The Comeback.
Keep. ON.
Going.
Hey Everyone- figured I would give you guys an update on my elbow surgery, and some background as to why I got it.
After getting my knee surgery, I thought I was going to be good to go, and that the comeback was on. For the first few weeks of post-knee surgery, I was itching to workout and use my legs. To pass the time and try to stay as fit as I possibly could, I used my upper body a lot, whether it be pull ups, push ups, seated pressing, seated ski erg, ab work, sled pulls, etc.
It was then that I realized my elbow, which I had been dealing with for a few years, wasn’t fully functional either. It’s range of motion was limited, and I couldn’t really lock it all the way out overhead, which obviously doesn’t work well in the sport of CrossFit..haha.
So I had a tough decision to make, but I tried to think about two things: 1. Do I want to be a dad that can’t toss the ball with my boys some day? And 2. If you have the opportunity to make a comeback to competition, do you want to half-ass it? Both of those answers were “NO,” so I paid the man and went under the knife again.
After going back to Colorado, to the same Doctor who did my knee, I was told recovery time would be about 6 weeks, which didn’t seem bad. Let me tell you – the recovery has NOT been great. I have had to spend a lot of time rehabbing, and am well past the 6 week period. But you know what? No one cares. So I am continuing to put in the work, and will make this bad boy as good as new (or as close as possible) in no time.
In the meantime, one of my favorite recovery exercises is to hang from a pull up bar to stretch my elbow and lats out, and try and slowly get full range of motion back in my arm. That way I can go overhead again, and eventually be able to go heavy overhead, which was a big problem prior to the surgery.
Although it is all still up in the air, in terms of this years competition season, just know I am working at it and chipping away to get back out there. Because it is a privilege to be able to workout and pay the man. Keep on keeping on folks.
– JB
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