Broken arm..

[Dom]

Hi,

 

I broke my ulna and dislocated my elbow about 7 weeks ago, have been out of cast for 3 weeks and doing a bit of hedge trimming and ladder work since, but no big climbs. Got a big old lump of metal holding my arm together. Have any other climbers had such bad injuries to their arms? And how long did it take to be fighting fit again? I can manage most tasks, but I don't think i'll be starting chainsaws in trees and dragging myself up 70ft of rope for a while.

 

I imagine it'll always give me aches and pains, but how long realistically do u think until it'll be comfortable enough to use naturally and confidently again?

 

Tis doing my tits in watching everyone else climb while I stand around raking up with one arm.

 

Anyone had any experience of broken bones in tree work?

[Arbocop]

Dom

 

may I ask how??

 

kev

[Andy Collins]

Not a break, but a few years ago I tore the muscle from the bone from the base of the bicep through the elbow and down the forearm. Doc put me on club for 20weeks, had full usage back in 12. I gave it loads of gentle workouts, tennis ball squeezing, then gentle barbell curls, until it was better. All I can say, is try to keep your overall physical strength up so when you go back to climbing you arent out of shape:001_smile:

[geoff]

Sorry to hear that, look after it and you will be alright, gentle phisio type exercise should help recovery, and preserve muscle. build up slowly try not to do too much repetetive or jarring stuff for a while,and eat well like oily fish(makerel etc).

[atree]

only 2 broken ankles,fall from tree 4months and still off,lots of metal 2...think ur self lucky

[arbogrunt]

I got a bad wrist break 20 years ago. It healed up ok but has now come back to haunt me!. I've got traumatic arthiritus and my tendons are giving me gip. The only way to deal with longterm injuries like this are ;

1. make sure your fully recovered before you get back to work

2. do all the physio you can get (privately if you have to)

3. use more ergonomic climbing methods - cam saver, rope guide, self-tending hitches etc and rig instead of throwing stuff out.

4. strap up the joint when you climb and put ice on it when you get in from work

or 5. get a job in a florists!!

 

Hope you have a speedy recovery mate!

[MattyF]

i dislocated and broke my arm years ago it still wont straighten up properly and i dread to think of the grief it will give me in the future as its quite bad now but atleast its still not bad enough to really effect my climbing.

[Dom]

Good advice, cheers.

 

I broke my arm in a wee accident with a gravity fed woodchipper/shredder combo. Something got caught in the shredding anvils and dragged my arm against the hopper, popped my elbow out backwards and snapped the ulna.

It all happened in a split second. I instantly knew it was broken and swore like a trooper!

And then I had to sit down and swear some more until the ambulance arrived, and I spent 4 days waiting for an "urgent" operation on the National Health...

 

Has been a bit of blessing in disguise, it's prompted me to delegate a lot of work, get a bigger chipper, and had a few weeks to sit down and do the dreaded paperwork.

[atree]

And then I had to sit down and swear some more until the ambulance arrived, and I spent 4 days waiting for an "urgent" operation on the National Health...

 

spent 10days waiting for a urgent operation,most frustrated 10days of my life!

[geoff]

That is a nasty accident,take time and let it heel properly.