Author Topic: I started physical therapy today!! (Read 2695 times)

dustyc · « **on:** June 30, 2008, 06:59:07 PM »

And they took out my stitches. Woo hoo. I never dreamed my fingers would stiffen up so much from just 3 weeks of non-use. Being able to ride again is my main motivation. It's hard to measure the progress, but I'd say I'm almost 1/4 of the way to being able to make a fist. Yesterday I'd say I was at 1/32, so that's some good progress for the first day. Straightening my fingers beyond where they've been sitting is harder work than regaining the flexibility. It feels like I'm trying to lift 5000 lbs. I'm sending the signals to move, but they just won't go. I'm sure they will eventually with some work. I think it's too early to try to set a goal for riding again, but if I can keep steady progress like today, I think I could grab the clutch lever by the weekend. Not that I'd try riding this weekend, ...but maybe next weekend.

Anyway, I figured I'd give y'all an update and thanks for all the support. Special thanks to tank410 and Honda! for being patient about the things we had going on. The roulette gauge faces are in the mail Timmy.

BobbyR · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2008, 07:43:34 PM »

Rehab always starts slowly but it picks up speed given time. I takes time for the signals to find the right path, once they do and the muscles and tendons become flexable you will be much better.

bill440cars · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2008, 08:02:23 PM »

dusty, just don't let the urge to ride, get you to try to get there too quickly.

We all know how those "riding Urges" can be.

Good to know you are on the mend.

droopy · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2008, 08:09:44 PM »

hey dusty what part of Georgia you in?

kghost · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2008, 08:39:16 PM »

Glad to hear your truely on the mend.

Keep after it.

troppo · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2008, 08:47:27 PM »

Its all up from here mate, glad to hear you`ve started, you`ll be on the mend in no time now

dustyc · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:05:13 PM »

Hey droopy, I'm in Athens. What's that about an hour or so from Hartwell?

Bill, I want to ride so bad I can taste it. I can ride through the winter here, so I've been able to ride nearly any time since I got my first bike running this time last year. But I'll work my way back to it. I'm patient enough to take the small steps it's going to take to do it safely. I'm prepared t wait as long as September if need be.

Bobby, I'm hopeful the messages will get through with some practice. I'm super happy that the time has passed so fast and that I'm healing right and got the green light to start therapy rather than another month confined to the splint 24-7.

droopy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:17:00 PM »

about an hour or so. sounds like a ride to meet up later this year

dustyc · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:28:59 PM »

Sure thing. If we did it up at the lake, we might be able to get some of the South Carolinians there too since it's right on the border. And it might sound fun enough to draw some of the other Georgians.

droopy · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:38:29 PM »

sounds like we need to plan a 4 corners get together

dustyc · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2008, 02:43:31 PM »

I'm definitely up for a get together with some forum members.

I can work my clutch now... I don't have the flexibility to be safe though if I had to react quickly and it hurts like hell to do it still. But I'm hopeful that I'll be riding again before I thought I would.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2008, 02:44:46 PM »

Glad to hear you're on the mend, Dusty. Do NOT rush your PT, that can be just as bad as not doing it at all. Overextending yourself at this point can cause complications later on.

Cheers
mystic_1

Johnie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2008, 04:13:44 PM »

Yah...good point mystic. So dustbuster, are you out there sitting on the bike and working that clutch for PT or what???

Hope your mend is short and you can ride soon!!!

kghost · « **Reply #13 on:** July 02, 2008, 04:28:09 PM »

Update?

Or you giving us the finger?

dustyc · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2008, 05:10:25 PM »

Quote from: kghost on July 02, 2008, 04:28:09 PM

Update?

Or you giving us the finger?

Funny cause my middle finger is the least flexible, so if I flex them all to their max, I'm left with the bird.

Quote from: Johnie on July 02, 2008, 04:13:44 PM

So dustbuster, are you out there sitting on the bike and working that clutch for PT or what???

Naah, I just gave it a shot to see how it is.

Here's how it looks today:

kghost · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2008, 05:12:58 PM »

Really looking good!

I expecially like the half case in the background.

You Sir know the best kind of therapy

Thanks for the update we're pullin for ya.

dustyc · « **Reply #16 on:** July 07, 2008, 04:03:01 AM »

Ya like that huh?

It's been a week and I'm at about 75% to making a fist. A little bit more movement every day or every couple days, though I'm having a tough time making it beyond where I'm at now. And man it's painful, to the point of putting me in a bad mood.

I rode the bike down the street and back. I was going to ride to the store, but my tire was flat. I think perhaps my neighbor may have let the air out of the tire to keep me from riding. He knows what a hardhead I am. I'll have to ask him about it. He's like a brother, so I wouldn't get too mad if he messed with my bike for my own good(known him 20 years otherwise I'd be pi$$ed). I'll know he did if the valve core is gone.

So that's my update. I can't wait for the final update when I can say I'm done and back to normal.

bill440cars · « **Reply #17 on:** July 07, 2008, 04:58:36 AM »

Quote from: dustyc on July 07, 2008, 04:03:01 AM

Ya like that huh?

It's been a week and I'm at about 75% to making a fist. A little bit more movement every day or every couple days, though I'm having a tough time making it beyond where I'm at now. And man it's painful, to the point of putting me in a bad mood.

I rode the bike down the street and back. I was going to ride to the store, but my tire was flat. I think perhaps my neighbor may have let the air out of the tire to keep me from riding. He knows what a hardhead I am. I'll have to ask him about it. He's like a brother, so I wouldn't get too mad if he messed with my bike for my own good(known him 20 years otherwise I'd be pi$$ed). I'll know he did if the valve core is gone.

So that's my update. I can't wait for the final update when I can say I'm done and back to normal.

Sounds like something a caring Buddy might do.

Being somewhat of a "Hardhead" myself, I can understand that.

You take care of yourself and don't take a chance of Undoing what ever progress you have made.

I've got a lot of Dutch blood in me and my Granddad was affectionately called "Hardhead", bvut not by me (He'd kick my Butt!)

cleveland · « **Reply #18 on:** July 07, 2008, 10:27:29 AM »

Quote from: kghost on July 02, 2008, 05:12:58 PM

I expecially like the half case in the background.

He meant to do that.

Good to hear you are well on your way to ridding again.

dustyc · « **Reply #19 on:** July 07, 2008, 01:39:56 PM »

Of course I did. The floor is cluttered, so I picked a nice piece of clutter.

masonryman · « **Reply #20 on:** July 07, 2008, 02:39:13 PM »

I have not been around these parts much the last several months, I just seen the hand pic so I dug up the first post. It sounds like you were pretty lucky. Physical therapy sucks.

I had a injury a few years ago that made impossible to ride and it was had it resist the temptation. I got my elbow in a fan blade on my work truck, it was a compound break of both bones requiring 4 screws to repair. The good thing about the screws, there was no need for a cast so therapy started the next week. I was back to work and riding in 6 weeks total.

Good luck with the therapy, the only thing that sucks more than therapy is scar tissue.

cleveland · « **Reply #21 on:** July 07, 2008, 03:00:15 PM »

Quote from: masonryman on July 07, 2008, 02:39:13 PM

I got my elbow in a fan blade on my work truck, it was a compound break of both bones requiring 4 screws to repair.

Ouch!

dustyc · « **Reply #22 on:** July 17, 2008, 10:07:16 PM »

Here's the latest update...

I went and got checked out Monday. The doctor was impressed with my progress. He said most people would be half as far as I am by this point. He said physical therapy isn't needed anymore since I can now make a fist.

The swelling has gone down in my ring finger and I can straighten it. My ring finger is still swollen and I can't straighten it except for manually moving it with my other hand. At that point, I can hold it straight for a few seconds, then it goes back to where it likes to be.

He said I've still got 6 weeks of healing to do, so only gentle exercise.

On the plus side, I took a ride on Tuesday. On the negative side, I had to take some pain medicine when I got home.

It's still stiff and usually either feels like I've been hit by a hammer or someone's crushing my joints in little vises.

Still a dead/numb spot on my ring finger, but I think it might have gotten a little smaller. I'd really love it if the nerves repaired themselves fast.

So I'm still healing, but hopeful. Glad to have fit a ride in. I think another week or 2 and I'll be able to do it without painful after effects.

cleveland · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2008, 10:34:01 PM »

Quote from: dustyc on July 17, 2008, 10:07:16 PM

Here's the latest update...

I went and got checked out Monday. The doctor was impressed with my progress. He said most people would be half as far as I am by this point. He said physical therapy isn't needed anymore since I can now make a fist.

The swelling has gone down in my ring finger and I can straighten it. My ring finger is still swollen and I can't straighten it except for manually moving it with my other hand. At that point, I can hold it straight for a few seconds, then it goes back to where it likes to be.

That's very good news! Be careful not to over do it and end up back tracking.

Becky said, "I feel great today!" then she came home from work and was in twice the pain for 2 days. So take it easy and think of the long run.

masonryman · « **Reply #24 on:** July 18, 2008, 09:16:16 AM »

"I went and got checked out Monday. The doctor was impressed with my progress. He said most people would be half as far as I am by this point. He said physical therapy isn't needed anymore since I can now make a fist."

Did you tell the Doc, I had to get better fast, the would not stop talking to me from the garage. "ride me, don't you love me any more." On second thought, it would be ever harder to ride in a stright jacket.

News:

Author Topic: I started physical therapy today!! (Read 2695 times)

troppo

masonryman

masonryman