Reattachment Day

WOD

As many of you know I had a pretty significant injury last week while swinging around on a high bar.  I managed to tear my right latissimus off the humerus.  Its a very uncommon injury and it is one that is not commonly surgically treated, even though it would never heal on its own.

I am not really sure what happened, it didn't feel like excessive loading although it may well have been.  It seemed something didn't coordinate correctly and all the force ended up in one spot.  Snap, crackle, pop!  It wasn't too painful, but it was obvious that something was really wrong.

As far as I know there are less than 10 documented lat reattachment procedures.  So my options were to go throuh with a little known surgery or just live without a right lat.  I'll take the lat please.  They will be using small metal anchors in the humerous with sutures attached to them, something like this.  The sutures will be sewn into what's left of the tendon and them tighetened down to the bone.  Eventually the tendon and bone will grow back togehter and I will have useless thread and metal in my arm.

6 weeks in a sling, 6 weeks passive movement, then a period of very light use of the arm.  Probably about 6 months until I get to start building the strength back in the muscle group.  So it is safe to say that, I will be missing all the fun for a while, but I do plan to do as much as a I can to stay as fit and strong as possible during recovery. 

Big thanks to the Dr's of CFES, Calvin and Soheil specifically for helping me get scanned and seen right away.  Time was of the essence with this one. And thank to the Hellers who put me in touch with Dr. Szabo who will have the task of reattaching my muscle and writing a paper on it. 

Comments

[justin]

Sorry to hear about the injury Big J. If anyone has the fortitude to recovery and rehabiliate it is you.

[DaveW]

Justin, WTF man? You're so strong now you pulled your muscle off the bone! I'll email you.

[Denise Roby]

Good luck on your surgery today Justin!!! We will be saying prayers for u for a full recovery!!!

[Kelli Brogan]

Good luck on your surgery, and to a fast recovery!

[Leah B.]

Good luck dude bro! Thinking good thoughts and speedy recovery!!

[Suzi]

If anyone can make a full recovery from an injury of this kind, it's you. Show us all how it's done!
Best wishes to you...and Loren, cause she'll probably need it too.

[Rae]

Good luck, Justin! We'll be thinking positive thoughts for a speedy and painless recovery!

[Lance Poulsen]

Heal Fast!!!!!

[Pete H]

I'd like to be a fly on the wall in the OR. "Nurse, look inside this guy, he's like a goddamn superhero...."

Get well soon Justin, we're all cheering you on.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1086475482]

Good luck with the surgery Justin and heal up fast!

[Kate]

Best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery. Is there anything we as a group can do to help you when you're first back home? I'd be happy to bring over dinner for you guys or something like that.

[Jamie P]

We're thinking of you, Justin, hoping that you're back to your old antics before you know it. Sending all my energy for a successful surgery and as little pain as possible....

[Lippmann]

Good News: left bicep is going to be so vascular and so swole up from 12oz curls. Get it bro.

Seriously though, good luck. I'm lifting my coffee mug for a cheers to a speedy recovery!

[Annie R]

Justin, glad you are getting the care that you need. I hope the surgery goes well and your fast recovery surprises your doctors! See you back when you are ready.

[Chuck W.]

Sorry to hear about your injury.During the healing process if you or Loren need anything let me know.Love you two.

[J P Carey]

Sending lot of strength + healing Justin!

[Anne]

Good luck, brother. I hope you have little pain and a quick recovery.

[Eileen D]

An impressive injury for an substantially more impressive guy! Sending you all good thoughts for your surgery and healing.

[Steve]

Hope you get better soon Justin!

[Jennifer R.]

You are one BADASS guinea pig--best of luck as you heal and advance science!

[Topher]

Justin, I just got a text from your anesthesiologist (we trained together at UCD). He reported that you farted the whole time you were under anesthesia.
Quick healing!
Topher

[donna]

@Topher - frickin' hilarious!

[LauraB]

Wishing you a fast recovery, Justin!

[Carol Penney]

Justin, Am thinking the surgery is behind you by now and am anxious to hear how it went. Hope you are resting comfortably at this moment in preparation for the recovery process ahead. Don't give Loren any crap and do what the docs tell you.
Thanks Topher for the comic relief, too too funny!!! Hopefully Justin won't damage anything when he reads it.

[Bryan Turner]

Dude, you look kinda red. I hope you're feeling ok today. You'll be back in action sooner than you think. You're a warrior.

[EricH]

Heal fast man ... please let us know how things went in tomorrow's post. Jeez, and people say Crossfit is dangerous ...

[CP]

I already miss my coach (Cori and I were training ourselves today - it's like the frick-n-frack show :)) and Ohana missed being used as a training tool ... Were a mess without you! Whatever you and Loren need just let us know.

[Sean T.]

Bummer to hear about your injury Justin. Best wishes for a fast recovery!

[Loren]

Thanks everyone for sending your humor, love, and well wishes Justin's way! Dr. Szabo and his team at UCD were fantastic. Surgery went well and Justin is home safe and sound. :)
We love you all!

[Justin Riley]

Thank you all for the support and best wishes. Can't wait to be back in the box.

For the record, I was not performing "Constantly varied functional movement executed at high intensity" aka "CrossFit" when I was injured, I was doing a high bar gymnastics movement that goes beyond the scope of CF training. So I maintain that CF, when administered properly, is still safer than your drive over to the box.

@Topher, I don't know if you actually got that info from my anesthesiologist or made it up for comic relief, but Loren can confirm that it was most likely true. Sleeping and farting are pretty synonymous over here.

[John Michelmore]

Justin, good luck, and here's to a fast and full recovery!

[Lesley Heller]

Wow Justin. U don't miss a beat. Already blogging. Glad all went well. Hope Szabo gave extra TLC. Be kind to Loren. She has the hard job taking care off. Oh yea I will definely ask Bob about the farting thing.

[Hollis]

Ooouch! Glad to hear it went well an I'm sure we'll be seeing you soon.

[Brian Nabeta]

I'm glad the surgery went well and that you are on the mend.

[Amber]

Get well soon, Coach! Time to start practicing your 1 arm handstands!!!

[Jon]

Take care, Justin, Greg and I are thinking of you and Loren.

[Joan]

Oops! That's Joan and Greg:)

[Blair Lowe]

Holy crap, Justin. Take care man. Never heard of this in gymnastics but definitely possible with some of the forces involved.

[Stacey]

Glad to hear the surgery went well. Heal fast!

[CFWS]

Sending you our good joo joo from your friends at CFWS. Get well soon!