Good days and bad days

This is the latter unfortunately.  

This is one of those days where you can really feel the ligament move around and it actually hurts.  It's not just sore or inflamed, it flat out hurts.  

You never know what you did to make it hurt either. Was it a bad lift at the gym? Was it weeding yesterday?  Was it something simple like moving the seats back in the car?  

Who knows?  All I know is that it hurts today.  So, it's going to be an "ice twice" day.  Once now...while it's hurting, and once again after I run through my PT routine this afternoon.

Long road.  It feels like it just gets longer and longer.  I have to remember though that I can do a LOT more now than I could in the beginning.  It's actually pretty amazing.  I'm doing shoulder exercises with 5 pounds now instead of 2.  Just a lot of different and interesting things that you realize you can now do.  That's probably important to keep in mind as you recover.  You need to have your little mileposts as you go and be sure to recognize each time you pass a milepost. 

It's easier to say than do, but it's important.  

Been a while

It's been a bit since I've posted and I sincerely apologize. There frankly hasn't been a lot to say lately.

My rehab is progressing.  There are a lot of days where it's frustrating that I have to spend so much time on it. Just last weekend I was going through my normal workout on a Saturday when it came time to go and I was only halfway through my bouncy ball work.  Katy was good enough to let me finish and STILL help me do my tosses with the plyoball.

She's had to get used to that.  The workout is that I stand facing away from her with the plyoball (2lbs) in my right hand.  I have my elbow forward and palm down.  I then have to flip the ball back to Katy who catches it and hands it back. We do a series of these (2 sets/20 per) which includes me being prone and flipping it back as well as Katy tossing it over my shoulder while I'm on a knee.  I then have to catch it and complete the throwing motion backwards back to her.

Well, her patience is great though I've thrown it a bit hard a few times and have nailed her right in the chest.  She has stuck with it though.

The site is still tender every day but I feel like the numb spot has only gotten smaller.  It seems that the scar tissue is starting to break up around there.  I've also been more diligent with icing right after my PT.

It could be a while before I'm back throwing.  The surgeon said 3 months from my last checkup which puts me in mid-September.  That's not much fun.  I'm not sure how much more I can do in the next couple of months that is so vastly different from what I have been doing.

It keeps feeling like I'm hitting walls and I want to keep moving forward.  It's frustrating more than not. The biggest thing is that the work is getting easier and easier. Even in my gym workouts I've started putting 3 pounds in my right hand for most exercises.  So, that's something I guess.  The PT work is definitely making me stronger.  That's a plus as well.

They said this would be a long road and I'm only 3 and a half months in.  It feels much longer than that.

Wax on....

Whoa boy have I been busy!

I've learned a few more new workouts from Ken.  The latest is a series with the giant yoga balls.

Pick up the ball and put it on a wall with your hand holding it in place.  Give a little bit of a lean into the ball just so there's some pressure on it.

Now, you do the Mr. Miyagi routine:  Wax on (rotate left 20 times) Wax off (rotate right 20 times).  Then you paint the fence (move side-side and up-down 20 times). I think the one thing he didn't do was move diagonally, but here you do. Diagonally right and left 20 times each.

Did I mention you do this all facing directly toward the ball and then repeat standing to the side of the ball? Oh, and do both arms.

This will absolutely make you stronger.  I've seen the results in the gym many times already and am becoming a very firm believer in these small muscle exercises.  They support the bigger muscles which I can easily hit in the gym.

Speaking of the gym, I started lifting again with my right arm. I did dumbbell bench presses with a whole two pounds in my right hand.  That's right folks...be wary of my might.

One other quick thing: Sounds like Jamie Moyer is with the Blue Jays farm system and should pitch against the Rainers on Thursday.  If you are in Tacoma, get there!

Doctor's Update

I saw the doctor again yesterday for what should be my final follow up.  They measured a few things including the angles that my elbow can bend at (0, 140 for those keeping score), grip strength, and the side to side movement of my elbow.

The diagnosis was that I was ahead of schedule for everything.  Grip strength surprised both of them which I'm attributing to squeezing those dumb towel rolls 60 times a day.  The elbow is tight and healing and the muscle tone and everything looked fine.

My pain has gone down quite a bit and it's more muscle soreness now. If I do get pain, it's right at the site of the incision.  If you feel it, it's still slightly swollen as there's probably a ton of scar tissue that has build up there.  Pressing on the ligament itself is also known to be sore, but most of the time it's just oddly numb.  It's a bit hard to describe....but numb.

PT is going extremely well.  I have a new series of shoulder work that I need to work in twice a week now.  The best news of all is that I get to rest on the 7th day.  No more 7 days a week of PT!  I get a day off now.  Oh, thank merciful heavens.  Man, it's tough to hit the gym and still do another hour every single day of the weeks.

So, as it was intended...on the 7th day I will rest. Ahhhhhhh......

Keeping your arm dry in the shower: PRO TIP!

My friend Adam Paulson found this awesome product that is designed to keep your arm dry while you're in the shower.  Unfortunately, Adam is getting surgery on his fractured wrist tomorrow so this has quickly become a necessity in his life.  Be well buddy!

One of the toughest things to do is keep your arm dry in the shower. Trust me, trying to tie up Safeway bags around your arm isn't exactly a great time...especially when doing it with one hand. Luckily, I had some help.

So, sure, this is costs a little more than a couple of plastic bags from Safeway, but it would be worth it. Trust me. If you have TJ surgery, or any arm related surgery, this thing will be an absolute lifesaver.

http://drycorp.com/content/how-to-works-cast-and-bandage-protector/index.html 

Twice?

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/eye-on-baseball/19378540/report-jays-kyle-drabek-to-undergo-another-tommy-john-surgery/rss

Kyle Drabek goes in for a second surgery.

You know, I'd really consider altering my mechanics....

My Padres

The blog will be dull this week.  I am heading out to all 3 Padres games at Safeco field.

Besides Spring Training, this is as good as it gets for me.  My Padres against my second favorite team the Mariners.  Now, let's be really clear.  These will not be monstrous games.  These two teams are bad.  Actually terrible.

Neither team can really hit and the defense is suspect.  Maybe there will be some pitching with Felix and Edinson throwing a few of the nights.

Ultimately, it doesn't matter. I love these teams. I grew up bleeding Padres blues/sand/tan/grey and formerly mustard yellow/brown.  I've grown to love the Mariners as my second team.  I remember the Garvey home run and the call of "the double". I cheered for Trevor when he set the saves record and Ichiro when he set the single season hits record. I heard the gloves pop when Jake Peavy and Randy Johnson pitched. I remember the Kingdome and the Murph.  

This is bad baseball but it's my favorite brand of bad baseball.