As most of you know, I broke my 4th metacarpal bone in my right hand a month ago. BIG NEWS!!!!! I got my cast off last Thursday. They also took the pin out, which was loads of fun. I looked up at my hand and my doc was screwing the pin out with what looked like a pair of needle nose pliers. The pin ran across my 3rd-5th metacarpals. You would think they would give you some kind of pain meds before they removed it, but not in this case…..I had to deal with it. Although not unbearable, definitely something I don’t want to go through again.
I am now in a Galveston brace, which fits over the healing bone. It’s not the most comfortable thing, but at least I’m out of the bulky, heavy cast which went up to my elbow. I can wash the dead skin off!!!! I also have more freedom to start moving my fingers. My doc gave me the OK to start using them:) I went from barely being able to move them to picking up a 10 pound plate with my fingertips…..baby steps!
I am not going to lie this Road to Recovery has been a bit rough mentally. I haven’t worked out in a month because I couldn’t get my cast sweaty. Can you imagine the stench and the itching myself and others would have to endure? No thanks! I figured, what the hell, I’ve been training consistently for the past 20 years. My body could use the break, no pun intended:)
I am now ready to get back to doing cardio and lifting legs and abs. I figured I would lay off arm, so I won’t be anymore out of proportion. My right arm is very skinny right now, it reminds me of my early teenage years before I started lifting weights. I am down 8 pounds, 1 pound off of competition weight. I have to say my abs are looking pretty amazing right now. I haven’t had the best appetite due to my lack of activity, not being able to food prep and being depressed from not releasing endorphins during workouts. We are all one broken bone away from the perfect body LOL!
Time to snap out of it! The weather is FINALLY cooling off in AZ so I am ready to get back to hiking and trail running. I will definitely not push it though because I have to be ready for Snowboard season!!!! Priorities….. the trip to Telluride has already been booked! This Road to Recovery has been harder than I thought, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The positive of this journey is that I am now ambidextrous and I am going to know how to work with a client who has a hand injury. If you have an injury and want to train around it, I can guide you!
Karen Mullarkey
“No Mullarkey” Personal Training
www.karenmullarkey.com