The Wonders of the Body of Malach

12.27.2006

So Malach, how's the elbow?
So in yesterday's blog I was telling you how I popped my elbow, and might have to see a Dr. about it. Well, the elbow was much better with sleep, and is close to 100% (or what is 100% for Malach's elbow). Since it is not as painful to type tonight, I will explain it better.

Malach's right elbow has some damage to it. Over the years of sports, there have developed minor tears and in all the cartilage and ligaments. Nothing ever major, just small ones here and there that required little more than rest and ice. Over the years, that damage has calcified, or turned to bone. It effects the majority of the tendons and ligaments in the elbow. What does this mean to me? Malach has about 95% range of motion on a good day. I cannot completely straighten my right arm, nor can I completely flatten it to my chest. It gets sore, occasionally painful, but I have found since I have renewed lifting with it, it doesn't tighten up to much and maintian it's strength well with out spasms. Malach is one of these persons that is naturally big, and strong. On bad days, It is very sore too extremely painful when moved to it's most extreme range of motion, and I may have as little as 60% range of motion. Doctors a leery to do surgery. Surgery involves, removing all the tendons and ligaments from the bone, cutting out the calcification, and reattaching the tendons and ligaments. It is a long recovery with no guarantees the arm will be any better. Physical Therapy only helped to a point.

Occasionally, the elbow "pops" (it is more like stumming of a tightened bungee cord). When that occurs I briefly lose feeling in the arm, range of motion drops to about 25%, and the joint become painful to move, and sort of freezes up. I can usually snap it back out of that by throwing a baseball, or simulating throwing one.

So yesterday we are remodeling the kitchen (Looks nice, pics perhaps tomorrow), and the elbow pops. But this time was different. The most painful pop I have ever had, and I could not get it to unfreeze and it remained painful and stiff, with about 25% range of motion. I tried stretching, heat, ice, nothing worked. I considered the ER, but decided to sleep on it and see how it was in the morning.

I will give my body some credit, I have a very high tolerance for pain, and I usually recover pretty quick. So I woke up this morning, and it felt pretty good, almost as good as normal. The relaxation of sleep I suppose. Although I think I will lay off the weightlifting at least tonight.

RIP Gerald Ford.
What can you say, the accidental president, also the clumsiest. Only president never to be elected.

My Weather Station.
So my wife got me this indoor outdoor thermometer for X-Mas. AWESOME Buckos. Does all the typical stuff, with some neat feature. Alarm goes off with the threat of ice, and one of the station has a animation of a guy, and what he suggest you wear to go outside, right now he says. Hat, gloves, scarf, coat, and boots.

Malach's Quote of the Day.
I watch a lot of baseball on the radio. - Gerald Ford.

I am Malach and I am from the Planet Krypton