The Journey of a Labrum Repair

Friday, June 3rd, waking up well before the sun, I hopped in the car to drive my boyfriend to Columbia Presbyterian hospital. It was a strange day, not because we were going to the hospital or encountering some odd string of events, but simply because I was not the patient this time around. Like most college baseball pitchers, he needed work done on his shoulder, most specifically, a posterior and anterior labrum repair.

We sat in the hospital for hours watching as the nurses hooked him up with wires and probed his veins with IVs. It was only 5 months since I was in the exact same location doing the exact same thing. Yet, this time I got to sit on the outside looking in, and the experience was much different.

Around 3 hours after our arrival, the nurses escorted me out into the family waiting area where I had the pleasure of watching a white screen awaiting a little green dot signifying he was out of surgery. Drugged up on the after effects of anesthesia, claiming his surgery was way cooler than any Grey’s Anatomy episode, he was discharged from the hospital.

This is where the fun begins. I had the striking pleasure of becoming his own personal nurse for the next 4 weeks. With a massive immobilizing sling on his right arm, he couldn’t do much at all. Luckily the first couple days consisted of oxycodone induced naps, waking him up only for food and more magic pills. Then, the tasks started to pile up; cleaning his shoulder, making and cutting his food, tying his shoes, chauffeuring him around, and so on.

Don't get me wrong. It was not that I dreaded helping him day after day, but it seriously changed my perspective on the matter. After experiencing the other side of things, I will forever give anyone who takes care of me after an injury much, much more credit. Yes, injuries are awful things, and they leave you feeling helpless and limited. However, the people watching and helping you day in and day out deserve some type of reward.

Now, about 8 weeks after surgery and safely out of the sling, he is back to doing everything on his own. Only 7 more months until he ends his journey and returns to the mound.

Tips on Getting Back into Shape

The day has finally come. You can step back on the field and get to work again. However, five minutes into your run, your heart pounds through your chest feeling like it will explode at any second. Your breathing grows louder and louder as you huff and puff with each step. Getting back into shape is never fun and definitely never easy. These tips will help you stay motivated and even make the journey a little less painful.

• Try new locations: Running in circles around a track day after day becomes monotonous. Change up where you run whether it’s a park, beach, neighborhood, or even a treadmill. A beautiful bike trail in the woods or a path along the river adds a whole new element to your run. It helps keep your mind off of the exhaustion in your legs and pull your eyes off of the timer on your phone.
• Mix up your cardio: Sign up for a spin class at a local gym. Jump in a pool and do some laps. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, try out kickboxing. Not only are new workouts exciting, but they also fire different muscles in your body than running. 
• Blast your music: Never leave your house without your headphones. Turn up your favorite song. Let it drown out your thoughts and more importantly, your huffing and puffing.
• Keep a schedule: It is even easier to blow off a workout or snooze your alarm when you are feeling sore and defeated. Keeping a schedule of your workouts helps you stay on track. It will even make you feel guiltier when you blow off a bike ride for an extra hour in bed. 
• Pick up the weights: A huge part of getting in shape comes from building muscle. While cardio helps tone, it doesn’t compare to the benefits of weight lifting. A stronger body is a healthier one. Head to the gym and don’t be afraid to do some squats and presses. 

I know, a large pizza in bed with Netflix sounds way better than the painful struggle of getting back into shape. Try out some of these tips and see what works for you. A few months from now, you’ll be glad you stuck with it.

An Intro to the Journey

It may be a snap in your ankle, a tear in your knee, or a pop in your shoulder. Regardless, the sound replays over and over in your head just seconds after you go down causing you to block out all other noises. Many people would assume the first reaction to be one of pain. However, in that initial moment, your mind suppresses any sensory feedback from the injury. Instead, fear consumes you. It is a fear of what lies ahead in the next few minutes, days, or even months.

For me, the fear came on November 6^th, almost 6 months ago during the Atlantic 10 semi-final soccer game. As a member of the Fordham Women’s Soccer team, my current challenge is rehabbing my right ankle after reconstruction surgery.  With preseason approaching on August 2^nd, the frustration and anxiety have set in as I combat the urge to pass out during every fitness session.

Welcome to a blog for all of those injury-prone athletes out there fighting to stay on the field. As an experienced patient from all types of injuries, including broken noses and ribs, shin splints, repeated ankle sprains, and concussions, I know the struggle.  This blog will examine the physical component of recovering from sports injuries as well as the more lingering mental effect.  As a student-athlete, I witness injuries from various sports as well as the rehabilitation on a daily basis in the training room. The process is long but exciting one, so join me in uncovering the journey to Getting Back on the Field.