UCL reconstruction

[Patrick]

Time is flying by.

Patrick

[DWx]

I have no idea what day I'm on now, I think today is Day 105...

Anyway to update, the holidays were fairly uneventful. Continued to stretch out and try to use my arm as much as possible. Given permission to go back to the gym but no arm weights until after Christmas. Did another squad training session coaching. Could really feel it when trying to demonstrate punching but was worse when trying to hold the focus mitts and resist against the punches, even when working with the kids.

Day 103 (Tues): Physio again. More stretching but I'm locking out at about 5 degrees off straight. Physio thinks it won't go much straighter and has given me permission to start weights but machines only, no free weights or dumbells. Wants me to work up to plank and then pushups but first wall push ups. Went gym after work and struggled with even the lightest weights which is depressing .

Day 104 (Weds): 1st time seeing the surgeon himself. Happy with progress so far but insisting that I will get my arm straight and should really push it over the next few weeks. Said he's considering asking me to see his physio instead of the NHS physio I've been assigned. NHS physio's main priority is to get me back to health and able to work and do day to day stuff, but they don't have any specific expertise for sports rehabilitation. Surgeon also wants me to hit the weights hard but again no free weights for the time being.

[singularity6]

I just used this tool to shift dates from one semester to another in my online homework that I set up for my students:

https://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

Maybe that'll help count the days!

[sensei8]

How times fly, huh, Danielle!! Sounds to me that you're doing just fine, as the doctor planned. Keep up the work, and get better soon!!

[DWx]

To update

Day 119: was invited to guest instruct at a friend's school. Ran sparring drills no problem for the kids then jumped in with the seniors to train. Pleasantly surprised how my forms and sparring felt considering I've not down anything at all for 4 months. Felt really strong for forms but fitness is really down. Huffing and puffing after only a few. Sparred with some of the adults and felt like my arm took it well.. that is until I took a kick on it and now it's really sore. Was good to see I'm not too rusty though.

(Thanks for the website singularity6, can do my day numbers now )

[singularity6]

I do what I can!

[sensei8]

To update

Day 119: was invited to guest instruct at a friend's school. Ran sparring drills no problem for the kids then jumped in with the seniors to train. Pleasantly surprised how my forms and sparring felt considering I've not down anything at all for 4 months. Felt really strong for forms but fitness is really down. Huffing and puffing after only a few. Sparred with some of the adults and felt like my arm took it well.. that is until I took a kick on it and now it's really sore. Was good to see I'm not too rusty though.

(Thanks for the website singularity6, can do my day numbers now )

Sounds to me that you're doing just fine, considering all that you've been through!!

[Patrick]

Belated, but that's great news, Danielle!

[sensei8]

How's everything going, Danielle?? Just wanted to check in on you to see how you're doing!!

[DWx]

How's everything going, Danielle?? Just wanted to check in on you to see how you're doing!!

Thanks Bob. Things moved so fast at the start and I made really quick progress. Now I'm about 4 months later progress is a lot slower and easy to forget how far I've come with it.

Ok so since my last update:

Day 124: check in with physio to see how I'm getting on. Have been working hard in the gym and am probably 80% of the way back to where I was strength-wise. Physio happy with my progress and did some more stretching of my arm. Less than 5 degrees bend now.

Day 126: 2nd time seeing my surgeon (+students). Did some basic strength tests and discussed my plans for return to full TKD training. Happy with my progress but still got to keep on stretching it as much as I can. Can continue to do strength work and now work towards more free weights. Aiming for a full return to TKD for March / April time and will meet with him again in May to see how it's going.

Day 129: national squad training again. Limited training but getting back into the swing of sparring drills and pad work with the team. Not back at normal training yet but keeping my hand in by teaching forms and sparring drills.

Day 140 (last Thursday): physio appointment. Review of where I am strength-wise. Advised to keep working on strength at the gym and to begin doing skill work again. Not much more they can do for me now as it'd just down to me. Discharged from the physio though I can still call up or make an appointment if I need to.

So all in all things are going pretty well. Rehabilitation is definitely a learning process as though there is plenty of information about rehabbing a Tommy John for baseball, there are limited studies on other athletes or martial artists recovering from this op. I'm having to figure out what works and what doesn't work as we go along.