In December I broke the head of my humerus--nice chip off that has been screwed back on and cracked the tiba plateau. Have just started walking with a hemi walker and PT doing passive lifting of my elbow--ouch times 100 (and my PT says I'm not a woose). I am allowed to let my arm dangle from my shoulder and shrug my shoulders. All I can think about is getting back in the pool and moving my arm around. So scared that I won't have a full recovery. Anyone ever experienced these injuries? I'm 60 and know healing and recovery take longer. Next Dr. appointment on 29, should I ask if I can get back in pool?
In December I broke the head of my humerus--nice chip off that has been screwed back on and cracked the tiba plateau. Have just started walking with a hemi walker and PT doing passive lifting of my elbow--ouch times 100 (and my PT says I'm not a woose). I am allowed to let my arm dangle from my shoulder and shrug my shoulders. All I can think about is getting back in the pool and moving my arm around. So scared that I won't have a full recovery. Anyone ever experienced these injuries? I'm 60 and know healing and recovery take longer. Next Dr. appointment on 29, should I ask if I can get back in pool?
I'm so sorry to hear about your injury, sounds like a painful serious injury! I have not experienced anything like this before (just broke a wrist in first grade) so I can't speak from experience, but bones do take awhile to heal.
I'd say it certainly doesn't hurt to ask a doctor, or your PT what they think about your being able to get back into the pool, and perhaps ask if there are some water exercises that could help in the meantime?
Good luck and I hope you have a full recovery!!
-J
If you are a swimmer, you are an athelete. Injuries are part of athletics, and we all suffer them.
I'm not a Dr. and not familiar with the extent of your specific injury, but yes, you will swim again, but you may need to be patient. I speak from recent experience. (I'm 60 now as well.)
I was out of the pool from Sept. 2010 - Sept. 2011 due to bi-lateral hernia surgery, aggrevated by my swimming workouts with 20 yr olds. I'm managing about 2000 yards 5x a week now and I'm so thankful to be back in the pool and able to swim. I want to enter a competition.
I swim with my now 16 year old grandson. He suffered rotator cuff surgery after joining the high school swim team, and strangely was out of swimming for the exact same period! His problem was diagnosed as a congenital weakness, was repaired and he is now back 100%, swimming 4000 - 5000 yard workouts 5 days.
Last summer, nearing the end of our recovery, we visited a Y out of town. Through the observation window, I pointed out to him a determined lap swimmer we still talk about.
She looked at leat 90 years old, could have been 100, and probably had suffered a stroke. Her swimming style now resembled that of an inch worm clawing it's way through the water.
She was an inspiration to us both.
Georgio
In December I broke the head of my humerus--nice chip off that has been screwed back on and cracked the tiba plateau. Have just started walking with a hemi walker and PT doing passive lifting of my elbow--ouch times 100 (and my PT says I'm not a woose). I am allowed to let my arm dangle from my shoulder and shrug my shoulders. All I can think about is getting back in the pool and moving my arm around. So scared that I won't have a full recovery. Anyone ever experienced these injuries? I'm 60 and know healing and recovery take longer. Next Dr. appointment on 29, should I ask if I can get back in pool?
Recovery can take longer at 60 - but you sound like you are a "fit" 60 so your recovery should be quicker than the usual "couch potato" these doctors work with. Do your PT and communicate with your doctor. I'm guessing you'll be back sooner than you think (though perhaps very gradually). I haven't ever injured myself like you but I have had a couple of medical experiences that took me out of the water for an extended period of time (one that threatened my ever being able to swim again). I know how you feel. Keep your chin up. :)
Sorry you had a serious injury. This guy is back in the pool after 3-4 months of the accident. Most of our injuries are very benign comparing to his.
That is one of the most amazing, and inspiring stories I have read in a long time. I'm not sure that I would be smiling, even this far out, and certainly not as soon as he was. What a fighting spirit he has!! Thank you so much for sharing.
I had a similar injury about 12 years ago. I broke off a portion of the radial head and dislocated my elbow in a mountain biking accident. My range of motion was terrible. I could not rotate my wrist at all and could only extend my elbow to maybe 135 degrees. I suffered for about a year of very painful PT and a torture low load stretch device I that had to wear. I eventually got a second opinion. He ordered an MRI and I had surgery to remove the portion of the radial head that broke off. I now have arthritis in that elbow, but I do have about 95% of my range of motion. I was told it would deteriorate over time, but so far it hasn't. I think swimming has really helped me maintain the range of motion that I have.
Oddly enough it was on the same exact day 20 years earlier that I broke the humerus in that very same elbow.
It may take time, but you can do it. Ask questions and if things are progressing get a second opinion. Good Luck.
In December I broke the head of my humerus--nice chip off that has been screwed back on and cracked the tiba plateau. Anyone ever experienced these injuries? I'm 60 and know healing and recovery take longer. Next Dr. appointment on 29, should I ask if I can get back in pool?
Yes, ask, but as many here can attest, doctors who are not sport specialists or participants themselves do not "get" what swimming is all about.
I should think if the arm were secured to your body, you might be able to do aquajogging to get that nice, I'm-in-the-water feeling.
Can you try PT in one of those water tank things under supervision, so the PT can evaluate arm motion in a controlled watery environment? That would also give you an opportunity to see how you feel 1-3 days later.
(2 months is not long into the recovery period for the kind of injury and repair you have sustained, disregarding age. Again, a PT can be helpful to keep one from going crazy from lack of usual activity, the more helpful the more specific you are. My :2cents:)
Good luck with this difficult time!
