While doing a set of heavy hang cleans (a training movement for the Olympic Lift - the Clean), I fell backwards while in the catch position. The weight was 295 pounds, my one rep max at the time was around 325 pounds. I just lost my balance.
Read more below to find out about how this should be treated (immediately)...
Read more below to find out about how this should be treated (immediately)...
The weight was still in my hands at the time of falling backwards and my right elbow struck the ground. As a result, the force of the bar on my right hand damaged / severed two or three ligaments in my hand.
Thanks to a friend who worked at the hospital called ahead and I was able to get an x-ray, see an orthopedist, and get into the emergency room very quickly. While the wrist from the outside did not look too bad, I knew based on the mechanism of injury, level pain and the fact that I almost passed out - I was in trouble.
The orthopedist recommended they try to do a closed reduction immediately. To do this they put me on fentanyl and propofol to sedate me and put the bones back in normal alignment. I do not remember this part very well but it was totally painless. It took a pretty large team to get the job done and apparently I cried a little. That stuff works.
I was placed in a temporary cast and released after additional X-rays and the sedatives wore off. We set an appointment to return two days later for a surgery to stabilize the hand. See next post for more details.
Lessons Learned Today: If you have a serious mechanism of injury (high velocity or heavy weight) go to the Emergency Room. Do not wait!
Also if you are Crossfitter - WEAR YOUR OLY SHOES when approaching heavy weight (>50-75% of your max) . I was wearing my Nano3s and honestly feel like it was a factor in losing my balance.
Here is a video of how Zach Krych was injured - I had a very similar mechanism of injury but luckily only one wrist for me.
Thanks to a friend who worked at the hospital called ahead and I was able to get an x-ray, see an orthopedist, and get into the emergency room very quickly. While the wrist from the outside did not look too bad, I knew based on the mechanism of injury, level pain and the fact that I almost passed out - I was in trouble.
The orthopedist recommended they try to do a closed reduction immediately. To do this they put me on fentanyl and propofol to sedate me and put the bones back in normal alignment. I do not remember this part very well but it was totally painless. It took a pretty large team to get the job done and apparently I cried a little. That stuff works.
I was placed in a temporary cast and released after additional X-rays and the sedatives wore off. We set an appointment to return two days later for a surgery to stabilize the hand. See next post for more details.
Lessons Learned Today: If you have a serious mechanism of injury (high velocity or heavy weight) go to the Emergency Room. Do not wait!
Also if you are Crossfitter - WEAR YOUR OLY SHOES when approaching heavy weight (>50-75% of your max) . I was wearing my Nano3s and honestly feel like it was a factor in losing my balance.
Here is a video of how Zach Krych was injured - I had a very similar mechanism of injury but luckily only one wrist for me.
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