More about that bend in my arm…
After 4 physical therapy appointments, my arm has significantly improved. At the first appt., the PT determined exactly what range of motion I was lacking. It was 15 degrees worse than my right arm in both extension and bending. What that means is, if my right arm could go to a 160 degree angle, my left arm could only go to 145 degrees when extending. And bending, it was like 30 and 45 or something like that. Now, it is significantly better. They haven’t measured, but I am pretty sure that the bending part is back to 100%, in that I can touch my chest with only a little tiny bit of pain, and that’s muscular (I know what that feels like). Extending still isn’t at 100%, but it’s probably at like 99%. As of 4PM today, I am able to crack it to loosen it up, which wasn’t the case for two weeks. I’m not sure that’s good for the elbow, but it feels better after I do it, so…
Seems like there are two major issues with the joint:
1> Muscular. If I hold my hand on the desk palm down (like when typing), the muscle that is dab smack on top of my forearm is VERY tight. As in, a HUGE knot of muscle. Well, smaller now that she’s working on it. That was the bending problem.
2> Ligament. It appears I may have stretched/torn/done something to the ligaments on the outside of my elbow to cause the extension to hurt so much.
So, to sum up, improving very quickly.
Originally posted at Phoenix Rising.