Arm Movement

At this point, I've been a bad blogger and poster. I wouldn't be surprised if no one was reading this any more. However, I started writing the blog for me. It was a good place for me to get out any emotions that I felt I couldn't share with people in person.

Today's post is all about something I've been sharing with people. When Fred broke my arm last summer (Fred = tumor), I was put in a sling for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks my arm didn't heal. So then I was fitted for a custom brace that I wore for another 8 weeks. After all this, my bone never healed. What did happen was that my arm actually stopped bending. It was a very slow progression.

When I had my MRI in January they also scanned my elbow. I was barely able to move my arm. Maybe 15 degrees of bending at the elbow. They found Oscar. A second desmoid tumor in my elbow. That's what they thought was in my elbow.

I started Nexavar in January to shrink the two guys who were hanging out in my arm. My MRI in March showed the tumor in my elbow (while small to begin with) had got darker on the scan. That was so exciting. In April, I caved and decided to start physical therapy for my arm. I wasn't using my arm any more. The doctors told me traditional therapy wouldn't work. My muscles were too weak and impaired. They said that I could try therapy and see what happens. I did just that. I tried therapy.

Therapy was and is awful. It hurts. I cry and scream while I'm in my 30 minute appointments. Every time I am in therapy a new muscle moves or pulls. It is nothing short of painful. I started with 2ish degrees of elbow movement on my own and 10 degrees with help. I'm now PLEASED to report that I'm at 80 degrees on my own and 88ish with help. I want to go over the 90 degree mark but that is the hardest yet. Therapy is the best news I've had about my arm in a long time. The pain is worth it.

PS This week is MRI and results week so please say some prayers for me and my husband. MRI weeks always are difficult emotional weeks for us.