A Plane Family Story

So I was told by my cousin that she needed to know what was going on and why I was having surgery so here it is (the short version):

 About three months ago Izzy decided she was going to color on the walls.  Not just one wall, no, not her, but on every wall and door of the upstairs in our apartment.  After making her scrub by her self for about a half and hour I decided if it was going to get done, I was going to have to help.  Three hours later my walls where white again and my doors brown.  Talk about a work out.  The next day my left elbow was killing me.  I figured it was something that would go away eventually.  However, two weeks later the pain was even worse.  I decided I should probably go in and have it looked at.  The doctor diagnosed me with Tendinitis of the elbow, and sent me to physical therapy for six weeks of therapy three days a week and six cortisone patches and no improvement I had to move to the next step, cortisone shots.  After my first shot I felt great, for the next two days and then the pain was back and even worse than before.  I was told I could try three or four more shots and another 6 weeks of therapy to see if I had any changes, and I was not up for that.  So I called on a family, adopted family, of ours who just happened to be an orthopedic surgeon, thanks Fred.   He said with all that I had already done for it he would suggest surgery to take care of the problem because it sounded like one of those rare situations.  So I said set it up.  And believe me for anyone who doesn't have a strong stomach you don't want to explain what this surgery entails.

Come to find out it was a very good thing we decided to go through with the surgery.  I had a few injuries to my elbow years ago playing softball in high school.  And through out the years my tendon had started to stretch and tear slowly where it attached to the elbow bone.  Cleaning Izzy's arts of the wall was just enough to bring all the problems from over the years to the surface.

I spent one week in a splint, which is really a half cast, from my wrist to my arm pit, keeping my arm at a 90 degree angle.  Then wore a splint to keep it against my torso.  You could imagine that taking care of 3 young children was impossible.  So I have spent the last week and a half in Nampa, ID with my in-laws who have helped see to my own and my children's every need.  They have been GREAT!  Thanks mom and dad!! So just Wednesday I had the cast removed and I have my arm back.  Even though I still have a lot of limitations with what I can and cannot do, to pain is already so much better, as long as Abi doesn't poke at my incision.  It will be another 2 to 3 months till I will be able to do most normal activities, and another 2 to 3 months after that before I can do anything really strenuous, but I am healing.  They gave me an electro stimulating machine to bring home. It's so cool. I have to do 4 40 min sessions a day for pain and 3 20 min sessions for strengthening.  It's nice I can do my physical therapy in the comforts of my own home.

So that's my story.  Surgery on my elbow to repair a torn tendon.  I'm on the mend and feel better then I did before so I would say that's a great outlook for my future.  

Love you all,

Stefanie Plane