Dislocated Elbow

[LJS30]

Could someone give me some insight into the rehabilitation of this injury. First let me give you a little background about myself in regards to the injury. I dislocated my elbow while participating in Judo/Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu so severely that it required me being knocked out while the doctor performed a closed reduction. The injury occurred on November 10th and now I begin my rehab. I want to really heal and rehab this injury the right way. However my HMO doesn't really seem to realize that I'm an athlete and really want to get back on the mat. Whenever I mention the issues I have during my rehab exercises they seem very uninterested and just tell me to keep doing the exercises. Any advice would be great.

[Heidi]

Hi
So you have been given a rehab programme then?
What does this consist of?

[LJS30]

[QUOTE=Heidi;4563]Hi
So you have been given a rehab programme then?
What does this consist of?[/QUOTE]


I posted my whole program yesterday morning. However for some reason it was never posted. Here I go again.

Shoulder (Flexion/Active)(10 reps x 4 sets)
Shoulder (Abduction/Active)(10 reps x 4 sets)
Elbow (Flexion/Active)(10 reps x 4 sets)(hold 5 seconds)
** I cannot get full flexion no matter how hard the attempt.)
Forearm (Supination/Pronation)(Active)(10 reps x 4 sets)(Hold 5 seconds)
Wrist (Flexion)(10 reps x 4 sets)

** I'm also doing sever finger and grip exercises. What concerns me is the fact that I cannot get full active flexion even though I am really putting in some major effort when it comes to my elbow. Is this normal at this stage of my rehab?

[Heidi]

Yes I would say that is quite common after such a severe dislocation to be unable to fully bend the elbow for quite sometime. How long have you been following this programme? Have you seen any improvements?
What is it that is stopping you bending the elbow? Is it pain or will it just not go further (i.e. feels tight and restricted)?

[LJS30]

[QUOTE=Heidi;4567]Yes I would say that is quite common after such a severe dislocation to be unable to fully bend the elbow for quite sometime. How long have you been following this programme? Have you seen any improvements?
What is it that is stopping you bending the elbow? Is it pain or will it just not go further (i.e. feels tight and restricted)?[/QUOTE]

I am going on my second week of this program and according to my therapist, whom I saw yesterday, I've shown marked increase in flexion and supination. However I actually lost some extension. Man, she really tortured me yesterday though. She used passive resistance to sort of "encourage" my arm to extend and flex a little further. The pain was amazing!!!!!!!!! For some reason I just cannot go to full flexion as I feel like the limb just can't go any farther on my own power. However she sure got it farther with assistance.