Not a Fool’s Day for Me but a New Beginning

Hi All,

Rewind to April 1 and it was no fool’s day for me.  I will always think of April 1 or April Fool’s Day as most people refer to April 1 as the beginning to my Road 2 Recovery/Road 2 Worlds!  April 1, 2009 was my first day of Occupational Therapy at the Arrowhead Orthopaedics Hand Center under the care of Harold Neuendorff, OTR/L, CHT.  Today, July 1 is my 3 month Road 2 Recovery/Road 2 Worlds Anniversary!

I’ll never forget the battery of assessment exercises Harold put me through to establish my base line.  In a nutshell, I was weak and my range of motion was almost nil.   I’ll never forget my “strength,” Ha, more like no strength, when Harold asked me to squeeze the “grip-o-meter” as hard as possible. 

 As I complied and the needle barely moved, he asked politely, “Are you squeezing?” 

“Let’s try it again…take a deep breathe and then quickly squeeze,” he kindly directed.

Being the competitive athlete that I am, I envisioned being at the start of a Time Trial and preparing my final three breathes before I took off down the start ramp and then I squeezed with every bit of determination and strength I could give. 

“That’s better, you’re up to 5 pounds,” Harold said with an encouraging tone.

“Five pounds? Being this weak means there’s only one way to go – that’s up (strength),”  I thought to myself and was determined to show strength gain with every visit from that day forward.  I eventually attained a strenght of 60 pounds, a goal Harold and I set.

“Now let’s try the left hand,” said Harold.  Great I thought, this wrist isn’t injured and away I squeezed.

“Forty-eight pounds,” Harold said with a smile. 

Meanwhile, I’m thinking, that sounds weak for an uninjured hand.

Harold explained to me that my whole body is affected by the injury and surgery, but that as I recover, I will get my whole body strength back, not just my wrist.  That made perfect sense and I knew that, but since only my right wrist was injured, I forgot to consider the repercussions an injury and surgery have on the whole body.

As a Fitness Educator, I’m usually giving advice to students and fellow athletes about how to improve their performance, get in shape, change their lifestyle behavior, utilize sports psychology, how to afford injuries or what to do if injured.  However, when it came time for me to be the patient, I needed someone to help guide me down a road I’ve never personally crossed before – the broken bone road, followed by surgery and therapy – the Road 2 Recovery!

Harold and his staff were the perfect fit for me!  They are as passionate about their jobs and helping people get back on their Road 2 Recovery as I am about educating and motivating students, athletes and really anyone who wants to listen about adopting a FITstyle way of life.   

Now, July 1 and three months since my first day of therapy and quoting Jack Nicholson from the Shining, “I’m BAAAACK!”

So, the moral of today’s Blog is you must accept the challenges that cross your path and send you down unexpected roads.  Stay positive and work hard and diligently to recover the best that you possibly can.  The past can not be altered, but your actions each new day helps determine your future.  Never take your health or fitness for granted for the unexpected is self explanatory.  Are you prepared?  How would you handle a major injury? 

One thing is for certain, when and if you ever have  an injury that requires you to seek medical advice, don’t hesitate – see a doctor.  If surgery is required, then don’t hesitate to enter therapy as quickly as possible and work hard during your visits and at home.   You will be travelling down your own “Road 2 Recovery.”  Enjoy the ride and most importantly, envision the end of the “Recovery Road” when you are turning onto your Road 2 ?  It’s up to you – it’s YOUR Road!

I am now onmy Roa d 2 Worlds (Duathlon World Championships, Concord, NC, Sept 26).  Twelve weeks from today, my husband, Tom Resh, who also qualified for Worlds, and I will be near the end of the Road 2 Worlds.  Now that my wrist is healed, my strength is back, I’m training and racing to prepare my body, mind and spirit to be ready for a once in a life time challenge – competing against the best in the World in my division for the title of World Duathlon Divisional Champion!

Like any other goal, you must “See it, Believe it, Achieve it!”  For years I have told my students and others, “Someone has to win….someone has to get the job…..someone has to get the part (in a play, band or whatever)….so why not YOU?”   There’s no real secret to being a winner, but you have to SEE yourself as a winner, you have to BELIEVE you can win and then you have to work to ACHIEVE!!!  

Winning is not just about sports, it’s about overcoming any challenge, barrier or even fears you have in your life.  I firmly believe everyone has the ability to “win” at something.  What do you realistically want to Achieve? 

“See it, Believe it, Achieve it!”  I”m cheering for you!! Patty

Here's my grip strength reading on my first day of Therapy on April 1. A mere weak 5 pounds. How humbling this was! I was squeezing as hard as possible and all I received for my 100% effort was a weak 5 pounds. Right then, I new I had a long hill to climb to recovery, but I was ready for the challenge. Plus, I'm considered a climber on the bike so I better be prepared to climb any hill - even therapy hill!

Look very closely at this reading. Closer! Do you see the number 60? If so, then you are reading the correct number. I FINALLY hit my Grip Strength Goal of 60!! When Harold gave me the good news, I responded with a huge smile and a high-five! I'm not going to rest with just 60. I'm going to continue working to improve my grip strength. But for now, I'm going to enjoy my 60 pounds of pure grip strength! Anyone want to arm wrestle or play tug-of-war?