8-year update

This is the first time I revisited the blog in years. I'm glad it's still being read. I would recommend anybody in a recovery situation to read about the experiences of others in the comments section, since they give perspectives different than my own. I was very lucky to having completely recovered.

It has been another great year, although I have stopped running due to knee issues. I still can't complete more than six pull ups in a row. But that's good enough for me.

I hardly think about the accident and I've been back ice rink several times without fear. But I've met even more colleagues and friends of friends who also broke their humerus. Often, it turns out, by slipping on a wet floor or falling in the stairs at home. It's dangerous outside, but perhaps more dangerous at home… Several of them, if not most, have not recovered completely. Some have difficulties sleeping, while others never regained full range of motion. Sorry, I don't mean to discouraging, rather there's something to be learned. I think my PT did the right thing: he had a mean streak, but by emphasizing the importance of, and forced me to working the ROM early on and not worry so much about muscle mass, I recovered. I really wanted to use heavier weights early on, but his arguments were quite compelling and I trusted him. In hindsight, the PT was a much more important person than the orthopedic surgeon.

Eight years ago to the day and six days after the accident, the brace was not on, I was still taking Percocet and not knowing what was going to happen, how hard the recovery would be and how much PT that would be necessary. In the end, the accident made me a stronger person. Most of all it taught me that life could change really quickly, and that good health should not be taken for granted.