My experience with elbow surgery

In early November of 2001 I had an orthopedic surgeon remove multiple bone spurs from my right elbow, near the area where the ulnar nerve passes. When I asked the surgeon about the recovery time he suggested that in three weeks I'd be healed. Well, the incision was healed but internally there was still some pain and swelling, particularly after windsurfing.

In the spring of 2002 I tried to play tennis again and THAT did not go well. More pain and swelling after just an hour of singles. I continued to windsurf, icing the elbow when the pain was too intense. Even typing on this keyboard would create elbow pain.

Finally in early August I was able to windsurf, play tennis and type without the ensuing pain that had inevitably come after those activities. Charles Ivey told me that the healing process would be slow, on the order of 8-10 months. He was right!

Slow indeed. I had radical elbow surgery to remove a lifetime of bone chips and abuse from baseball to tennis, and more than a few motocross wipeouts landing on the elbow (even hurt with pads.) I took 8-10 months to finally get back to normal. The good news is it never bothers me today, so Howard, look forward to an easier go from here on in.

In my case, they also excised the radial epicondyle and sectioned the tendon that used to attach to it (the 'it' is that bony point that sticks out on the side of the elbow

You guys scare me. My doc just tol' me today I'd be working hard in the yard in 3 months, WSing hard in four, after fixing several booboos in my shoulder. So I get cut (scope or filet, as required real time) in Nov when Da River drops to glove temps, and am back on my 3.5 by the time it hits bare hand temps again in late March. Is dis guy lyin' to me?

Mike m/

Mike I returned to the water four months after arthroscopic surgery. While I felt plenty strong for most land chores, I found more than an hour on the water to be taxing. Four weeks after that (a week short of five months post op) and I can sail two-three hours, with breaks every thirty minutes.

Mike wrote<< You guys scare me. My doc just tol' me today I'd be working hard in the yard in 3 months, WSing hard in four, after fixing several booboos in my shoulder. So I get cut (scope or filet, as required real time) in Nov when Da River drops to glove temps, and am back on my 3.5 by the time it hits bare hand temps again in late March. Is dis guy lyin' to me?

Mike m/

>>

Michael

I'm concerned that the doc's concern is shoulder integrity, rather than ability. Sounds like I need to a) clarify and b) look like Arnold

I'll rephrase my question to him: How soon can I expect to dominate the WWF? Good ... then I can sail a typical gusty nuke day a month sooner.

You guys tempt me to postpone surgery until it's NECESSARY, rather than fixing it preemptively before it shortens a season.

Mike m/

Mike, My .02 would be to get the surgery early rather than later. If your recovery goes a little slowly, you'll be tempted to push it a bit, and can get yourself into a setback (as I did a few months ago). The bitch about surgery recovery is that it you can feel great right up to the moment you overdo something. Michael

Even more true of broken bones. Doc and x-rays said it was healed, go forth and get back on the Yamaha what bit me.

Wrong. Felt strong, but one simple header and the collarbone was back in the sling. Same prospect exists with soft tissue surgery, which can come unzipped w/o warning.

Mike m/

It ain't the windsurfing, it's the stuff ya do with the rest of your time. I cracked my radius working on my house, have tennis elbow from poor ergonomics at work, and still have to deal with the after effects of tearing up my knee playing bball. Sailed last Thursday for the first time in 6 weeks with a wrist brace, an upper arm band, and a knee brace. Felt like Mad Max suiting up for battle.

solved? Probably something like that. You'll need a sport specific work out, so you either need to find a trainer who skis or ask this question on one of the water ski boards. There is no substitute for doing the sport. Can you ski once a week for the month before you go?

Won't go there, too much like arguing religion or politics. I suggest you do a Medline search, or grateful med, or whatever you prefer, and decide the merits of stretching for yourself.

re: Recovery time. Lots apples and oranges. My knee felt better the day after it was scoped. Your orthopod knows what he's going to do and about how long it should take to recover. Ask him. Part of his job. bs