Pat Wattam Completes Therapy for Broken Elbow 

+Jessica Lopez You all make such a difference in a patients recovery. What a great profession to be in! I made the video because the whole ordeal was so painful so it gave me something else to concentrate on!!

I fractured mine but can't straighten it, I need help :/

+Frances Garner Frances, how are you doing now? Making progress?

+Jack Plays HD It took a lot of therapy to straighten it - my therapist had to be pretty strong to manipulate my elvow.

Im OK now it's pretty much fine, thanks

How much times takes you for full motion.?

Hey, how are You now i hope you're fine me aswell had a surgery for a dislocated elbow it was so easy it didn't even need surgery but i neglected it for a month and a new bone formed there then the surgery become necessary now it become stiff it's been 2 months since i fall down i was playing football i put it in sping for 2 months fortunately the extending is improving but the flexion is not improving. My question is how are you now if you get your range of motion completely how long does it take.

@@samuellegesse23 Heyy mate. i too broke it playing football 🫡 let’s say i had 40% flexion and 60 in extension. This was around 3rd month’s update. Then went to a different doctor. He advised me to keep my hands open, extended while sleeping. That unlocked my 100% extension and 80% flexion within a month. Now it’s my 7th month, flexion is so close to 100 percent that no one could notice the imperfection but me. I would say it’s about 95% flexion now. Every morning i push it with the help of other hand. 5 times +/- The same doctor gave some medicines too.And that helped too. Remember every case is different. Especially when it’s orthopedic issues.

Did they remove your radial head thats what they did to me 2 weeks ago

How is your elbow now? , I did a surgery in my distal humerus 7 weeks ago, plate and 8 screws, my range of motion is still limited and I am going through physiotherapy

I'm doing well, Mohamed! I'm so sorry to hear about your injury, but it will get better. The fracture in my right elbow was extremely bad and my surgery was complicated. My doctor told me it was the worst case he's seen and that the first two doctors to see my x-rays refused to take me. After surgery, I was healing pretty well, but after 2 or so months of occupational therapy/exercise/hanging/using a splint at home my range of motion was static. My doctor wanted to do a manual manipulation to break up the scar tissue and to have one of the screws removed thinking it effected my movement. Breaking up that scar tissue really helped, not only did it help reduce my pain, but helped me gain range of motion. After this procedure, I had to wear a splint to bed every night for months to keep my arm straight. I also had to use it during the day to bend and straighten my arm. I feel the splint had a big impact on my recovery along with support from my husband, family and prayers. I work in a factory and my doctor told me it would be nothing short of a miracle if I could get back to my job. Over 5 months of occupational therapy and almost 6 months off of work, I was able to go back to work. Been back for over 7 months. I can't remember what my exact measurements were before and after the procedure. Before it was almost at 90 degrees and after 15 or so with occupational therapy/exercise/using a splint. Everyone's recovery will be different. Because of my factory job, I needed longer therapy to build up my strength. A year later my arm is a little crooked, but can do everything I did before. Adjusting my collar is a little awkward, but I can touch my face, neck and the back of my head. Sometimes my elbow feels a little stiff, but hardly any pain or discomfort and I work in a very cold environment. It's very important to keep up with your exercises, therapy and etc. Before this, I've never had a brake or surgery so I didn't really know what to expect. I had unrealistic expectations. I thought after my cast was off I could cut my toe nails. I was upset to realize I couldn't, but after some time I was able to do the basic things for myself. It will take time, but you will get there. No matter how you are feeling now, remember this is only temporary, it does get better! Wishing you a fast and full recovery! :)

And I hope you all have as good a recovery as I did. It's tough.

sleepyfacedangel thanks alot for your support, it gives me hope that I can return back to my normal life, I saw my doctor yesterday, he said that my ROM is limited not like he was expecting, thus, I will be on PT for 2 more weeks, if there is still no progress, he will do manual manipulation to the elbow to release the stiffness. I am so happy to know that you are doing well now. And almost able to extend your arm and flex it near normal. :)

Pat Wattam Thanks alot for your wishes!

I think surgical manipulation may be your best solution. Ask your PT - they sometimes know more from all the people they have helped. Good luck and let us know how it comes out.

Are you able to move your elbow now? Is it required surgery or PT helped you?

Candace Johns how are u now

i am in the same situation.. could u plz tell us which instruction Dr gave u further ?

How is it now?????

Wishing you a very successful recovery! Stay safe too!!

@@patwattam This was 5 years ago when I commented. But I want to reply again. Back then after my bicycle accident I was very scared about recovering. But your video brought a lot of peace to my mind. I went through therapy for months and the improvement was amazing and fast. I never fully recovered the stretch of my arm, but it's working very well like it is! And I will be forever grateful to my therapist for that.

I get so many people asking about how to get their range of motion back. I think no one, including myself, understands how long it takes! So glad yours came out well!!

from where did u get treatment ?? i am in the same situation . couldn't flex my arm

Hello. Can u please tell me if therapy was too painful? I'm always screaming and in tears it's alm9st inhumane what I go through on a daily basis

Mary, I’m glad to hear that! I shattered my Olecranon in 10 pieces 5 months ago, I have 2 plates and 11 screws. I was cast straight for 2 weeks and have done physio since then and can’t get my elbow moving, my extension is 30 and flexion is 55. I feel like I’ll never be able to touch my face again. My elbow hurts so much if flexed even after 5 months. I had a static splint but it caused me severe muscle spasms, I had to stop after week 10. . I also have a torn rotator cuff and frozen shoulder. I’m waiting for more surgery which I hope helps. They will hopefully take the hardware out, I have a screw that isn’t flush with the plate that causes me quite a bit of pain.

@@rdsjourney7357 I had the same issues with my first physio, I just couldn’t take the force she used. My arm would lock up and go into spasms causing me to cry. I didn’t make any improvement over 2 months and couldn’t handle the pain. Now 5 months in with a more gentle approach at least the spasms are gone but I still can’t move my arm. I am hoping more surgery helps. Every therapist I have seen just shakes their head and tells me elbow is one if the worst they have seen.

+Carole Alexander Carole, I hope you are all better now. It took me many months going to therapy 3 x a week - about 4 months I believe.

pat wattam did you start it while still your plates and screws inside? and how many weeks latter you started your physiotheraphy after your surgery? pls reply i am going through crisis

Depends - what does you PT say the results should be? It is different for everyone. Hope yours gets to where you need it to be!

varun krishna kyathanpally there was a mechanical brace that I also used and you could use it to bend or straighten the arm and lock in that position for hours to get it to bend more. You might try that.

@@patwattam Thank you for the advice. Will definitely try that. I have a doctors appointment this week, should see what's his take on that. Hope your suggestion works for me.

@@varunkrishnaKyathanpally how are you now Varun? Its been 2 months since my accident and my elbow is stiff, i am having physio i can get my arm straight at 20 degree and on the bend its at 85 degree along way to go but your symptons sounds the same as mine so much pain when trying to bend its like a brick wall, id bre grateful for any advice thanks barryscowen@hotmail.com

+Betsy Weinstein Yes, have been able to hook my bra for a long time! Ha! No body understands how complicated life can be with these injuries. You wouldn't know today that I ever had an issue!!!! Good luck and continued recovery. The recovery is painful and lengthy!

My hand was pretty good within 4 weeks but played piano scales and things to get it working better. Bending the elbow was the hardest part!

Pat Wattam Wow!

Hi Pat just wonder which bone in the elbow did you break? I have a radial head fracture and loss of motion.

could u provide the PT email please ?

I pray my elbow heals as well 🙏🙏🙏

Pat Wattam Hi Pat, First of thanks for sharing your journey to recovery. To tell you about myself I fell off a ladder and broke my elbow about 3 weeks ago. I got a surgery 2 weeks ago and I’m getting a cast on Monday. I was wondering how long did it take for your elbow to straighten? Thanks in advance!

I had to have a 2nd surgery for carpal tunnel - I knew something was wrong with my fingers but they had to get my elbow healed and therapy finished before they could do that. It convenes me after surgery how my elbow did not hurt. Believe me it did during therapy. Take you time and let things heal and then deal with the next part.

Pat Wattam hi pat thats for the response i really appreciate it. I just wondered if the clicking was something to worry about. But ill find out Monday- thanks again

Hi Pat I was meant to have sent this a while ago lol. I have had the cast off for two weeks third week now and the result has been so much better than I thought, next part is physio but for the most part I am healing well and movement is pretty good. I was scared so thank you,, I a worrier so your message helped..

+RAHUL R.K Hope you are all well now. I had no power in my hand when I started but after 5 months it was back to normal. Hope yours is too.

It was a big brace. I had to wear it all the time. It took a long time to come back to playing and a good tennis coach will help!

Bilal Muzaffar months!!!!

@@patwattam like you had same case couldnt straighten your arm?i am trying hard but its very stiff from elbow area

Broke my elbow 5 months ago. I still feel like my arm is stiff as a rock. I can push it all the way out but it stops at a certain point where the pain is too much. When I let go, my arm.pops back up to about 20-30 degrees. My bending arm varies each day. One day I was able.to bend.it all the way and after that I was able to touch my shoulder without assistance. Of course I had to really use my bicep to touch my shoulder with my thumb but I was able to do.it. the next day, I couldn't do it again.

+Flor Gamboa I had to have surgery because of the break itself - had to have a plate and screws to hold the bone together. However, if you had a clean break, then you will probably have therapy. I think it will all depend on the xays you get. I got the majority of my motion back but it took a lot of painful, intensive therapy. That's a long time from Oct 10 to Nov 5th. Are you in a cast?

I have a broken elbow just today i just put bandage in it do i need surgery? It has little broken bones inside

interstategar omg this is so true the straightening doesn’t hurt but the bending is so painful

The range of motion all comes together at the end. It happens so fast then. And there is a point where you just learn to live with what you end up with but you actually keep working on it yourself for the next year for best results. Every break is different and the scar tissue does determine final results sometimes. But just keep working at it! Good luck!

Pat Wattam thank you! How far have you gone with your recovery? Have you fully recovered, I mean, have you reached the normal Range of Motion? Can you fully extend your arm? Have you removed your plate?

Charisse Ann Paulino my arm never got 100 percent but you would never know it. I think I got 90%. I do everything I did before. My doctor left the plate in and threaded my screws so they wouldn’t come out so I could play tennis. Good luck to you. My injury was early August and I was playing tennis competitively by sept the next year.

i am in the same situation .. could u please tell me which type of excercises ur PT told u to do .. i shall be very thankful.

I had the same fracture oleceron it's been 11 weeks but I am doing fine still 10 degree difference plus I have k wires and screw still inside .can anybody tell me should I need to remove it or not

REST, REST, then Rest some more! Physical Therapy was key for me. I have another friend who broke his riding his bike and got no therapy. It's funny, he can bend his all the way back and I'm about 90%, but I can straighten mine more than him. Amazing! I think the younger you are the better you heal! Good luck and hope you are back on your bike soon!

Thanks for the support Pat. Is a dreadful injury the way it immobilizes the arm. 3 weeks in since incident and 5 days since surgery, my flexibility is rubbish. At what stage did yours begin to become more flexible ?

Now you have recovered, do you have a fully functional painless arm once again ? I am very worried, that is why I am asking.

Froodlum Yes, no pain and nothing I can't do!!!! It was at least 5 or 6 weeks after the break that things started to move. Took forever - I was discharged around Thanksgiving - which was about 4 months after the break. But I had to keep working past that date just to make sure things kept getting better!

Pat Wattam Thanks sooo much Pat. It is wonderful to hear you made a full recovery. Now I'll be able to be optimistic that there is light at the end of this distress. I'll rest for a few weeks, and then step up to the challenge of physio... Here's to aiming for a pain free, fully functional summer. :)

King Bens23 it will be still for a long time - at least mine was. This was 10 years ago and today I don’t even know I ever broke it! Good luck!

It's been 2 years so I hope you are all back to normal!

Hopefully that will come fast now! Best wishes!

@@patwattam 🤞thank you

Hope you are far along now in your recovery. On my fall I landed on my elbow but the damage radiated to my shoulder and down to my hand. I ended up having carpal tunnel surgery at the end.

I don't know what to say. Your situation is just so sad........I am sending you lots of positive, healing thoughts.

Yeah, so painful. I hope you are all recovered and enjoying life again!

+Betsy Weinstein At first I wondered why Ted wanted to know about the bra!

Sri Devi yes- it stiffens up after therapy but the more you use it the better it gets! Best wishes for a full recovery!

@@patwattam thank you much, Pat.

OUCH!!!

PT makes all the difference. I couldn't move mine also and look where I ended up! Good luck!

All's well that ends well so just be patient and all will be ok.

Months of Therapy - about 4 if I remember correctly. Good luck!

@@patwattam Thanks. My orthopaedic doctor reckons I might do it in a month or so. Fingers crossed.

angelserenity lopez I have a threaded plate and screws. 6 weeks in is still pretty early. You really have to work at it every day. Good luck!

Do you still have your plates and screws until now? It is very hard because i had multiple injury. I broke my clavicle, elbow and wrist. Thank you for giving me hope!

angelserenity lopez yes. My doctor threaded my plate so screws would not come out and I could play tennis. Multiple injuries must be much harder. Wishing you the best.

Sorry I just saw this - yes, therapy started 2 weeks after surgery.

That's awful. Mine only really hurt during therapy. Wonder if there is something else wrong that needs to be examined?

So sad to hear this.....

Where do you live that you had to wait so long for surgery and therapy?? I think in my video you see most of the exercises I did - the therapist pulling and pushing was key. See in the video where I have a towel in one hand behind my back and I am pulling my bad arm (right) to force it to bend? Ask your therapist what you can do. It took about 4 months to get it to where I was released from therapy but I had to continue my exercises for a long time on my own. Good luck!

Jennie, same here. I am post opp 16 days. They took my cast/splint off and gave me a giant ugly brace. Did you get this? I am not to start physical therapy until 6 weeks after surgery. I am to use my arm as much as possible and only were the brace when I leave the house for safety measures. I wish you the best of luck with everything. You can contact me on Facebook. Robin Golden :)

Patt it's the insurance that they have you sign up for in the hospital. They forgot to put my application as an Emergency that's why it took 6 weeks to approve me. Such a nightmare. I live in Arizona. I went to my surgeon yesterday and he's not impressed with the physical thereapy sessions I've been having and told me to find a new place. They only started incorporating the "hammer " on Monday only because I mentioned it thanks to you!!! I'm also to do my exercises 5 times a day at home now. When I see my doctor in a month and he doesn't like my range of motion still looks like I'll have surgery again.... I really don't want to start all over again.

Pat Wattam what is that blue brace that you have on? I've been trying to get my therapist to order me a Jas brace to help with my arm flexion cuz I'm stuck at 90° and also one for my wrist since it won't twist very much but he has no idea what I'm talking about and its so frustrating!!! Thank you again for responding and I do see how you're doing the towel stretch I'll be doing that as well yay!! I love all the people at your therapy location they seem so nice and they know what they are doing. Wish my therapist would work me harder!

Robin Golden I'm trying to find you on Facebook but there's more than one Robin Golden 😊 maybe you can narrow my search.

mamdo7 ali I did therapy 3 times a week with exercise to also do while at home in between therapy. Hope you heal quickly!

Yeah, recovery sucked but in the end, it's all good. I hope you are doing well these days!

Hello. I'm so happy that you have recovered. Was the therapy too painful?

The doctor threaded my plate so the screws would not back out so I could play tennis. I am probably 95% and 90%.

@@patwattam but you're still unable to straighten your arm all the way only because of the hardware correct? That's my issue.

Metlupass2 I don’t know that. I have 95% straight.

Wow! How blessed you are. How did you get injured? How are you doing now?

Dewane Mong WOW no Therapy how long did it take you to regain motion?

+karthick karthick Not sure. After 10 years I doubt there will be much improvement without more surgery. You need a good orthopedic doctor to advise you. Good luck.

Maam. 5 year before i take surgery maam. but its not good maam. my hand no improvement . If you don't mine tell any excercise for hand rotation

Keep making music - you will find a way.

I hope by now things are all better for you!

I felt the same way. It takes a lot of work and even after therapy finished I still had to do my exercises. Best of luck to you!

Hi.. (raindrops on roses) .. just wanted ask how is your recovery going.. I've had an elbow fracture followed by surgery near about the same time as you..I'm 4 months post surgery.. however my elbow is still quite stiff..cant bend it all the way..

It just takes a long time. I had the same issue but with therapy it really got better quickly. It still isn't perfect but does not affect me in any noticeable way. Good luck!

Thank you so much for replying. I watch your video to keep me going. Again, thanks for replying. :)

@@Arielororo hi.. I've had a similar fracture (Olecranon) which required surgery.. can u tell me the recovery time ,as in when u can move your hand freely without pain and stiffness.. thanks

Cristine Batalla I wish you the best! Lots of therapy helps! But I was so excited the day I could wash my face!

@@patwattam I dont have PT because of financial problems but I always do workout I hope I can touch mine also sooner

Cristine Batalla wonder if you could pay for one session and get a diagram or something of the exercises you should do?

@@patwattam I payed for the first session but couldnt afford next, soo I try to look some videos on RU-vid which is very helpful on my situation. thank you soo much for your video it is very helpful. I have 2kls of dumbell which I always use everyday. my problem is still I cant touch my face like yours. can you recommend me any therapy that will help me in this situation?

Not yet but I suspect someday it will show up.

Therapy was 3 days a week - an hour each time. Then each day I had exercises I had to do. The first month I probably did not do much as home as therapy started 2 weeks after surgery and was tough. Then it got better. The longer into therapy the more time I spent each day on my own with my exercises. But let your therapist guide you as you can overdo it! Good luck!

thank you so much for replying...and also for encouragement....😊😊😊😊

Hope it's getting better!!

Depends on where you are. Here it is about $180/HR

Yes! All is good!

thank you for reply .

Pillows - lots and lots of pillos!

@@patwattam and i still cant move my arm and wrist after the elbow surgery its like blocked and makes me so anxious im so young would it go back to normal??????

Poca Poca I would suspect so but therapy is the key - someone to manipulate the elbow to make it work. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery.

@@patwattam thanks alot