update: broken wife

[slowSSer]

so, the verdict: fractured (NOT broken) radial head.

what this means: NO surgery and NO cast and actually just leaving it in a sling during the day and back into the splint/wrap at night to protect it.

other good news: she'll be able to pick up the kiddo again in about a week- it's really been bugging her that she can't help with the kid at all.

we're supposed to have her "train" with a small sack of potatoes hmm- the kiddo's a little more squirmy than a sack of potatoes!

i think she'll be taking up yoga now.

edit: anyone else ever break their radial head? i understand that you can have reduced range of motion and that it's by far one of the worst arm breaks one can have.

[.8down]

ever get that wine fridge?

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by .8down

ever get that wine fridge?

no...on the x-mas list though!

[kingaucho]

Sorry, to hear about your wife's injury. One of my soccer buddies just broke his elbow while falling during a game. I'll ask him if it is the same injury, but I know he had to have surgery and a metal part put in where his elbow used to be.

[slowSSer]

Originally Posted by kingaucho

Sorry, to hear about your wife's injury. One of my soccer buddies just broke his elbow while falling during a game. I'll ask him if it is the same injury, but I know he had to have surgery and a metal part put in where his elbow used to be.

she totally lucked out with the break. it normally results in some hardware installed.

[mhughes]

Yes, I did this a few years ago (along with a separated
shoulder) dead soldiering a jump (never have been a good dirt
jumper ... ).

My ortho doc told me to start moving the joint as much as
possible ASAP, and a quick web search found a couple of
specific stretches. Basically, stretch elbow range 10 times
for 3 sets, holding at the mild pain limit on each side, until
it matches the un-injured elbow.Second, with the elbow at
90 deg., rotate the elbow (hand palm up to hand palm down
and back) to the limit, again until mild pain or until matching
the uninjured wrist. Again, 3 sets of 10. Do this CONSTANTLY
- when bored, as a break at work, sitting on the couch, ...
basically as much as you can stand. Once range of motion
is restored, move to the same exercises with light weights
(I used ~3 lb at first).

I had reduced range of motion for a couple of weeks to a
month, with significant stiffness and loss of strength. I spent a
LOT of time stretching and then with light weight training in the
first 2-3 months.

After a couple of years, I'd say I have full range of motion, full
strength, but still some stiffness and aches, especially if the
air pressure is changing (private weather indicator ... )
Basically, an early intro to arthritis. I took
glucosamine/chondroitin for a couple of years, that helped me.

--Matt

Edit: P.S. - here's a link describing exercises better than I could,
with some decent diagrams:
http://www.fairview.org/healthlibrar...dihead_rex.htm

[maxwell]

Yep, fractured mine a few years back.
I had minor displacement, 1.5-2 cm, so the walk-in I went to put me in this crazy sling.
Went to see my Ortho, Dr. Wesley Nottage, and he about had a heart attack that they put me in the sling.
He took the sling off, and told me to take two weeks off from work.
After two weeks I went back and he told more four more weeks off!
I said there's no way I could do that, so he had me sign a paper acknowledging that I could cause perminent dammage, and said he'd see me in four weeks.
Well, if you know what I do for a living, you'd understand his concerns. I lift and stack cases all night for the Albertsons produce warehouse. And me being the hard headed fool that I am, if I can work, i can ride!
Well, the last time I saw him for the check-up, my displacement had increased to 4cm's, but was filling in nicely.
My range of motion stops about 2 inches shorter than my right arm, and every now and then it get's a little sore.
Physical therapy REALLY helped a lot!

Go here and ask for Bret Fairbanks;

Pacifico Physical Therapy & Sports Med Address:
1 Peters Canyon STe 120
Irvine, 92606

Moral of the story?

She's young, tell her to let it heal corectly.

[OMR]

Originally Posted by mhughes

. I took
glucosamine/chondroitin for a couple of years, that helped me. --Matt

Grasshopper Matt... everybody knows that glucosamine/chondroitin, along with Advil have become the senior's vitamin... I should know!!!