Physical Therapy and weight training...

[LatsMcGee]

Hey guys,

I've been at home on ice the past few months due to reconstructive surgery on my right hand.  After two surgeries and some physical therapy I feel like I am ready to drop the pink dumbbells and get back to business.

I was wondering if anyone here has been in a similar situation and had any advice they could send my way,  more than likely will be on a 4 day split.....

[Montague]

Damn, man...sorry to hear that.

I've never been in your situation, but I have known several PT's & PTA's over the years.
The beginning stages of rehab are very similar for most patients, and a good therapist should be able to adjust your therapy according to your progress.
However, even then, their rehab may be inadequate for you beyond a certain point.

The severity of your procedure, recovery ability, and the kind of shape you were in prior, all make rehab progress a very individual thing.

In some respects, nobody knows your body better than you.
If you feel you're ready, start, but start back slow, light, and use plenty of caution.

Wish you the best, brother!

[benchmstr]

normally i would say just go to the gym and lift away...i did that when i had my surgeries....but damn, your hand?...my hands are important as hell to me..i already told my friends and family that if i ever lost a hand, or arm i will kill myself....

so i would look to other more qualified info at someplace more credible than getbig...

bench

[chaos]

 You don't say what the surgeries were for, but I would say give it a shot and see how it feels/

[jpm101]

Tendon, ligament, joint, inserts, bone, finger, thumb, or nerve reconstruction? Have insert pins or hand in a cast? Anyway, try starting off with a light hand gripper while on the mend. Cramps or numbing  could be a concern when gripping a bar or handle at first so you need to program the grip/hand at first.. A wrist roller (wooden handle, light rope and weight on the end of that rope) is excellent, as is just hanging from a chinning bar. Stretching (fingers/wrist) may help also. Take you time, this can be a slow process for some.

Another lineman I played with had his hand stepped on during a game. Long extensive operations and month of rehab. Almost got back to normal after 6 of 7 months of all that. Never did quite returned to normal though.  Hopefully  your hand is not that bad off. He started working with a rubber ball, than grippers. Finally a BB and DB. Good Luck.

[LatsMcGee]

You don't say what the surgeries were for, but I would say give it a shot and see how it feels/

I actually lost part of my right index finger;  I had a skin graft and my finger was attached to my palm for quite some time.....

Thanks for all the advice guys , much appreciated.....

[chaos]

I actually lost part of my right index finger;  I had a skin graft and my finger was attached to my palm for quite some time.....

Thanks for all the advice guys , much appreciated.....

I talked to a guy at Koloseum(RIP) that was missing one finger and two halves on one hand, he used a strap for that hand, maybe you should start off with a strap until you are comfortable lifting again?

[LatsMcGee]

I talked to a guy at Koloseum(RIP) that was missing one finger and two halves on one hand, he used a strap for that hand, maybe you should start off with a strap until you are comfortable lifting again?

Yeah I was thinking about that Chaos,  that's a great suggestion.  So far the leg workouts are good,  just being very cautious on the upper body.....

Thanks man!

[chaos]

Yeah I was thinking about that Chaos,  that's a great suggestion.  So far the leg workouts are good,  just being very cautious on the upper body.....

Thanks man!

So............how'd you do it?

[LatsMcGee]

So............how'd you do it?

Had the circulation cut off in the finger thanks to a piece of work equipment,  when exposed to the cold with the equipment on my hand I got frost bite......

[chaos]

Had the circulation cut off in the finger thanks to a piece of work equipment,  when exposed to the cold with the equipment on my hand I got frost bite......

WTF.......some kind of banding equipment?

You can PM me if you don't want to give away too many details.

[jpm101]

Work gloves were not an option? I worked in surface mining and the company supplied all the gloves and other safety  equipment needed. Anyway, Good Luck.

[LatsMcGee]

I had gloves, for some reason they didn't do the job on one day and that's all it took,  I have to say that my surgeon was amazing.  The nerves are firing in my finger like crazy,  when the nail comes back completely you probably won't be able to tell I had surgery.........

[chaos]

I had gloves, for some reason they didn't do the job on one day and that's all it took,  I have to say that my surgeon was amazing.  The nerves are firing in my finger like crazy,  when the nail comes back completely you probably won't be able to tell I had surgery.........

Ouch. Well at least you didn't get frost bite anywhere important.