming through those handlebars when you've had next to nothing touching your arm for 6 months!!!

Take it easy.

[93tsi]

Well heres an update in my situation.

I see the doctor next monday, so we'll see if my bones are finally healed. Otherwise, i've been in the gym. I've actually been doing everything I used to minus some barbell lifts. I'm doing light weight and high high reps ( 40-50). I did some dumbell press today 50lbs x 50 reps.... man am I sore! Once my bones are 100% i'll be lifting heavy for sure. But, it feels awesome to start lifting again.

[bucknut22]

Just thought Id stop by this thread to see how everyone is doing. When I started this thread back in Sept of last year, I never thought there would be this many people with the same type of accident as me. It is comforting to know that there are other people out there with a similar type of injury, as when it occurred I thought I was the only person lol.

Its been a hell of a ride since last Sept for me. My emotions/self esteem was up and down the first few months. Since ive been back at the gym, ive felt great. Ive been back at the gym since Nov/Dec, and I think im actually bigger now and stronger in some lifts than I was pre-injury. Curls still suck, and im still doing alot of my exercises with DBs as opposed to BBs, trying to get my bad arm on par with my good arm (still some work to do but progress has been good). Some exercises still cause some soreness (muscle fatigue is what the doc says it is) but nothing that really bothers me.

All I can say to all of you is to keep your head up, and you will overcome this. I prob had one of the worst kinds of humorous fractures compared to most of you on this thread ( surgery which left the long scar, radial nerve palsy- which there still is numbness in my some of my fingers, doc says will go away in time), and I feel as if everything is getting much better. Hope all of you are recovering well, Ill continue to check in from time to time.

[Fedorov999]

Nice to hear from you again Bucknut, stopped by myself to update as well today

The past few weeks the fingers now lift fully and extend back slightly, tight in back of hand and forearm so that will take a while to settle down, using the keyboard and mouse without my "metal hand" is getting easier, just the tightness in the hand there now and my thumb is still numb/tingly but I have sensation pretty much everywhere else.

I think I'm now at my WORST stage... the hand is working at 90% but the limited elbow bend and lack of weight/strength in my arm is so so frustrating right now.
I've actually had a very bad last week... a week last Monday, was feeling pretty good and tried to put in an extra 2 minutes on the hand-bike in the gym, I felt a twinge in the tricep area, later that evening my arm went really tight and a bit swollen. I took the Tuesday off work completely to rest it and although not swollen and hard like it was I've got this pointy/hard spot just up and behind the point of my elbow that is quite painful to press or massage.
Yesterday (Sunday) my arm/elbow just felt so tight I was getting that muscle nipping sharp pain if I tried to even bend my elbow, right in the back of my arm. Today I only managed a few hours at work, arm was still so tight and muscle or something was still nipping me if I did any tricep related movements so I went to the gym and spent 2 hours in the hydrotherapy pool and steam room and after 1 hr of very gently moving and massaging I could finally bend it as far as it goes without the nasty pains.

So I'm just going to spend the rest of this week doing the same thing, I've reduced my daily physio right down, no dumbbells or weight stuff at all, just movement and massage to hope that this settles itself back down. VERY frustrating indeed right now

Off to Orlando on Sunday for 2 weeks, so I'm looking forward to the (dare I say it) break after 7 months of my life virtually on-hold.

Take care everyone!

[aaoude]

Hey everyone,

Hope you're all doing better.

As for me, in 3 days it will be exactly 5 months since my surgery. I've been back in the gym for the last month working my arms. I'm not focussing on anything other then Cardio, Legs, Abs, Biceps, Triceps. I would like to work on my Pecs, shoulders and back but I don't think my bone can take the pressure just yet.

For my biceps, I am back to lifting (DB curls) 25lbs (was at 45lbs prebreak). As for triceps, I'm only doing one exercise but really taking it easy.

My arm still hurts (feels like the bone hurts, kinda like a hairline fracture hurts) when I work my triceps or when I squeeze hard any arm muscle... still frustrating because at 5 months... I should be 100% by now, I really hope this isn't a permanent feeling.

Does anyone else still feel similar pain even after the bone has healed?

Also, I often feel like an electrical shock in my hand if I strech out my arm too much and rotate it... must be a nerve I'm rubbing on...

Anyway, for those who are still farther away from being 100%, don't let up, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[baldyguy]

How are your scars coming along?

[aaoude]

Guys,

Anyone still feeling pain when flexing the arm muscles hard, or when moving the arm back and forth fast (as if shaking something)?

I've been back at the gym lifting heavier weights but my arm hurts when pushing things from certain angles or flexing my arm muscles.

Can anyone relate to this? It's been 5 months and 1 week since surgery.

[bucknut22]

Guys,

Anyone still feeling pain when flexing the arm muscles hard, or when moving the arm back and forth fast (as if shaking something)?

I've been back at the gym lifting heavier weights but my arm hurts when pushing things from certain angles or flexing my arm muscles.

Can anyone relate to this? It's been 5 months and 1 week since surgery.

Still happens to me on occasion, usually as im setting the weight down (negatives) is when I notice it most. As I have regained strength, it really only happens now when I move up in weight. 8 months since break for me.

Someone earlier asked about the scar, it looks a tad better to me than it did before, not as red but still very noticeable. Still self conscious about it, as I wear longer t shirts now to cover up most of it. Def plan on getting a tattoo to cover it up once its about a year old, probably a half sleeve.

[aaoude]

thanks for your answers bucknut22.

I am feeling better and I've now moved up in weights considerably, although I'm not quite where I was pre-break, I am getting there...

Quick question, can you play tennis if you wanted to?

I ask because the movement you need to make to hit a tennis ball with a raquet is pretty painful for me still, it is getting better, but still painful (I'm at 5 mths and 2 weeks from surgery).

I'd really be interested in knowing about that.

Thanks again.

PS: My scar is looking better but still red, I've asked and it could take up to a year before it becomes skin color.

[baldyguy]

Yesterday marks exactly 6 months since the break.

I went to the gym last Monday for the first time. Did mostly machine work, and of course, focused on my triceps and biceps. I was pretty sore. Considering I did mostly light weights, 10-20lbs. It's a sore I've never felt before. This week so far, I've been feeling pretty good. Did biceps yesterday and don't feel bad at all.

Did 30lbs on the bicep curl machine too, and it felt fine. Didn't really hurt at all. Although, pretty weak. The only thing I'm worried about are my nerves. They have not fully regenerated and I can't straighten my fingers all the way and I still struggle to cross my fingers.

[Fedorov999]

Time for an update as I'm nearly at 9 months since my break. My last post above almost 2 months ago my hand was at 90%. I'm probably closer to 100% now, still have a bit of tightness but the fingers extend fully up, infact they now extend back further than my good hand due to all my physio I've done!

The area above my elbow where all the fractures occurred is still my main problem, I have 115 degree bend of my elbow, no pain but it simply will not go any further.
Anyway, in 2 weeks I'm travelling to see an upper-limb specialist who has dealt with many of the worst upper-limb fractures in the past 10 years. I am hoping he can find what is stopping my elbow from bending fully - I am preparing myself for the news that maybe it is better if the metal plate is removed at some stage over the next few months... I'll know more in a few weeks!

[93tsi]

Well guys, here's another update. I had surgery on 2/12/2009, so it's been a bit over 5 months since my break. My weight is 185 ( down from 195 pre-break) but my lifts are coming along. I saw the doctor last Monday and said that the bone should be 100% and I can start lifting again ( even though I have been!).

My lifts are looking like this.

chest
smith bench press- 195x10 pre break- flat barbell bench- 245x5
flat db press- 55'sx 12 pre break- flat db press- 95x8
incline db press 55'sx 12 pre break incline db press 90x5

haven't attempted a barbell flat bench press yet.

shoulders
standing military press - 100x 8 pre-break 135x10
shoulder db press - 50sx10 pre-brea 70x10
side raises- 20s x10
shrugs- 205x10

back
barbell rows- 195x10 pre-break 235x10
lat pull down-165x10 dont remember
lat row 150x10 dont remember

arms-
barbell curl- 95x8 120x 8
hammer curl- 35s hammered 45s atleast
preacher curl- good arm- 40 - bad arm 30 haha preachered 45's

tricep succks still. cant do skull crushers AT ALL. i get this werid pain in my elbow.

but i can do pushups pretty easily. I bet i can do about 35-40 if im fresh.

just tried pullups last week. got 10 pretty easily. i was very suprised. but otherwise i've been coming along. hang in there guys!

[bucknut22]

Well guys, here's another update. I had surgery on 2/12/2009, so it's been a bit over 5 months since my break. My weight is 185 ( down from 195 pre-break) but my lifts are coming along. I saw the doctor last Monday and said that the bone should be 100% and I can start lifting again ( even though I have been!).

My lifts are looking like this.

chest
smith bench press- 195x10 pre break- flat barbell bench- 245x5
flat db press- 55'sx 12 pre break- flat db press- 95x8
incline db press 55'sx 12 pre break incline db press 90x5

haven't attempted a barbell flat bench press yet.

shoulders
standing military press - 100x 8 pre-break 135x10
shoulder db press - 50sx10 pre-brea 70x10
side raises- 20s x10
shrugs- 205x10

back
barbell rows- 195x10 pre-break 235x10
lat pull down-165x10 dont remember
lat row 150x10 dont remember

arms-
barbell curl- 95x8 120x 8
hammer curl- 35s hammered 45s atleast
preacher curl- good arm- 40 - bad arm 30 haha preachered 45's

tricep succks still. cant do skull crushers AT ALL. i get this werid pain in my elbow.

but i can do pushups pretty easily. I bet i can do about 35-40 if im fresh.

just tried pullups last week. got 10 pretty easily. i was very suprised. but otherwise i've been coming along. hang in there guys!

looking good so far bro keep it up! Im not quite at my pre break levels yet, but almost there...

[stathis723]

hey fellas ive broken my humerus as well in july 15th armwrestling.... almost a month a go.. i did no surgery, weared a plaster for 3 weeks then the doc put me on a sarmiento brace so i can get the range of motion in my elbow agin, he said 'we dont want to have a healed bone and problems with the elbow.
he also told me to do extensions with my shoulder but i feel some pain when i do it, should i do them anyways? im kind of scared..

[baldyguy]

Did your doctor say that it was ruptured? How bad was the break?

hey fellas ive broken my humerus as well in july 15th armwrestling.... almost a month a go.. i did no surgery, weared a plaster for 3 weeks then the doc put me on a sarmiento brace so i can get the range of motion in my elbow agin, he said 'we dont want to have a healed bone and problems with the elbow.
he also told me to do extensions with my shoulder but i feel some pain when i do it, should i do them anyways? im kind of scared..

[stathis723]

smthing like that http://z.about.com/w/experts/Physica...8/09/X-Ray.jpg

[baldyguy]

Mines was less severe than that and I had to have surgery and get plates.

Im surprised you didnt have to get plates and screws.

What kind of pain are you getting? Any clicking? How much weight are you putting up vs what you were lifting before?

[stathis723]

Mines was less severe than that and I had to have surgery and get plates.

Im surprised you didnt have to get plates and screws.

What kind of pain are you getting? Any clicking? How much weight are you putting up vs what you were lifting before?

its been a month only dude.. im wearing a brace..
The pain was there the first days... i didnt suffered from much if any pain during this month

[aaoude]

Hey guys,

Hope everyones doing good. A little update on my situation since it's been a while I haven't posted anything... it's now offcially 8 months since the surgery and I am feeling much better. I am lifting almost as much as I did pre break. I still feel pain in my arm for torsional mouvements (for example: the mouvement you make to hit a tennis ball with a racquet - not that playing tennis hurts but pushing in the directions similar to tennis racquet mouvements still hurt). It also hurts when doing negatives as I am weightlifting. At first I thought it was the bone not fully healed, but after speaking with the surgeon, it might very well be the plate rubbing on my muscles (it seems that the plate is quite thick in my case). I will decide whether or not to have the plate and screws removed in a few months (a year after surgery).

I've attached a few pics and dated them (I will be taking more xrays in a month and will post those too).

I'd love to hear from you guys too. How is it going in terms of pain? Anything unbearable? How about when weightlifting?

Take care everyone.

[bucknut22]

Hey guys,

Hope everyones doing good. A little update on my situation since it's been a while I haven't posted anything... it's now offcially 8 months since the surgery and I am feeling much better. I am lifting almost as much as I did pre break. I still feel pain in my arm for torsional mouvements (for example: the mouvement you make to hit a tennis ball with a racquet - not that playing tennis hurts but pushing in the directions similar to tennis racquet mouvements still hurt). It also hurts when doing negatives as I am weightlifting. At first I thought it was the bone not fully healed, but after speaking with the surgeon, it might very well be the plate rubbing on my muscles (it seems that the plate is quite thick in my case). I will decide whether or not to have the plate and screws removed in a few months (a year after surgery).

I've attached a few pics and dated them (I will be taking more xrays in a month and will post those too).

I'd love to hear from you guys too. How is it going in terms of pain? Anything unbearable? How about when weightlifting?

Take care everyone.

Im thinking that if you get the plate removed, you basically will have to start over again as far as lifting is concerned, as they will most likely be going thru your tricep to get to the plate once again... Not to mention the scar will prob be bigger... as long as it isnt really bothering you, I don't think its necessary to remove but im not a doctor obviously.

[Fedorov999]

In my case with all the radial nerve damage I've been told that they will NEVER open up my arm again, his words were "just looking at the radial nerve can damage it again".
My normal consultant also told me that having the plate removed is TWICE as bad, i.e. opening up that scar again and damaging all your triceps over again.

Following my last posting, I've now had my trip to Wales and it was more than worthwhile to see this specialist...

Speaking to someone who has seen and dealt with injuries as bad as this and able to answer all questions thrown at him is a huge positive.

He commented that I have done "exceptionally good" to have achieved the movement I currently have based upon the severity of the injury I sustained. Even to the point of being surprised I could fully straighten my arm.

There is "springiness" in my elbow when bending, which means that given TIME he expects me to regain more movement in the elbow - it was explained that due to the amount of surgery in the back of the arm is the reason that complete movement can never be achieved.

Hand and finger recovery he was pleased with - I have still to re-train certain individual finger movements but overall the hand/fingers are doing fine and I should regain feeling in my thumb *eventually*.

Muscular damage to my shoulder from carrying my arm for 10+ months is also recovering well, I have good movement and less pain now.

Looking at my most recent x-rays he is happy the bones will make a full recovery, just TIME yet again. The bones heal much slower when they have been plated.

Had he seen my injury at the beginning he *may* have elected not to plate my arm as it is not very often that bones will not eventually heal themselves - however, had this route been taken I would not have anywhere near the amount of movement I currently have due to being left in plaster for so long and I would suffer greater pain in the bones/joints. So the option to plate my arm and allow me to keep it moving and do physio every hour of every day in my case has greatly paid off.

They will NEVER remove the plate from my arm - the Radial nerve which lost the use of my hand is just so sensitive that (in his words) you just have to look at it and it can go wrong, never mind operate again.

The tightness, pain and swelling of my arm will continue and will eventually ease with recovery.

We discussed all my exercises, gym and work, how much weight I can put through my arm etc... he believes what I am currently doing is absolutely correct, I must not increase the weight through my arm until well after a year of the accident, and to continue down this path and the word *time* is mentioned again

So in a nutshell, I'm doing everything that I possibly can, doing it correctly, have more movement than I should have at this stage, just need to be careful and give it time.

It was certainly very reassuring to discuss everything in detail with someone who has seen the worst.

[Fedorov999]

Well, my strength is going to take a very long time to recover but the main news following my last post is that although I'd been told not to expect much more elbow bend, at the weekend I successfully *forced* my elbow to bend until I could just touch my own shoulder - this was always my major target, didn't expect to ever reach it but at least I now know that my scar tissue and muscles will physically stretch to that extent even if I currently have to have a very good warm-up and force it.

Hopefully over the next month I may be able to do this without having to put so much force into my arm using the other one!

[mm55]

Wow glad I found this thread, now I just have to read all of it. this will be short since I only have one arm as most of you. I broke it on aug 22nd, armwrestling...spiral fracture of the left humerus.

Since my break occured down towards the ellbow, my Dr. did everything he could to avoid surgery and its worked thus far. I was placed in a weighted cast, to try and align the bones as best as possible (3 pieces) by weighing my forearm down, and not disrupt blood flow or cause nerve damage or irritation from surgery.

So far so good, been 3 weeks and its pretty straight in place. Once he sees "smokiness" in between the bones as he calls it, or signs its starting to fuse, I get to go into a brace with elbow mobility. Hopefully within 1-2 weeks. Can't wait to lift again, i miss it so much and its been a few weeks.

hey fellas ive broken my humerus as well in july 15th armwrestling.... almost a month a go.. i did no surgery, weared a plaster for 3 weeks then the doc put me on a sarmiento brace so i can get the range of motion in my elbow agin, he said 'we dont want to have a healed bone and problems with the elbow.
he also told me to do extensions with my shoulder but i feel some pain when i do it, should i do them anyways? im kind of scared..

this sounds like what I have, treatment wise. I too am getting a sarmiento brace if things stay as is.

[stathis723]

Wow glad I found this thread, now I just have to read all of it. this will be short since I only have one arm as most of you. I broke it on aug 22nd, armwrestling...spiral fracture of the left humerus.

Since my break occured down towards the ellbow, my Dr. did everything he could to avoid surgery and its worked thus far. I was placed in a weighted cast, to try and align the bones as best as possible (3 pieces) by weighing my forearm down, and not disrupt blood flow or cause nerve damage or irritation from surgery.

So far so good, been 3 weeks and its pretty straight in place. Once he sees "smokiness" in between the bones as he calls it, or signs its starting to fuse, I get to go into a brace with elbow mobility. Hopefully within 1-2 weeks. Can't wait to lift again, i miss it so much and its been a few weeks.



this sounds like what I have, treatment wise. I too am getting a sarmiento brace if things stay as is.

Man the last time my doc checked me told me i was going really great and telling me all the time.. Thanks god u had no surgery done..

[stathis723]

how are u fellas doing? elbow seems to be an ass, i was skull crushing a bag of oats of 1 lb and id some pain lol

[mm55]

how are u fellas doing? elbow seems to be an ass, i was skull crushing a bag of oats of 1 lb and id some pain lol

well I'm in my brace now, have been since Monday. Feels great to shower and actually wash my arm lol. Things feel pretty together in there, but my range of motion with my arm isn't there yet, I can get it almost straight, then up a bit above 90 degrees...but it's weak as hell. Strengthening it seems like it's going to tale forever. I should be starting PT sometime soon.

It will be six weeks for me saturday.

[supy]

Spiral fracture in 1989 arm wrestling.No surgey no problems today. talk about pain WTF

[stathis723]

well I'm in my brace now, have been since Monday. Feels great to shower and actually wash my arm lol. Things feel pretty together in there, but my range of motion with my arm isn't there yet, I can get it almost straight, then up a bit above 90 degrees...but it's weak as hell. Strengthening it seems like it's going to tale forever. I should be starting PT sometime soon.

It will be six weeks for me saturday.

Ur doing good man , yea i loved taking the brace off to take a shower, i did no PT.. U will feel stronger in a few weeks after taking it off.. U wont be ready to the gym but ull be 100% better then before

[mm55]

Ur doing good man , yea i loved taking the brace off to take a shower, i did no PT.. U will feel stronger in a few weeks after taking it off.. U wont be ready to the gym but ull be 100% better then before

Thanks, are you back in the gym now? What was your total time since the break to having no brace and just doing most normal stuff? Im not supposed to move my arm until next week when I see the doc.