I ran today for the first time since I injured myself. It wasn't a long run, and it wasn't a hard run - it was the first run. It felt great. It felt as a new beginning.
I did spend considerable time hiking since surgery, and all of that was done in a careful manner - no slips, no falls, as I had to protect my arm. I wasn't supposed to do it, but I did it.
But I haven't run, until today.
Today, my arm was working. Not as how it should, and how it did, but it was sufficient for my run. I ran for 5 km, all flat, went for 2.5 km, and then turned back. I did it in 25 minutes. This would be considered slow, in normal circumstances, but today it felt fast.
I was feeling my arm, and it was moving almost as any normal, healthy arm. It did feel stiff, and I've felt its limited mobility. I am still far away from even functional mobility.
It will take long time to get it back. Mobility.
Two days ago I tried to hold a guitar, and play, but it didn't work. I can't bend my arm enough, so that I could play harmonies. I can do individual notes, and simple chords, but nothing else. And I get tired, my wrist, my hand, common extensor and flexor tendons get really tired.
Last time I ran on July 17th, and I almost don't remember it. I did go "running" in the meantime, except I didn't run, as I was just walking around a track, or up ski hill. It did help me to increase my heart rate. It did convince me that I can still do it.
I did run 5 laps on a track, and that felt good too, but I don't count it.
I have been walking every day. Between 8 and 10 km. Carrying a bag with soup cans in it. I carry it with my recovering arm, so that it can get extension - I do it for 2 km, and then next 20 minutes I work on my wrist mobility - pronation and supination. And then again I carry the bag, and then again wrist exercises.
I add more weight every couple of days.
Another aspect of this story is that I am using both hands as I am typing. My arm is good enough to allow me to type on a keyboard. I cannot type for a long time, as my wrist and forearm gets very sore, and I feel pain. I stop a bit, take some rest, and continue. As my friend Jack said, it is a child's phase, where I am (re)learning new skills, and new synapses in my brain are created.
It is amazing feeling to be able to type. I wish I were able to write, but that's taking a bit more time. Well, I've learned how to write with my other hand, so I can claim that I am ambidextrous :)
I will run now on a daily basis - to built it up, to get where I was before. I will do a test run in 3 weeks, to do 10 km under 50 minutes. And yes, that is still ueber slow, but it will work at this stage.
I also started working on my biceps and triceps muscles, including forearm muscles. My arm experienced atrophy, so I have to fix it. I am doing it on my own, as there is no existing protocol for me in a physio therapy world. My physio therapist haven't seen such elbow damage in his career, so everything in regards to physio is (will be) new.
This was a special case. I wish it were not.
I am dreaming about racing again.
I did spend considerable time hiking since surgery, and all of that was done in a careful manner - no slips, no falls, as I had to protect my arm. I wasn't supposed to do it, but I did it.
But I haven't run, until today.
Today, my arm was working. Not as how it should, and how it did, but it was sufficient for my run. I ran for 5 km, all flat, went for 2.5 km, and then turned back. I did it in 25 minutes. This would be considered slow, in normal circumstances, but today it felt fast.
I was feeling my arm, and it was moving almost as any normal, healthy arm. It did feel stiff, and I've felt its limited mobility. I am still far away from even functional mobility.
It will take long time to get it back. Mobility.
Two days ago I tried to hold a guitar, and play, but it didn't work. I can't bend my arm enough, so that I could play harmonies. I can do individual notes, and simple chords, but nothing else. And I get tired, my wrist, my hand, common extensor and flexor tendons get really tired.
Last time I ran on July 17th, and I almost don't remember it. I did go "running" in the meantime, except I didn't run, as I was just walking around a track, or up ski hill. It did help me to increase my heart rate. It did convince me that I can still do it.
I did run 5 laps on a track, and that felt good too, but I don't count it.
I have been walking every day. Between 8 and 10 km. Carrying a bag with soup cans in it. I carry it with my recovering arm, so that it can get extension - I do it for 2 km, and then next 20 minutes I work on my wrist mobility - pronation and supination. And then again I carry the bag, and then again wrist exercises.
I add more weight every couple of days.
Another aspect of this story is that I am using both hands as I am typing. My arm is good enough to allow me to type on a keyboard. I cannot type for a long time, as my wrist and forearm gets very sore, and I feel pain. I stop a bit, take some rest, and continue. As my friend Jack said, it is a child's phase, where I am (re)learning new skills, and new synapses in my brain are created.
It is amazing feeling to be able to type. I wish I were able to write, but that's taking a bit more time. Well, I've learned how to write with my other hand, so I can claim that I am ambidextrous :)
I will run now on a daily basis - to built it up, to get where I was before. I will do a test run in 3 weeks, to do 10 km under 50 minutes. And yes, that is still ueber slow, but it will work at this stage.
I also started working on my biceps and triceps muscles, including forearm muscles. My arm experienced atrophy, so I have to fix it. I am doing it on my own, as there is no existing protocol for me in a physio therapy world. My physio therapist haven't seen such elbow damage in his career, so everything in regards to physio is (will be) new.
This was a special case. I wish it were not.
I am dreaming about racing again.
