Tore my bicep ligament at the distal (elbow) end. I have agreed to the surgery (considered urgent), which involves drilling through bone so as to sew ligament onto something.
More commonly seen in younger middle-aged men - I guess I am one of them, though my predicament came about at work.

Funny thing is, pain is now manageable, and supination is pain-free. If surgery is not undertaken quickly, certain 50% loss of strength + pain from scar as bicep retreats up arm.

Day surgery, and arm is 6 weeks in a slab with palm up. Then 6-9 months before I can do normal duties at work (I am a nurse).

Anyone got thoughts on windsurfing afterwards? Rigging + up-hauling?
Also opinions on long-distance trail running, kayaking and (lead) rock-climbing? Cycling 25km over undulations to work?

limbs.co/knowledge-center.php?id=57 Windsurfing gets a mention.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3537453/ Fairly plain English.

No offence but this is 3 rd or 5th consecutive post re medical conditions.
As long as we could all provide sympathy to all sufferers I will be strongly conscious about following advises from " non professionals" on SB.
Obviously nobody trust their GP or specialist this days and need to consult outgoing with the public.

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Macroscien said..

No offence but this is 3 rd or 5th consecutive post re medical conditions.
As long as we could all provide sympathy to all sufferers I will be strongly conscious about following advises from " non professionals" on SB.
Obviously nobody trust their GP or specialist this days and need to consult outgoing with the public.

Pull your head in, Macro. You know damned well that the specialist is unlikely to be a windsurfer nor rock-climber.

A Fellow would tut-tut at the mere mention of these activities (and he did), and tend to dissuade one from persisting with ideations of being a windsurfer once more. Experienced sailors such as yourself, Macrosien, are likely to know more than a desk-bound, scalpel-wielding surgeon about what recovery is like when hanging onto a boom at 25 knots.

I've had wrist surgery previously; the Hand Fellow suggested I change profession (horticulture/bush-regenerator to EN). I went on to do three separate sea-kayak crossings of Bass Strait, things I imagine that surgeon would not have recommended I ever do.

On the Chockstone (Australian rock-climbing) website are at least three women who regularly ask for medical advice. Thing is; all three are medical professionals, one of who is a Newcastle surgeon that I have been mountaineering with in NZ, yet has trouble with nerve entrapment.
www.chockstone.org/Forum/Forum.asp?Action=Forum&ForumID=5

Why did he get red-flagged, seems ws-related to me ??

Back to his question: I've had a full shoulder thing, at the time was a butchery operation called a Bristow.
I still need people to help me downhaul and other things, but once on the board am ok, if careful.
Over the years, have found that height of the boom helps for pain management for biceps and shoulder problems.

Go gradually when in shape, take your time, listen to the pain (??) when you resume ws.
'luck.

Hi Wollemi,
I had the same injury in 2006, and the same recommendations ....reattachment surgery.
It was noted that result would be not a guarantee of 100% return to normal strength and function, and significant disfigurement and scar from elbow to wrist.
With many question marks about the ramifications for my work (photography.. ie climbing ladders heavy equipment case etc) and my sports (cycling, surf and windsurfing), I decided to wait on surgery for several weeks and test my remaining strength.
Soon the severe pain subsided, I then tested ability to perform my work and play and found that I could do all as before. Including downhauling, lifting equipment, cycling with weight on handlebars etc.
I decided against surgery, and while every patient and injury is different, I have found that the injury has partially healed itself and reformed the bicep muscle to a new shape, there is not symmetry with my other arm, but definitely not 50% loss of strength, maybe 10 %.
Rotating twisting arm function was painful at first but has subsided. Evidently there are two attachment points for the bicep and mine was torn at one.
My injury was to my right arm, which is back hand for down the line wave sailing here in maui, where I'm living and sailing almost every day since 2007.
No pain from sailing, rigging, cycling or work related, I wish you luck with your injury and hope your recovery goes well.
As with your previous experience with the wrist surgery, not all medical projections of result from surgery can be accurate.
I mean this totally as a positive encouragement to not give up your work or sports enjoyment, and trust your instincts and your own bodies feedback.
Regards,
Chuck

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Wollemi said..

Anyone got thoughts on windsurfing afterwards? Rigging + up-hauling?
Also opinions on long-distance trail running, kayaking and (lead) rock-climbing? Cycling 25km over undulations to work?

I have been using a rig-winch for downhauling all my sails for the last few years. Why use your arms when you can wind it on and adjust the downhaul perfectly. I started using it for formula sails because of the huge loads, but its just as good for all sails.

I have found RDMs slip into and out of the luff sleeve much easier than SDMs. This would make it easier to rig.

If your harness lines are balanced correctly you can take the load evenly across both arms. If you shift them slightly to one side you can load up one arm more than the other. I sometimes have a weakness in my left arm, so I set my harness lines up to load the right arm more. Works fine.

Wider boards are more stable and can make sailing just that little bit more easy.

My personal opinion/theory is that if people have an injury and get on with things and forget about the injury, but not irritating it, it heals, and they forget about it. If they sit around contemplating how limiting it is, they get too focused on what they can't do... anyway, its just my theory.

I hate to mention it, but is kiting an option at least for the recovery? I don't know if its any better though, and not sure if it would have less load on your arms.

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Macroscien said...
No offence but this is 3 rd or 5th consecutive post re medical conditions.
As long as we could all provide sympathy to all sufferers I will be strongly conscious about following advises from " non professionals" on SB.
Obviously nobody trust their GP or specialist this days and need to consult outgoing with the public.

Guilty as charged. This year GP sent me home diagnosing 'muscle pain' as complication to my windsurfing knee injury. 24 hours later I was admitted to hospital with a blood clot extending the full length of my calf and above my knee. So yep - I don't trust advice from one GP anymore. I get as much advice as I can. And when it comes to recovering from windsurfing injuries or returning to windsurfing from injury, there is no one I trust more than SB members.

So apologies to anyone who found my injury post tedious, but HUGE THANKS to the people who replied with advice or shared their experiences. I am VERY grateful.

Good luck Wollemi. Sounds like tough decisions and a tough road ahead. Hope you can get back to the stuff you love asap. Crossing Bass Strait is an AWESOME achievement any time by the way, let alone after injury. Very inspiring.

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Macroscien said...
No offence but this is 3 rd or 5th consecutive post re medical conditions.
As long as we could all provide sympathy to all sufferers I will be strongly conscious about following advises from " non professionals" on SB.
Obviously nobody trust their GP or specialist this days and need to consult outgoing with the public.

Forum= open public domain !!!

Macroscien your posts are so far off the mark ?? If you can't contribute productively then maybe silence is a good option for you

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needsalt said..

Macroscien said...
No offence but this is 3 rd or 5th consecutive post re medical conditions.
As long as we could all provide sympathy to all sufferers I will be strongly conscious about following advises from " non professionals" on SB.
Obviously nobody trust their GP or specialist this days and need to consult outgoing with the public.

If GPs, surgeons and the like were flawless they wouldn't need to be insured.

My mother's GP recommended she go home and rest. His secretary quietly recommended she make her way to the emergency room ASAP.
GP's Secretary was correct.

I recall my grandmother was in hospital and not recovering very. Inexplicably.
We read the chart one day and... it wasn't her. Same name but different birth date. Yep, the hospital mixed them up.

All-in-all second opinions and the experience of people that have actually had the medical issue can be very beneficial. I myself have received excellent advice on SeaBreeze regarding shoulder that turned out to be 100% correct. My physiotherapist was wrong.

How the hell do you tear a bicep ligament???

Have the surgery done. There is only a short window of opportunity before muscle contracture makes it impossible.
The biceps has two heads - hence the name bi - ceps. That is why one of the attachments can tear and you lose 50% strength, because only half the muscle is working.
As with recovery from any injury, especially tendon and ligament injuries which are slow to regain strength, you have to take it gradually and be careful not to overdo it. Follow the recommendations of your rehab/ physio person and build up with gradual exercises. They may not always be right but they know a lot more than you do. However, if in doubt don't be afraid to get a second opinion!
+1 for the down haul winch, and get an easy uphaul so you are using your body more than your arms.
When you first go windsurfing again go on light wind days and use a smaller sail than you normally would.

Best wishes for your surgery and recovery.

What exactly were you doing when it popped?

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AUS1023 said..
Forum= open public domain !!!
Macroscien your posts are so far off the mark ?? If you can't contribute productively then maybe silence is a good option for you

You just contradict yourself. Because right now I don't have the right to express my ( sometimes controversial ) opinion .
If you just for a second considered that other opinion could be beneficial sometimes or just everybody need agree (even if you are at fault). But that is not discussion I could win by rational arguments and the next sea of red thumbs will follow.