<p>Long story short - broke my arm where the humerus meets the ball. Had surgery to repair it with large plate and crazy screws. I’m 3 months past the surgery and in rehab working hard to get back my strength and range of motion. Was pretty fit going in, but this is a long hard slog. Has anybody else experienced this? Can you tell me if I work hard I can get full use back?</p>
<p>It may take years to get full use back. It did for my husband, who smashed his shoulder in a ski accident 4 years ago and is still working on getting pre-accident mobility. He swears by this rehab product called Body Blade. He got one for home, and uses it a couple of times every day. He even travels with it (it bends just enough to get into a suitcase) which means that the TSA goes through his luggage every.single.time. No matter, he swears by it.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.bodyblade.com/en/[/url]”>http://www.bodyblade.com/en/</a></p>
<p>It will come back but it takes way more time than you want. I’m assuming you’re of an age where serious exercise and activity is realistic, that you’re not elderly in that sense.</p>
<p>The normal time to plateau of shoulder function, for motion and strength, after surgical treatment of shoulder fracture (proximal humerus) is about a year.
Even in ideal circumstances, problems can occur. Pain from the implants. Stiffness from adhesions between the plate and overlying muscle (deltoid) can result in limited range of motion. Occasionally, blood flow to the bone is disrupted at the time of the injury, and progressive damage to the shoulder joint can occur (avascular necrosis) in spite of successful repair of the fracture.
Truly, these types of injuries are quite severe and more often than not, some residual functional deficits are to be expected. Having said that, there is no substitute for a good physical therapist and a cooperative, determined patient. I think you are still early in the process. Keep working hard. Don’t hesitate to ask your surgeon and your therapist the tough questions if your progress isn’t meeting your expectations.
Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. I’m only 59 and willing to do whatever it takes. GunnerDad - oh my. I’ve seen the BodyBlade at rehab, so I’ll look into it. I’m diligent, but it is hard and time consuming and I need to know it’s all going to pay off!</p>
<p>Wow! I fell during the hurricane here in NYC and fractured my proximal humerus-- 3 months. Have been in PT for a month, no surgery. Just plain hate it. Shoulder is the worst. I had a frozen shoulder 20 years ago and it took a lot of PT to get it back. Now I’m back in that same situation. Glad to hear I’m not the only one. I was also told it would take a year until I don’t think about it any more…</p>
<p>My brother is a doctor and has shoulder issues. He was sitting in a waiting room with a bunch of other doctor, all middle-aged, and decided to ask how many had shoulder issues. They all did.</p>