Anyone come back from surgery and ...

[StickJumper]

I had to have my appandix removed at the height of this summer and am supposed to be getting ready for pre-indoor season shape or whatever. In the hospital, I lost 18 lbs. and another 4 when I got out. I didn't have much fat on me to begin with, so most was muscle mass. Now that I have been released to begin training again, it feels like my chest will explode and my muscles hurt like its nobody's business. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for how to tackle all of this, as I'd like to show the rest of the team that I belong and am not just taking up space, but right now that seems improbable.

[theflyingkorean]

make sure you do your recovery stuff if tehre was any, NEVER skimp on it or you will regret if forever

[indestructo]

I am going through my 3rd knee surgery in 2yrs.... I came back from the first scope in 6 weeks to vault 15'6"..... the second was an acl reconstruction last october... returned from that after 8 months.... vaulted 14', came down awkward and tore scar tissue.... they just went back in last week. So I have needless to say lost a lot of my fitness level. I agree with you, its very rough trying to get that back.

Be patient and be determined and you'll do it.

Good Luck!!

[Barto]

Stay with it!

I came back after a bike/auto accident to jump much better than I ever had in the first place. Broken Humerous, Scapula, Clavicle, Ribs, Tibia, and Fibula. Took about 18 months, but that is when I truly learned how to train hard and get tough.

Joe Dial had his neck fused and came back to jump 19'4".

Dave Volz totally blew out his ankle, took a couple of years off, and came back to jump 19' and make an Olympic team.

It can be done.

Barto.

[Robert schmitt]

Believe it or not I've never had surgery, but broke a representative of every bone in the body. I broke/fractured my back in 95 pole vaulting came back and physically was fine (mentally not!) Couldn't jump any higher than 15' I was to afraid to lose sight of the ground and standards.

More recently I seperated my shoulder pretty good. Complete tear of the acromial clavicuar lig, partial tear of the corico clavicular lig, partial tear of the sterno clavicular lig, dislocated second rib, with and avulsion fracture of the acrominon. This was in my right shoulder. So I was really scared about being able to vault since it was in the shoulder of my top hand. I came back and vaulted my best post collegaite mark of 14'7" a few weeks ago. In fact this whole summer I've vaulted no lower than 14' from 6 lefts.

Keep a good attitude, start working right now and you'll be in better sahpe than you were. An injury/set back can have a funny way of motivating you to work harder to succed than ever before.

[keelowman]

I had a really bad ACL rip that kept me off of my feet for a week, and off the track for 6 months. Using thick rubber bands I was able to strengthen it in my room, and was on the track in 6 months and on the pit in 10. I came back to pr this summer by a foot and a half.
Rehab and dedication are the key.

[Skyin' Brian]

i had hernia surgury my freshman year in college and had to miss most of my fall training. it was weird because i had a great indoor season and a crappy outdoor season.

lance armstrong came back from almost certain death from cancer and we all know how that turned out.

things like surgury just make you appreciate a no-height more than before.

remember anyday that you can vault is a good day.