I broke my wrist a few months ago. I knew it instantly, and also knew my life of daily workouts and twice-a-week Onero (osteoporosis workouts), driving, and my independence was over. For a while, anyway.
It was my right wrist. Two displaced bones, radius and ulna, which required surgery—plates and screws. Managing the pain became the first priority, getting sleep was the second, and asking my husband for every little thing was the third. He even flossed my teeth!
A debilitating injury—even one that will heal—brings more than just physical discomfort and inconvenience. It brings mental discomfort and inconvenience. An injury can at first feel like an unwavering devastation. But there is a path forward to get back to life after an injury.
- First, stop blaming yourself. Accidents happen. Mistakes happen. This is how we learn
- Second, yes, soak in the grief because your life will not be the same for a while. Be upset, feel the appropriate feelings, and then let it go!
- Listen to your doctor, so choose them wisely as they will direct your process and let people help you, which I know can be very difficult to do
- With support from your doctor, physical therapist (if you need), family and friends the healing begins
- Get that support. The work needed for you to heal and get back to life begins as soon as you decide you want to heal
- Along the way, I suggest feeling grateful for what is working in your life. Every morning, during my journey I said these things out loud. This allows positivity to assist you in healing by reducing stress and other overarching health benefits.
The stitches came out two weeks after surgery, and honestly, my wrist did not feel like it belonged to me. It was so stiff. I started occupational therapy (OT) the very next day and started crying as I realized the full range of my lack of motion. I could not rotate my hand or flex or extend my wrist and my fingers were stiff.
I’m in my second week of OT and doing home exercises as well and my fingers are working—I’m actually typing on the computer right now—and my range of motion has improved. When people ask how I am doing, I simply say, “I am good!” And I am. My goal is to regain full mobility, and I see it as a reality because I’m committed to not giving up on what my body is capable of, and I’m committed to the mindset that healing is as much a physical journey as it is a mental one.
