Elbow surgery - getting the hardware out in 2023
I’m currently recovering from an elbow surgery. I shattered my elbow & humerus while skateboarding, resulting in needing 20 screws & 2 plates. I’m 3 months post op and my mobility is currently 15° straightening to 95° bending with a lot of pain (for reference my good arm bends to 140°). My doctors don’t have much hope that I’m going to get past 100° without a 2nd surgery at this point. It's my dominant arm too which sucks.
Sooo I’m planning on getting the hardware out and having the scar tissue cleaned up in hopes to get more mobility in 2023. They estimate 6 months occupational therapy for recovery, which I'm hoping will be less intense. So now I have to decide whether to give up snowboarding season or surfing season. Someone just tell me it's going to get better please.
2023 update: I rode an entire snowboard season with the hardware in (I felt indestructible!) and just got half of the hardware out 3 weeks ago in April. The 2nd surgery was a much easier & faster process. It actually feels amazing - less clicking/popping, far less pain, and more mobility after day one! Now I'm confident I'll get to at least 90% back to normal range of motion.