Dislocated elbow

[Rich990]

I dislocated my left elbow a few days ago while playing in the new berms at the spruit.

 

It was a complete dislocation with a suspected small fracture near the socket but the orthopedic surgeon said it wasn't significant enough to operate.

 

Just wondering if anyone here has dislocated an elbow, and if so, how the recovery and physio etc went, and whether you're back on a bike at full strength again?

 

I'm 34 years old, and it's my left elbow, which is also my dominant hand.

 

Thanks!

Edited December 23, 2018 by Rich990

[corriekuilder]

Eina, strongs on recovery, do not skimp on a Physio

[DJR]

Like Corrie said: The physio is key to full recovery and long term stability of the joint. See a good physio, preferably one working with sports injuries and do your exercises at home religiously. I would also follow the medic and physio instructions to the letter re, future riding and not start too early. Ask about a good brace especially when getting back on the bike. Start riding where you are unlikely to fall again. Indoor trainer before tar road before dirt road before easy trails before tricky trails. All just to get the elbow up to full strength before jumping road gaps!

 

Edit: I haven't done an elbow, but I have done wrist x 2 and collarbone x 1.

Edited December 24, 2018 by DJR

[Vetseun]

I dislocated my left elbow a few days ago while playing in the new berms at the spruit.

It was a complete dislocation with a suspected small fracture near the socket but the orthopedic surgeon said it wasn't significant enough to operate.

Just wondering if anyone here has dislocated an elbow, and if so, how the recovery and physio etc went, and whether you're back on a bike at full strength again?

I'm 34 years old, and it's my left elbow, which is also my dominant hand.

Thanks!

Faaark that looks eina.

Strongs with the recovery

[ichnusa]

I had a compound fracture dislocation of the elbow. Got full extension back by putting a kg or two of weight in my hand and hanging it over a table or chairs edge...

[Thomo]

+-6weeks since I fractured my elbow, shoulder and ribs.

Relying on "normal activity" (and time in the pool with the little one) to positively influence extension and range of motion.

Been back on the idt for a few weeks but decided to hold off on going out until after Xmas.

Good luck with the recovery.

[anybody seen george?]

Basically what everybody said, follow ortho and then physio.

But I would finish it off with a biokineticist.

 

I did not have a elbow injury but a knee issue. I felt very weak the after I got cleared by ortho and physio to start riding again and went back to physio. She refered me to the bio.

Best thing ever.

 

So the way the physio explained it too me was I focus on getting the joint strong, it's range of motion and its stability. The bio builds up the muscles working on and with the joint and gets you in equilibrium again with your other knee.

[Clinton H]

Basically what everybody said, follow ortho and then physio.

But I would finish it off with a biokineticist.

I did not have a elbow injury but a knee issue. I felt very weak the after I got cleared by ortho and physio to start riding again and went back to physio. She refered me to the bio.

Best thing ever.

So the way the physio explained it too me was I focus on getting the joint strong, it's range of motion and its stability. The bio builds up the muscles working on and with the joint and gets you in equilibrium again with your other knee.

What happened to your knee ?

I’m recovering from a broken one and going back under to have the plate removed in two weeks time

[mada3400]

I've had that exact dislocation.

 

 

went otb in 2015, and my x-ray looked about the same as yours, i was 19 or 20 at the time.

 

i think i spent a few weeks in a sling and then went to physio, where i was given a theraband and a bunch of exercises to do, which i didnt do as consistently as i should have.

 

After the sling they molded this plastic thing on my arm that held it extended so that i could get range of motion back, and i was encouraged to try extending my arm.

 

It took ages for me to build the muscle back up and even longer to get my confidence back. luckily my elbows can overextend a bit so the range i lost meant that arm just goes straight (I didnt lose any range in closing my elbow)

 

there still isint as much stability in that elbow, even today, but only really when it gets twisted or torqued (think arm wrestle movement, in either direction). I remember it sometimes getting stiff while riding, but i think that stopped about a year ago, now the only time i notice it is when im climbing and do something strange (pull on a hold at a weird angle), but then it totally shuts me down, its like a self preservation emergency shutoff.


Edit:

My X-ray  https://www.instagram.com/p/5UnLz6CbVq/

Edited December 24, 2018 by mada3400

[anybody seen george?]

What happened to your knee ?

I’m recovering from a broken one and going back under to have the plate removed in two weeks time

I slid out on my knee and my patella popped out of place.

Good luck with the surgery and the recovery.

[i24]

I dislocated and fractured my elbow. Mine was worse and I had to ha\e a few ops.

 

Note what others have said about physio etc. It also may be woth getting a 2nd opinion from a specialst. If things don't heal properly now joint stability can be a chalange in the future and then it ie too late to operate.

[Rich990]

Thanks guys.

 

I went to a specialist sports orthopedic surgeon at waterfall hospital and I'm seeing a physio from the sports centre at the hospital on Tuesday.

 

I had the backslab removed on Friday and I'm in a range-of-motion brace now. Currently it's set at 90* flex/extension, and the physio will assess motion on Tuesday then set accordingly. At the moment I can do 75/100* fairly comfortably, and up to 60/105* with some mild discomfort. It's crazy how quickly muscle atrifies, my arm looked like that of a 10 year old boy haha.

 

The orthopedic surgeon recommended that I extend by an additional 20-30* per week.

 

I'm definately going to look up a biokineticist - we have a gym at work with a biokineticist there, so that seems promising.

 

I'll give another update after Tuesday.

[Rich990]

So I've been to the physio twice so far and its getting there.

 

First time, last week after the adjustment i could get to 65*/110* at max, and the brace was set to 60*/105*.  I did my rehab exercises religiously and by the time of this week's consult i could get to the limits of 60* and 105* comfortably.

 

This week, the physio measured my motion before adjustment, with the brace off and I could get to 31* extension and 114* flexion at max (to point of pain / stiffness).  On flexion it felt like bone on bone, which was fun.

 

So she did her adjustments and I could feel a lot of improvement, particularly on extension, but she didn't measure afterwards.  

 

The brace is now set at 45* extension and 120* flexion, which is a net 30* increase from last week, as per the orthopedic surgeons instructions.  She didn't want to set it at 30* extension as we don't want to rush the extension as that can lead to bone fragments growing in the bicep which doesn't sound pleasant.

 

I'm happy with progress so far, and the range-of-motion brace really is helping me to move around and live daily life much more easily.

 

I'll update again next week.