Broke my elbow!

[chollyred]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Three weeks ago, I had a skateboard accident and broke the radius head right at the elbow. The orthopedist kept it out of a cast to help prevent loss of mobility in the elbow joint itself. He says it'll be at least two months before I can swing a racket. He hasn't said yet, but I'm suspecting it'll take several more weeks of therapy afterward.

After three weeks, I can straighten to nearly 180 degrees, and can bend nearly as far as my other arm. The problem is with rotation. Pronation (palm down) is nearly as good as my other arm, but supination (palm up) is only about 45 degrees.

Has anyone else here ever done this? I've searched, but can't find anything except tennis elbow. If so, how long did it take to recover? Any long term repercussions? Have to change rackets, etc?

 

[wyutani]

i broke my elbow once, took me about 3 months to recover.

 

[PimpMyGame]

Hi chollyred

I broke my elbow this May (3.5 months ago) playing football. My fracture sounds very similar to yours, right at the point of the elbow and was not cast too.

Your break seems to be healing very well compared to mine. I was probably away from tennis for 6 weeks and didn't play to any level for about 3 weeks after that. Fortunately I broke my left elbow and I'm right-handed.

After several visits to the physio at the local hospital my elbow wasn't getting any better so I booked in for sessions with a private physio. After two of these I feel much better. I have still lost about 30 degrees of straightness but I have very little pain, maybe a bit of soreness at the end of a day.

I think your supination will get better in the coming weeks, if I recall correctly mine came back virtually 100% weeks 5-6.

There is still a question mark over whether I will get my arm fully straight again, but I am doing all the exercises recommended by my new physio, going to the gym (not overdoing it) and will start a new regime of swimming in the coming days.

If I can offer any advice, I would say three things are vital - regular, weekly visits to your physio, keep up with the exercises your physio gives you and don't rush the mending process. In the early days I didn't do all three (the first two I blame on my first physio) and I may never get back to how I was before.

I wish you the best of luck and a speedy recovery!

 

[Lsmkenpo]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Three weeks ago, I had a skateboard accident and broke the radius head right at the elbow. The orthopedist kept it out of a cast to help prevent loss of mobility in the elbow joint itself. He says it'll be at least two months before I can swing a racket. He hasn't said yet, but I'm suspecting it'll take several more weeks of therapy afterward.

After three weeks, I can straighten to nearly 180 degrees, and can bend nearly as far as my other arm. The problem is with rotation. Pronation (palm down) is nearly as good as my other arm, but supination (palm up) is only about 45 degrees.

Has anyone else here ever done this? I've searched, but can't find anything except tennis elbow. If so, how long did it take to recover? Any long term repercussions? Have to change rackets, etc?

I broke my radial head also,about 5 years ago, you seem pretty fortunate if you have regained all your extension and flexion so early, that is very good news.

I permanently lost about 30 degrees extension and supination,but my break required 3 surgeries to correct.

The key to regaining all motion is rehabilitation excercise, and breaking up all the scar tissue that has formed, I had about 6 months of physical therapy 3 times a week.

There is a brace called DynaSplint that works wonders for regaining supination and pronation, you wear it 30 min. a day and it dynamically stretches your elbow to improve motion, they also have one for extension and flexion, these braces made a huge difference for me, you should ask your doctor about one if you are worried about regaining all motion.