Well, I have to admit this is a new one for me. I’m in the final steps of completing my version of the new fangled workbench and was moving the top, back and forth over the leg assembly. It’s 2’ x 4’ x 2” thick with a 50 pound Craftsman woodworking vise on one end. Weighs about 125 lbs. Never actually picked it up , just moving, flipping it top to bottom, so I could get to the bottom and fit it to the leg assembly base.
Well, low and behold,, I hear a giant BOING sounds from my left elbow. Felt like a 110 volt shock. The arm went weak and I called it a night.
Turns out, I ruptured my bicep tendon, the tendon that connects my muscle to my elbow. Completely snapped like a broken rubber band. Apparently very common for guys between 40 and 60 (I’m 52). The Dr said he never see’s this type of injury with women, I guess the ladies are not stupid enough to move anything so darn heavy. So, at 51, I’ve blown a gasket!. Didn’t even know this could happen. The surgery is later today. 2 weeks in a sling then up to 8 weeks of physical therapy.
Hey older jocks, be careful in the shop. I thought this was heavy but not THAT heavy. Get some help moving stuff
The bench turned out pretty nice , will post this within a week or two.
Later, Bob
-- Bob A in NJ






















24 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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20640 posts in 716 days
posted 601 days ago
Bob,
You have deepest sympathies. Man that is a bummer. A lot of us are guilty of not asking for help in situations like this and insisting on going it alone rather than inconveniencing someone else. We tend to ignore the fact that we just aren’t as resilient as we were 30 years ago. One of the jocks spoke volumes about this the other day when he commented about his age to me and stated that “getting old sucks”.
Anyway I hope your surgery goes fine and that you will be back making sawdust after your therapy is complete.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
MsDebbieP
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14156 posts in 1055 days
posted 601 days ago
ouch!!!
best of luck with the surgery and a speedy recovery. I keep hearing that sound or what I imagine it sounded like.. eww
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
rikkor
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11335 posts in 769 days
posted 601 days ago
My prayers for successful surgery and a swift, complete recovery.
ND2ELK
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6176 posts in 668 days
posted 601 days ago
God luck on the surgery. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Jon Spelbring
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51 posts in 1148 days
posted 601 days ago
I hope the surgery goes well, and wish you a speedy recovery.
I think I’m hanging out here too much though. When I first scanned the entry, I read it as
“Woodworking injuries #1 – Broken tenon.” I was wondering how much damage a tenon could really do :-)
-- To do is to be
DannyBoy
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444 posts in 760 days
posted 601 days ago
My dad has had that happen to him… Surprisingly, only once. It’s painful. Hope you get back in the shop real soon!
-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7036 posts in 1194 days
posted 601 days ago
I’m sorry this had to happen to you. I wish you a rapid recovery.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 601 days ago
I just turned 50 so I better watch out. Hope you get better soon.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Will Mego
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204 posts in 606 days
posted 601 days ago
There was a guy at my fencing club who did something like this, but the bicep rolled up like an old window shade, and all this happened during the night, while asleep! When he woke up, his bicep had crawled inches up towards the shoulder, and rolled under itself, so while it now was about half as wide or long as it was before, it was twice as tall, as though he had suddenly developed a huge muscle during the night. Pretty freaky looking. In his case, no pain, however. It’s a very recoverable surgery though, so as long as you take care of it, and rehab it properly, it should work out just fine.
-- "That which has in itself the greatest use, possesses the greatest beauty." - Unknown Shaker
Douglas Bordner
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3421 posts in 958 days
posted 601 days ago
Best wishes for a flawless surgery and a rapid recovery.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
DAN
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6439 posts in 877 days
posted 601 days ago
good luck Bob, wish you a speedy recovery. Be sure to let us know how you are feeling
Regards
DAN
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Zipsss
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112 posts in 1007 days
posted 600 days ago
You still have the right arm to work with. So show us your next “one arm “project.
-- Zipsss
Blake
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2755 posts in 768 days
posted 600 days ago
I couldn’t read this without cringing… good luck with a speedy, full recovery.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
AHolmes
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6 posts in 600 days
posted 600 days ago
ouch
HAP HANSON
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48 posts in 706 days
posted 600 days ago
Surgery will most likey be the easy part the recovery and rehab will be tough – i’ve repaired a ton of tendons in dogs/cats and I know its a tough rehab process – best of luck to you!!
-- Doc Hanson - www.ripnchisel.com
sjdickey
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64 posts in 692 days
posted 600 days ago
Heres wishing you a speedy recovery. One of my next projects will be a bench so I am looking forward to seeing yours.
RobH
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460 posts in 944 days
posted 600 days ago
Bob,
Good luck with the surgery. A year ago this past Christmas I completely ruptured my PCL in my right knee. Hurt like heck when I did it and really bad for several days after. Doc here says they can fix it, but it would never be the same as before, plus I would be in a hip to ankle brace for about eight weeks. Since it was the right knee, this would mean no driving. The PT helps a lot when I remember to do it.
We will keep you in our prayers.
-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA
againstthegrain
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72 posts in 646 days
posted 600 days ago
In my prayers . . . guess I should be a little more careful too, no spring chicken anymore.
-- Anchul - Warrensburg, MO: As a Pastor, I am just trying to get closer to Jesus. He was a woodworker too.
Bob #2
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3037 posts in 916 days
posted 600 days ago
Bob I hope you get by the surgery without complications,
I was very nearly in the same boat as you with an overhead lift of a chunk of 3/4” tongue and groove particle board here in January.
I pulled muscles in my lower left back area and my right shoulder so bad that I had to wear a brace for 2 months on my back and ice patches on my shoulder.
I couldn’t sleep on either side without Tylenol.
I have been pulling off stunts like this all my life but that was my warning.
If I can’t get help it’s not going to get done anymore.
Life is too short to be crippled.
Cheers
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
Bob A in NJ
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522 posts in 893 days
posted 600 days ago
Hi all, thanks for all the kind words. The surgery went well, only took and hour. When i woke up, it felt like
I had gotten hit but a truck! Thank goodness for modern painkillers! So, next two weeks in a splint and sling, then rest and PT for 3 months. No lifting (no fun in the shop) until July.
This was a real eye opener , have to be extra careful from here out. This could very easily happen in my right arm also now that the left one has sprung.
Woodworking is great fun but let’s all be careful.
I’ll have plenty of time to check out all your projects and other woodworking sites. Looking forward to getting back into the shop and get caught up on my list of projects. With great ideas and inspiration from the Lumberjocks, I’m sure my list will get even longer.
Thanks again.
One – armed Bob
-- Bob A in NJ
DrSawdust
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231 posts in 992 days
posted 495 days ago
Bob, How is the recovering going? Have you been able to get back in the shop?
-- Making sawdust is what I do best
jeanmarc
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1751 posts in 610 days
posted 485 days ago
I wish you a rapid recovery.Good luck with the surgery
-- jeanmarc manosque france
Bob A in NJ
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522 posts in 893 days
posted 484 days ago
Hi all,
The recovery was not as good as expected. The 1st surgery was on April 2nd. Turns out the radial nerve, the nerve that connects the motor skills to the fingers and thumb did not heal correctly. I had another surgery this past Tuesday (July 23rd) to fix it. Looks like another 2-3 months for the nerve to grow back, which will give me the ability to use my fingers and thumb again. With some luck and a prayer, I should be good as new by the end of September.
Don’t lift anything too heavy! :-)
I miss being in the shop!
Bob
-- Bob A in NJ
jeanmarc
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1751 posts in 610 days
posted 481 days ago
I wish you a good re-establishment qu’ one can see still much of your project and can quickly take again the way of your workshop good luck
-- jeanmarc manosque france