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swatsurgeon · 02-16-2008, 14:59

I am now 24 hours after my surgery, living on oxycodone and alleve and it still hurts like a blow torch is aimed at my right elbow.
Had a scalene block that lasted ~12 hours and the surgery showed evil and badness. Most of the extensor tendons had separated off and other significant degenerative changes seen...leaking senovial fluid from the time of incision...it was a mess (as per the ortho surgeon). He wondered how the arm functioned so well these last 3 months.....and how i didn't have more pain to get me here sooner.
3 months non-weight bearing on my operating/dominant arm, followed by 2-3 months 'low' stress to it in terms of extention/supination, wear splint everyday not operating and may still need reoperative surgery......just what a surgeon wants to hear!!!!
Anyway, worst is over but pain is a wonderful reminder that I am still functioning.
TS, this would explain my left of center groups shooting the other day as I was likely compensating for the arm.....yes, spent the day with TS shooting AND IT CAUSED PAIN....but it was worth it.
No more shooting for 3-4 months as per the doc.....good thing the support hand shoots nearly as well as the strong side.

Physical and occupational therapy begin in 3 weeks......

It all comes down to the degree of injury that truly can't be assessed until the arm is opened and the surgeon does a retinal scan on the injury...MRI's just don't tell the entire story. As for experiences to share: if your joints hurt, get them looked at; pain is the result of injury and is telling you something. Had I let mine go too much longer, more complex reconstructive surgery would have been likely with a less of a chance at near complete functional recovery....so listen to your body!!!!

ss

02-16-2008, 14:59	#8
swatsurgeon Guerrilla Chief Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 880	I am now 24 hours after my surgery, living on oxycodone and alleve and it still hurts like a blow torch is aimed at my right elbow. Had a scalene block that lasted ~12 hours and the surgery showed evil and badness. Most of the extensor tendons had separated off and other significant degenerative changes seen...leaking senovial fluid from the time of incision...it was a mess (as per the ortho surgeon). He wondered how the arm functioned so well these last 3 months.....and how i didn't have more pain to get me here sooner. 3 months non-weight bearing on my operating/dominant arm, followed by 2-3 months 'low' stress to it in terms of extention/supination, wear splint everyday not operating and may still need reoperative surgery......just what a surgeon wants to hear!!!! Anyway, worst is over but pain is a wonderful reminder that I am still functioning. TS, this would explain my left of center groups shooting the other day as I was likely compensating for the arm.....yes, spent the day with TS shooting AND IT CAUSED PAIN....but it was worth it. No more shooting for 3-4 months as per the doc.....good thing the support hand shoots nearly as well as the strong side. Physical and occupational therapy begin in 3 weeks...... It all comes down to the degree of injury that truly can't be assessed until the arm is opened and the surgeon does a retinal scan on the injury...MRI's just don't tell the entire story. As for experiences to share: if your joints hurt, get them looked at; pain is the result of injury and is telling you something. Had I let mine go too much longer, more complex reconstructive surgery would have been likely with a less of a chance at near complete functional recovery....so listen to your body!!!! ss __________________ 'Revel in action, translate perceptions into instant judgements, and these into actions that are irrevocable, monumentous and dreadful - all this with lightning speed, in conditions of great stress and in an environment of high tension:what is expected of "us" is the impossible, yet we deliver just that. (adapted from: Sherwin B. Nuland, MD, surgeon and author: The Wisdom of the Body, 1997 ) Education is the anti-ignorance we all need to better treat our patients. ss, 2008. The blade is so sharp that the incision is perfect. They don't realize they've been cut until they're out of the fight: A Surgeon Warrior. I use a knife to defend life and to save it. ss (aka traumadoc)
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