Improbable Injury

Everyone that's heard my story, even my orthopod, can't believe it but it's true - about a week ago, I managed to completely destroy my right elbow in knee high water, before I had even enjoyed a paddle out for a surf session in Santa Cruz county.  Absolutely freak accident, and I don't want to relive the details here.

Diagnosis by MRI: ruptured UCL (major elbow ligament) and partially torn biceps and triceps tendons.

For now, we're focused on getting the significant swelling down, which is contributing to both the pain and limited Range Of Motion ("ROM").  A week later, it's still far more swollen than it should be, so just started a course of oral steroids.  If we're not making good progress by Thanksgiving on that front, I'll get a cortisone shot the week after to really try and knock it down.

Physical therapy starts Tuesday.  Needs to be done, whether I get surgery or not.  Muscles around the joint need to be strengthened to take on more of the load going forward, and I need to do whatever I can to try and preserve as much ROM as possible.  This is my right elbow, and I'm right handed, so that really kind of sucks - daily tasks which are currently a major challenge include eating and putting my hair up.  (So if you see me walking down the street, you may not recognize this woman with the unkept hair and food dribbling off her face. ;-))

Surgery?  We'll see.  If I can't live a normal life (which I define as not needing to throw a major league fastball but needing to be able to swim competitively, ice climb, lift heavy objects and otherwise be active) then Tommy John surgery will likely be in order.  Seeking other expert opinions, and giving myself at least a few weeks to adjust to life without a UCL, before we make the decision.

Need to learn to keep my typing more brief.

Comments

[Mike Rogers]

What were you doing girl? Getting ready for Mavericks? That's a serious injury. Get well soon. The Giants may need that arm instead of Zito's this season.

[frontierblog]

I cannot agree more, actually I wrote a similar post weeks ago

Edward

Frontier Blog - No one ahead, no one behind
http://www.hwswworld.com/wp

[frontierblog]

I cannot agree more, actually I wrote a similar post weeks ago

Edward

Frontier Blog - No one ahead, no one behind
http://www.hwswworld.com/wp