My doctor let me know last week that there are no obvious breaks or fractures, no bone fragments and no tendon or ligament damage visible in my arm. Afterwards he stretched my arm until it was straight (ouch). Those few stretches alone gave me a huge amount of mobility, and a visit to the physio the next day made it a little better again. The plan is to keep stretching it and check in with the Physio mid-week to touch base. It's hard to describe the relief I felt when I found out that there was no real damage to my arm. It will take a long time to get back to 100% but I'm more than happy to push through.
Throughout this whole ordeal it's been interesting how various people have reacted. I've had people tell me that they are yet to compete and that watching my video makes them worry that they might never compete. I've had people who don't train the video and ask what kind of Karate it is I practice! The most common ones I've heard are people telling me that they're impressed with me for jumping into competition, and the others are worried that getting injured in my first match has left me disheartened. It makes sense that almost getting your arm broken the first time you've competed would leave you disheartened, but I'm way less effected than I thought I'd be. I think it has to do with my surgery above all else. I spent the better part of a year in recovery and while I had some rough times, I learned why it's so important to rest up and heal. Being 18 at the time, I was angry that my stupid body had got in the way of being a young adult. It took a lot of time and thought for me to accept that my life would be different and that I had to change the way I lived it. When I think about how rough that year was a hyper-extended arm seems like nothing. I've dealt with more pain and way more frustration in the past.
All of that being said, I feel and apprehension of sorts when I think about competing again. There's definitely a part of me that says 'just don't do it, it’s not worth getting injured', but this part of my brain is hugely outweighed by the part that wants to compete. I also feel as though I'll be way more open to rolling at the gym now, because I know that everyone will take care of me, and I them. For now however, it's all about recovering and relaxing. Although I still can't train, I'm going to try to go to at least one class a week to spectate until I can jump back in there.
I'd like to hear from you guys - have any of you ever been injured in BJJ (or any sports) and if so, how did it happen and how long were you out? If you read this, please leave a comment to let me know, or post on my Facebook page (link should be at the top of the page). I always see the statistics of how many of you are return readers, but I'd love to be able to put names and stories to those numbers.
Until next time friends, stay safe.
Anthoney.
Throughout this whole ordeal it's been interesting how various people have reacted. I've had people tell me that they are yet to compete and that watching my video makes them worry that they might never compete. I've had people who don't train the video and ask what kind of Karate it is I practice! The most common ones I've heard are people telling me that they're impressed with me for jumping into competition, and the others are worried that getting injured in my first match has left me disheartened. It makes sense that almost getting your arm broken the first time you've competed would leave you disheartened, but I'm way less effected than I thought I'd be. I think it has to do with my surgery above all else. I spent the better part of a year in recovery and while I had some rough times, I learned why it's so important to rest up and heal. Being 18 at the time, I was angry that my stupid body had got in the way of being a young adult. It took a lot of time and thought for me to accept that my life would be different and that I had to change the way I lived it. When I think about how rough that year was a hyper-extended arm seems like nothing. I've dealt with more pain and way more frustration in the past.
All of that being said, I feel and apprehension of sorts when I think about competing again. There's definitely a part of me that says 'just don't do it, it’s not worth getting injured', but this part of my brain is hugely outweighed by the part that wants to compete. I also feel as though I'll be way more open to rolling at the gym now, because I know that everyone will take care of me, and I them. For now however, it's all about recovering and relaxing. Although I still can't train, I'm going to try to go to at least one class a week to spectate until I can jump back in there.
I'd like to hear from you guys - have any of you ever been injured in BJJ (or any sports) and if so, how did it happen and how long were you out? If you read this, please leave a comment to let me know, or post on my Facebook page (link should be at the top of the page). I always see the statistics of how many of you are return readers, but I'd love to be able to put names and stories to those numbers.
Until next time friends, stay safe.
Anthoney.