#backinthegamept

 Some have probably wondered where I’ve been. Some know and would probably like an update. Well, let’s go back. Back to GBAA State and NFAA SE Sectionals in March 2016. For me, it was an awful tournament. My worst yet. I have had trouble with my wrist off and on for a couple of years, but during that tournament the pain had actually gotten bad enough that I allowed my coach to wrap my wrist to get me through to the end of Sunday’s shooting.

I went to see my GP that Tuesday and he said sprain, but was going to send the xrays off to be examined. I’m not an xray reading expert, but I have had plenty of xrays of my own wrist and ankles that I took one look and knew it wasn’t a sprain. I waited a couple of weeks and then sought out an orthopedist. He took an xray and didn’t like what he saw. He took an MRI and didn’t like what he saw. For I was correct, what was wrong with my wrist was not a sprain, but rather a cyst inside the bone causing my pain and discomfort. Orthopedist said surgery. So there went the 2016 Archery Outdoor Season!!!

So, surgery was scheduled for June 3rd. But the pain was getting pretty bad. That after calling the office and them trying two (2) different prescription pain meds - which neither one worked on me at all - I finally asked that if this surgeon couldn’t do the surgery sooner, is there someone else that could do it. Within the hour my surgery had been rescheduled for May 20th. So I went from the day before surgery with taking 1000mg of Tylenol which barely dulled the pain - to - the day after surgery and taking no pain meds of any kind. Oh Lord, did that feel so much better. Now to suffer the next 6 weeks in a cast up and around my elbow...... That was NOT fun!! Not in the middle of summer in Georgia, but I survived. It actually wasn’t a traditional plaster cast. They originally wrapped my arm in this post op split brace (because staples were to be removed a week after surgery), and they actually re-wrapped my arm up in that after removing the staples. Since it was split along two sides and only wrapped around my elbow just above the joint it didn’t get quite as hot as a traditional full arm plaster cast. The tech that did the re-wrap after taking the staples out asked me what color wrapping I wanted. I said how about Red, White and Blue! She said she had Red and Blue. lol I told her ok, just wrap it up in Blue. She asked if she could have a little fun with my wrapping. I said sure, and this is what I got.....

This was her attempt at Red, White and Blue with what she had to work with. I give her an A++ for the attempt and the out-of-the-box thinking.

The cast officially came off on June 28th and the surgeon said I didn’t have to wear a brace and no PT was needed. That flexibility would come back on it’s own with use. NO PT!!!! That didn’t sit well with me. Not with me, my parents, my GP, my friends, my co-workers, the doctors and surgeons that my co-workers talked to.... It’s like the entire universe was have a collective - WTH!!! After a week of being out of the cast and still not even being able to put a spoon or a fork in my mouth without switching hands my GP had had enough and he ordered PT. Which in the end worked out extremely well. The surgeon that operated on my wrist is based out of Athens and since I live in the Buford area he knew no one to refer me to down here anyways. He even said that if he referred me for PT it would have been with someone he knew in the Athens area. Given that Athens is an hour drive from my house, I’m super happy that my GP referred me.

My physical therapists Andrew and Brendon at Back In The Game are great. First working with me to just get flexibility back. After three sessions I could turn the key in the ignition of my car without having to reach around the steering wheel with my left hand. A few weeks later, I surprised myself and my parents as I sat at the kitchen table and just automatically put a spoon full of Shells n’ Cheese in my mouth without even flinching. That was awesome!!!

Once the surgeon’s weight restriction was lifted on August 28th, we began working more on weight management and building strength back up. Push-ups are still a little tough to do, but I’m getting there.

Along with the release the surgeon gave me for the weight restriction, he gave me a release to start back with archery on September 28th. But for my peace of mind, I wanted an xray prior to officially doing anything archery related. So on September 22, I went in for an xray. The surgeon came in and before he could even get the door closed I asked, “How the xray, doc?” He responded my telling me that it looks absolutely wonderful. That I’m a very fast healer for I am much further along than he would have expected and fully cleared me to resume all work duties and everything archer stating, “I know you said that you wanted to be able to start stretch band work, but I see no reason why you can’t start shooting you bow.” - YES!!!!

So, on Saturday, September 24th, 2016 I took my bow out to my backyard and shot arrows for the first time since the first weekend of March. After seven (7) long months and one major surgery I was shooting again. Ok, it was only at 5 meters, but still - one has to start somewhere!!