Celebrating 100 Followers!!!

Logged in this afternoon to find that I have 102 followers.  Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog and following me through my Distal Bicep Tear, Surgery, and Recovery.  It's been a fun ride.

100 followers!

Thor Trailer

I know that this has absolutely nothing to do with my recovery from my distal bicep tear surgery, but I've been trying to post both updates and things that motivate me through recovery. I've just spent 20 minutes watching this trailer four times. This movie looks amazing. I'm not sure how long the video will be hosted, but enjoy if it's still there.

Physical Therapy

OK. I started Physical Therapy. Holy crap. I think these people are sadists. This man took great pleasure in causing me pain. He twisted and turned my arm in directions that it had a hard time getting into before surgery. I hurt that day, but I hurt even more the next day. I have some stretching exercises that I'm supposed to do, but wow, I can hardly lift my arm today.

So instead of inspiration, I'm giving you a video that put a smile on my face. I love this idea!

Daily inspiration -- a little bit naugty -- ok, a lot

So, I got my brace off this morning. If you don't know, I had distal bicep repair surgery last month. I tore my bicep and they had to reattach it to my forearm. I've been in a sling or the brace for over a month. It still hurts (a lot) but I'm actually able to do small things with my right hand like using a fork or putting gel in my hair. I still have to pee left handed though. I'm only allowed to lift three pounds or less (ba-dum-tum)

I only have to wear the to work, but I'm able to keep it off the rest of the day. It's a weird feeling and I still habitually hold my arm across my chest like it's in the brace. It probably looks odd to those that see me standing like that, but oh well.

Today's daily inspiration is a bit naughty, but she's funny.

How does a one armed man cut his fingernails?

So, I obsessed over this question all day.  How does a one armed man cut his fingernails.  My nails were getting pretty long and I was not able to hold the clippers in my right hand  and squeeze them.  I don't have much strength yet after my surgery.  I kept wondering the easiest way to clip them.  I would look at them and then look at the clippers.  I couldn't figure it out. 

Then I felt like a dumbass and realized that I could just bite them.  The simplest solution is generally the correct one. 

26 hours in two days

I'm seriously sore.  I've worked 26 hours in the past two days.  56 in the past five days.  I'm getting more flexibility in my arm.  I'm able to extend the Robocop Brace to the 60 degree setting and have that full range of motion now.  I feel guilty that there's so much work to be done moving things, but I can only sit there and direct traffic.  I'm only supposed to pick up things weighing less than three pounds.  That's not much.

Wearing a tie post distal bicep tear

Ok, so my job requires me to wear a tie.  I can get away without wearing a suit jacket, but a tie is definitely required.  In my last post I ranted a bit about how much of a pain in the ass it is to only have full use of one arm. (See this link for the reason for my useless right arm)

So, back to the tie.  Have you ever tried to tie one with only one hand?  Effin ridiculous.  I'm getting used to brushing my teeth left handed, and typing one handed is getting quicker, but this tie thing is pissing me off.  I know that I will overcome this some how.  I figured out how to put on deodorant and am able to use the restroom without getting any (read much) on me.  But it's bugging me so much that I'm sitting here at 4:30 AM practicing how to tie a tie one handed. 

I think I may just stop at the store tomorrow and buy a clip on.

Long Day = Sore Morning

I probably should not have worked a 12 hour day on my second day back to work.  I didn't use my arm much, other than to type and write, but man, it hurt at the end of the night.  It's still sore after a night's sleep. 

I'm not supposed to use my right arm at all.  I was told to not hold anything in it heavier than a fork.  That doesn't make much sense to me though.  I can hold a fork, but can't get the damn thing to my mouth because of the brace.  That said, I'm still eating left handed.

That brings up another thought.  I challenge you.  Yes, a challenge.  If you are right handed, I challenge you to do things left handed today.  If you're left handed, then do it the other way around.  You will notice how much of a pain in the ass it is (literally).  Try brushing your teeth with the other hand.  How do your gums feel after doing that.  Get dressed one handed. Pull up your pants and zip your zipper with the other hand.  Put deodorant on your left armpit using your left hand.  I tried using aerosol and wound up spraying it in my eyes.  Open a jar of mayo or peanut butter.  You get the point.

So that's my challenge for the day readers.  Are you up for it?  It seriously will be a pain in the ass, especially when you wipe.  Now, that's an adventure.

Back to work

First day back to work after my distal bicep repair surgery. I've been out since September 9, and surprisingly, it felt good to be back.  Sitting on the couch watching TV and surfing the net all day gets a bit boring after a while.  How many times can you hear Maury Povich say "You are not the father". 

I got asked often about my robocop brace (a Breg T-scope elbow) and had to explain often how it worked.  There's a dial on the side that lets you set how far you want to let your arm flex (bring your hand to your shoulder) or extend (straighten your arm).  Currently, I am able to set free flex.  It hurts like a bitch, but at least I can move my arm a bit.  Not far enough to scratch my nose, but getting closer every day.  I keep my elbow at 90 degrees most of the day.  I am able to straighten it a few times a day to stretch and slowly get my arm ready for physical therapy. 

Only 3 1/2 weeks more with the brace and then I get to take it off.  I seem to be allergic to it as I'm breaking out and getting mutant blisters from it, but it helps keep the pain down.

Still not using any heavy meds to mask the pain.  Only Tylenol. 

distal bicep tear repair going well

My sling came off today.  It felt great to be able to scratch the skin that has been stuffed under bandages for the past two weeks.  Taking the tape off the incision sucked.  Here's a pic of the what was below all the bandages and tape.

 And here's the view from the back.  Have you watched the video below to see what the surgery was?  It was a distal bicep tear repair.

Still cant use my right arm much.  It's in a brace that looks like this:

I just don't look as good as this model