Damn you, 2022

2

Replies

  • SuzanneC1l9zz
    SuzanneC1l9zz Posts: 456 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    Damn you 2023! Orthopedic surgeon thinks I might have damaged the acromion during the accident, which in return causes impingement of the axillary nerve. Which basically means I still can't lift up my arm and the muscles in my front deltoid are atrophying. I'll have an appointment for a ct and neurologist this week to investigate this further. Worst case: another surgery. Meh.

    Oh no! Pulling for you, friend! 😕
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Thanks a lot Suzanne and Ann <3 I'm sure things will get better again eventually. I also have an appointment in an academic hospital for a consult. Glad I'm not in the US and health insurance is covering everything.

    I had another little méh today: Quite a few years ago I bought 80kg of weights, a bar and two short bars. I'm using this to do exercises. So far I only dragged the bar and about 20kg of weights up. Today I decided to bring a bit more. And only found another 20kg. Basically 4 disks of 10kg each are missing. Like: how can something as random as 4x10kg go missing in a move? Maybe the movers thought they were too heavy, but come on! They packed up the other 40kg in 2 boxes. Not that I plan to do deadlifts now, but still...

    Good news: yay, my muscles are coming back! At least those that still have a good nerve supply. I don't have Ann's definition, but I am quite proud of my deltoid and biceps. They are rather pretty and defined <3
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    edited March 2023
    Today I did bench presses, seated dips with straight legs, triceps extensions, experimented with a rubber band row exercise, did face plants (aka kneeling pike pushups, thus not a faceplant from great height) and slow negatives as preparation for pushups. Didn't feel like doing lower body stuff today.

    and I scored a cheap second-hand Lebert equalizer that should arrive mid next week.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    So basically have increased weight during my training, I continue doing mobility as well. Things going well. If there wasn't constant pain and an inability to lift my arm past 90 degrees. Finally found out what seems to be wrong (biceps tendon subluxing, and likely some more damage associated with that). If I put the tendon back in it's place my range of motion is nearly normal. And now the impingement I've had is also nearly gone. Yeah, after discussing with a university hospital on how to continue with this. Thus basically I'll likely have more surgery on June to remove the place and to fix all other issues. Lets see if the other issues remain. Lets hope not.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    yirara wrote: »
    So basically have increased weight during my training, I continue doing mobility as well. Things going well. If there wasn't constant pain and an inability to lift my arm past 90 degrees. Finally found out what seems to be wrong (biceps tendon subluxing, and likely some more damage associated with that). If I put the tendon back in it's place my range of motion is nearly normal. And now the impingement I've had is also nearly gone. Yeah, after discussing with a university hospital on how to continue with this. Thus basically I'll likely have more surgery on June to remove the place and to fix all other issues. Lets see if the other issues remain. Lets hope not.

    Thanks for the update: I'm cheering for you, steady on. If surgery can improve it - maybe even fix it - that'll be a good call. You'll find a good route: you're a route-maker, not an obstacle inflator. Good stuff.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    That's just amazingly good news, @yirara! Pain reduction + functional improvement + bonus tinnitus relief, via a non-extreme intervention, and over the period of a week? Wow, just wow. Good show!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Great, isn't it? Makes me wonder why doctors didn't investigate properly to start with, but at least this problem seems to be solved.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    So yeah, too early celebration. My biceps tendon still gives me problems every few days. But I'm regaining strength. I can now do front and lateral raises. With a low weight, mind. But I can do them. Woohoo.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Oh, and overhead presses work as well. Got a new 10 rep record with 8.5kg :D Lets be honest, I need to hold the barbell a bit wider as totally vertically straight up is still a problem, but hey! And I manage to do a banded row where you pull the band horizontally, then twist the upper body and stretch the arm towards the back. Not sure what that's called, but it's fun.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    Progress is good. I know, I know - it would be better if it were faster. But it's happening, and you're making it happen.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    So yesterday I decided I want to be able to do kettlebell clean and press again. My lightest kettlebell is 8kg, and I can do barbel overhead presses with 11kg currently. So yeah, won't happen yet. But I just tried roughly 5kg and I managed it. Not good-looking but I did get the arm up. Yay!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Got it! 8kg clean and press. Well, up anyway. Not enough strength yet for down :D But celebrating.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    Oh, man - 2023 is looking kinda vexatious in your world, too, eh? I'm so sorry!

    Still, your determination is exemplary (by which I mean, inspirational to me). You keep working it, and I have absolutely no doubt that with your approach, you'll conquer and dominate in the long run.

    Virtual ((hugs)) if that's not offensive to you . . . and keep striving.

    Wishing you every single possible good result of your efforts!
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,411 Member
    How did I miss this thread? Oh, sweetie!!!!!!! This just sucks.

    And what are the odds of getting mowed down by a bicycle, of all things?

    Your path forward is inspirational. Can’t keep a good woman down!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Aww, thanks @springlering62
    The funny thing (I think) is that I managed to get a big injury while jogging! If someone ever asks me why I have this massive scar on my shoulder I could either come up with all sorts of adventures. Or be honest and say it's from jogging :D

    Girlpower!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Hopefully final update here. Had surgery again on Tuesday. They removed the hardware and did an arthroscopy right afterwards. Found the long-head biceps tendon inflamed and in tatters from a screw as expected, one of the rotator cuffs surprisingly stuck in a tight spot but not damaged and a massive amount of inflammation and scar tissue here and there, especially around every bit of hardware or suture material. Ehlers-Danlos can be fun sometimes. At least it likely prevented more tendon tears. But it also meant fixing the bicep tendon might not have worked, and so they cut it. So now I'm proud owner of a funny biceps. Lets see how it heals and what it'll mean strength-wise. No sling needed and full passive range of motion allowed. Just need to wait with lifting things up and rebuilding strength for 4-6 weeks. No substantial pain, and I basically feel great. Felt like going for a run the evening after surgery, but of course I can't. But I'm able to cycle at least, as long as I'm careful.
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,809 Member
    They can just cut that biceps tendon? That sounds pretty drastic (but I'm no expert, obviously)!
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    edited June 2023
    Lietchi wrote: »
    They can just cut that biceps tendon? That sounds pretty drastic (but I'm no expert, obviously)!

    Yeah, they can reattach it or cut it. I mean, you still have the second upper one, thus your biceps is not useless afterwards. Reattaching it means wearing a sling for at least 6 weeks and lots of pain, and if your connective tissue is *kitten* there's a chance it will tear again. And if your body doesn't like suture material or anchors like mine then it likely would mean another surgery to fix anyway. Healing is a lot quicker as well without the need of a sling and pretty painless. There'll be some loss of strength, but hey, I've been living with a wrecked tendon for months now and had very little strength problems overall. Thus I'm quite positive all will be fine even if free climbing might be a bit more difficult in the future. Which I've never done before anyway :D
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    Thanks for the update! You'll come through with flying colors. Stay strong!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,413 Member
    Sounds hopeful. I bet you're glad to have the worst behind you. Too bad the fix didn't really happen completely but they/you had to try.

    Where's that "hug" thingy?

    Sending a gentle socially distanced hug.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    cmriverside wrote: »
    Sounds hopeful. I bet you're glad to have the worst behind you. Too bad the fix didn't really happen completely but they/you had to try.

    Where's that "hug" thingy?

    Sending a gentle socially distanced hug.

    Thanks a lot <3 *socially distance hug back* yeah, we discussed the possibility beforehand that they'll cut the tendon, and I was informed of all risks and advantages and was fine with it. They have lots of patients with connective tissue disorders and know fairly well what works and what doesn't, which is why I went with that hospital to start with. Thus no big surprise for me.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    snowflake954 wrote: »
    Thanks for the update! You'll come through with flying colors. Stay strong!

    Oh yes! I'm sure I will :) At least I had a surprising big amount of fun with the surgery. I should not admit it, but anesthesia is totally fascinating and .. kind of fun. :D
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    edited June 2023
    So far so good. Still no pain despite a massive cut. And my mobility is better than before this surgery. Lets see how this develops :) Of course I'm not allowed to do any active movements yet. Have to prevent the cut tendon from falling all the way into the lower arm :D Hmm.. would a biceps right on the elbow be an evolutionary advantage for desk workers?
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,176 Member
    That sounds like positive news so far, @yirara: I hope there will be continuing positive progress.

    If it's at all within personal control, I know there will be continuing positive changes, because you're the kind of person who really works at making that happen in wily and persistent ways.

    Virtual hugs and quick-healing wishes from me, too!
  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,842 Member
    Glad to hear you sound optimistic.

    What does this mean going forwards? I assume maybe the bicep will appear to move more to the outside of the arm? And I assume you'll have to be careful with straining it too much since that puts more strain on one tendon instead of two, e.g. avoiding under-hand barbell lifts at least on that side, and maybe avoiding pull-ups and chin-ups?
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,933 Member
    Just an update: things are looking good so far. Still not allowed to lift more than a piece of paper, and I'm only doing passive movements but I'm fine otherwise. Things look much better than the previous 6 months. I think I'm getting there. Spent last week in Egypt, looking at archaeology and snorkeling/freediving. Works with just one arm. No problem. So basically, still don't know how things look like strength-wise. I'm probably allowed to start slowly with strength in about two weeks.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,413 Member
    How difficult. Prayers for continued improvement. If you don't like prayers, sorry. I'm saying one anyway! It's really all I can do from here. :no_mouth:

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