Long road back..

**atomicpunk** · 08-18-2008, 07:40 PM

Hey guys! I'm back to the gym after a 8 month lay off. For those of you that don't know(most probably), I was involved in a car vs. bicycle accident last year. Here's a run down on the damage...

5 tears right shoulder- 4 partially torn rotators, 1 tear in labrium (cartilage)
Fractured tibula.
Ruputured C4 or 5 disc- replaced
A bone bruise to the left knee
Lots of stitches....

And the biggie....
Fratured ulna. (reconstructed- 2 plates, 8 screws, 2 pins, and a replacement ligament- see the pic)- subsequent infection- hardware removed along with 3 of the bones

I've been back in the gym for the last 7 weeks and this week I'm getting serious with diet and the whole bit. I'm thinking of starting a journal (possibly in the Injury/Rehab forum) of my progression.

Any thoughts or input guys?

Thanks

**stpete** · 08-18-2008, 07:49 PM

Sorry to hear that man. Hope all is going good and good luck with everything.

**Skully44420** · 08-18-2008, 11:32 PM

good luck man...i bet thats gotta be hard...i wish i could give you some advice but i haven't been severely injured like that before...i'm sure there are some members here that will have some input though

**Ernst** · 08-19-2008, 01:41 AM

Ow. Hope the rest of your recovery goes well. Good luck and Godspeed!

**TranscriptionFactor** · 08-19-2008, 02:04 AM

sheesh thats tough....well I fractured my distal radius as a bike messenger in NYC when I was 19, but it healed up well. Wear your helmet, I was lucky and stupid.
But seriously it could be a lot worse.
As an MD I trained in orthopedic surgery, I've seen some bad injuries.
Here is the key - you need good protoplasm. In other words, EAT well, dont smoke, dont drink alcohol a lot. You're young so tissues heal better. Is your ulna still infected? Sometimes it can be chronic and cause pain.
But the other key is Rehab, rehab, rehab with physical therapy. And there are usually some fine looking PT women to help.
I think the shoulder is going to be the toughest problem. What you want is to strengthen it slowly so that the muscles take up the slack and support the weaker rotator cuff muscles (there are four the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis). They should eventually completely heal, the thing you want to avoid is overdoing it early on and develop chronic tendinitis.

You're on the right course looking to get active again, that will help it heal. Good luck!

**atomicpunk** · 08-19-2008, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by TranscriptionFactor

sheesh thats tough....well I fractured my distal radius as a bike messenger in NYC when I was 19, but it healed up well. Wear your helmet, I was lucky and stupid.
But seriously it could be a lot worse.
As an MD I trained in orthopedic surgery, I've seen some bad injuries.
Here is the key - you need good protoplasm. In other words, EAT well, dont smoke, dont drink alcohol a lot. You're young so tissues heal better. Is your ulna still infected? Sometimes it can be chronic and cause pain.
But the other key is Rehab, rehab, rehab with physical therapy. And there are usually some fine looking PT women to help.
I think the shoulder is going to be the toughest problem. What you want is to strengthen it slowly so that the muscles take up the slack and support the weaker rotator cuff muscles (there are four the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis). They should eventually completely heal, the thing you want to avoid is overdoing it early on and develop chronic tendinitis.

You're on the right course looking to get active again, that will help it heal. Good luck!

Infection is gone, but it did some damage and the hand is still healing. Doc says its ok to lift etc. The infection was MRSA, which is scary shit. The only problem I have with it is holding dumbells. The shoulder actually feels good, but I do notice some weakness that only occurs when my arm is almost fully extended and I've only noticed it while benching. It almost feels like a wobble.

Thanks!