On Christmas Day 2019, I was hanging a sign on the front of my barn at home approximately 15 feet in the air when I fell, landing on a concrete slab. I was taken by ambulance to Tennova Shelbyville emergency room. By the grace of God, scans and x-rays showed my only injuries were traumatic but fixable.
Dr. Brian Peterson, D.O., diagnosed me with a displaced fracture of my right olecranon (elbow), left lower tibial fracture, and vertebral fractures in my spine at T-11 and T-12. I was transferred to Vanderbilt where I would spend the next six days undergoing surgery by the orthopedic trauma team.
I underwent an open reduction, internal fixation (ORIF) where they used screws and plates to fixate the fractures in my elbow and ankle in place so they would heal correctly. Post surgical precautions included casts on my elbow and leg to prevent any movement and no weight bearing on either limb for 6 weeks, which meant I would be in a wheelchair for a while. Apparently, if you want to break an arm and a leg you should try to break them on the same side; I, unfortunately, did not.
Every day was a struggle. I went from having complete independence to zero use of my dominant hand or arm and being unable to walk due to my ankle injury. Not to mention, sitting was extremely painful due to the fractures in my spine. I could not get up or sit down on my own, I could not bathe or even think about driving. For the first time I was so dependent on my wife and everyone around me it was incredibly difficult.
Six weeks later, the doctor removed the casts and I was cleared to start range of motion exercises. I was able to start physical therapy on January 30th at Elite Physical Therapy and Balance Center’s Shelbyville clinic. I chose Elite because I knew they had the technology I needed to have the fastest recovery. I needed to be able to play with my 3 children and get back to work as soon as I could. I thought I was going to be able to get up and walk as soon as the restrictions were lifted, but boy I was wrong. I was finally able to bear weight 1 month later, and my first experience with walking was in Elite’s Anti-Gravity treadmill on February 25th. If it weren’t for the Anti-Gravity treadmill I am quite certain I wouldn’t be where I am today.
I learned it’s the little things in life; it’s being able to throw a ball with my kids, hold a fork, get up and put my socks and shoes on. The staff at Elite Physical Therapy did far more than just give me physical strength to do these things, they were so incredibly motivating and fun to work with on a daily basis and my wife said it was like being able to take me to daycare for a few hours, knowing I was getting the best care!
Thanks, Elite staff!
And thank you, Tyler, for letting Elite Physical Therapy and Balance Center help you FEEL BETTER FASTER!
If you have had a traumatic accident, we are here to guide you to a safe recovery. To request an appointment, click here, or call directly to one of our three locations during regular business hours:
Cool Springs: 615-224-9810
Shelbyville: 931-684-0027
Spring Hill: 931-489-2022
Disclaimer: The information in this blog is intended to be informational only, and is not intended to be used in lieu of medical care. Consult a doctor or a physical therapist before attempting treatment on your own.
