Has anyone ever had a broken humerus....not very humorous!

by Alpaca 10 Replies latest jw friends

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  Alpaca

  Some of you guys may remember that last fall I was talking about doing a cross-country bicycle trip.

  Well, that idea had to be scrapped, at least for a while.

  Two days before last Thanksgiving, I broke my humerus. And, of course, since I am right handed it was my right arm. The doc said that it would be long, tedious recovery-- 6 to 8 months. I am 3 + months out now and it has been an excrutiatingly slow and painful recovery. The rehab exercises to regain range of motion are horrible but they have to be done.

  This whole experience has given me a whole new outlook on what old people must go through when they suffer various kinds of incapacity.

  Every day I can tell that I am improving, but wow it is slow.
• 

  Witness 007

  Ouch! I haven't broken anything I can't stand the thought!
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  llbh

  Hi Alpaca ,

  I can sympathise with you; i had a badly smashed arm due to falling off a ladder. It took me about 6 months to recover. I split my humerus up the middle and smashed the top of my Ulna, yes it was painful, but i had a wonderful team of surgeons and now have about 50 % movement.

  Best wishes for your recovery

  David
• 

  Alpaca

  Thanks, David.

  The doc is optimistic that I will regain 90 to 100% of the range of motion.

  Are you still regaining range of motion or is 50% all you are going to get?

  Which aspects of the rehab were the most beneficial?
• 

  llbh

  Hi Alpaca,

  50% is all i will ever get, it cause me very little difficulty surprisingly. The only difficulties i have is in close facial movement and doing up shoelaces.

  There was a 20% risk of amputation in my case, so i am very pleased with all the movement i have. I went to physio 50 times and the progress was slow and measurable.

  I have very little lasting pain, apart from the odd little twinge.

  David
• 

  Alpaca

  Wow. I would say 50% versus amputation is great outcome any way you cut it. No pun intended.

  Glad to hear that you have very little residual inconvenience with it.

  Now, I feel a little bad for complaining.
• 

  llbh

  Hey Alpaca i did not think you were complaining at all, to me you were just seeking a little advice and encouragement, which is what i hope i gave you.

  The silver lining was for me, that i reappraised my life, and whilst recuperating i met a Greek Professor of Jurisprudence , who encouraged me to study Law which i did!! Graduated 5 years later

  Take care.

  David
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  Alpaca

  Interesting!!!

  We have a lot more in common than either of us probably thought. I am finishing the last assignment (a 30 page paper) for a law degree. In fact, I should have finished this last fall, but the humerus problem has put a crimp on everything...although that is now improving along with my attitude.
• 

  llbh

  How interesting too, i hope that you do well and get a good job. Law is a very useful degree to have, it equips you with a wide range of skill sets.

  Good luck with your studies

  david
• 

  jwfacts

  broken bones are very frustrating. I makes me more sympathetic to people with permanent disabilities.

  I have two broken metatarsel (feet bones) at the moment. The conundrum is that the more I walk around on my cast, the slower it heals, but I can't sit back for several weeks doing nothing until it heals.