Hamate injury, trials and tribulations

[mattyd69ab]

Sorry, long post but I starred my questions below so you can skip down.

 

Classic story which I will paraphrase for both our time's sake. I'm a righty golfer and I broke my left hamate in August of 2011. I tried casting for 12 weeks which did help but pain wasn't gone completely. Played golf and lifted weights with mild-moderate discomfort from Jan 2012 until April/May. Then the pain at that time got severe again and wouldn't really improve with rest. I went back to Dr. and the hook was still broken and the fragment was migrating AKA need surgery. Due to scheduling conflicts surgery was set for Nov 20th but in the meantime I could tolerate playing or hitting balls about once every 2-3 weeks but it was incredibly painful. I had the surgery and he said to not do ANYTHING for 6 weeks (I'm a bad patient). Yes I cheated a little bit, I've been putting since week 3 and just to really be an idiot I chipped a bit during week 5.

 

Anyways, the 6 week mark was 2 days ago Jan 1! Naturally I was anxious to get out there so I did go hit for ab 35 min yesterday. I took it slow but overall by the end of my range session I was hitting easy but full PW and 7i. There was quite a bit of pain but it was more like "I hadn't used my wrist for 6 weeks after wrist surgery" pain and not as much the sharp/shooting pain which I was having before surgery.

 

*****MY 3 QUESTIONS:

1) I'm curious exactly how long have most people waited to get back into the game and how did everyone go about it? Did you start at week 4 or did you wait 3 months? Did you start with chipping and then a week later go to 30yd pitches, then 40yd, etc. or did you just go to full swings but be gentle and limit your practice time? Would you have waited longer knowing what you know now?

2) how did it go for you? Was it uncomfortable at first but continued to ge better or did you have some big setbacks, if so what?

3) how does your game stack up to your level of play before your injury? How long did it take you to get to 80%? How long till full form? hindsight's 20/20, would you have done anything different?

 

 

Disclaimer: Just to appease the masses I will assume no one is a medical professional and you are all offering friendly advice. Ipso facto you can tell me the best cure is to go cut my hand off and you will no be sued. Also, sorry I know this has been breifly talked about before and I've read almost everything to read on this site about it. The week of my surgery I posed this question in pm's to the hamate gurus on here but every pm says "not read yet" so I'm hoping to catch the attention of the guys with answers like this.

[mwmilk123]

the problem is that a nerve runs through what is termed "the hook". besides a build up of scar tissue and bone at the fracture site might be causing your pain. your dr should have well informed you about your healing process, and recommended some sort of rehab. you also have to remember that by imobilizing your wrist for 6 weaks, it causes the muscles to atrophy. once you engage these muscles again you will have soreness, honestly as the scar tissue and adhesions break up your pain will diminish. i would imagine your surgeon removed the portion of the hamate that fragmented, that being said, you need not worry about the bone healing. one question though, have you lost range of motion?
oh yea, i broke mine right before the winter. forced down time helped . unfortunately i've never fully got my impact as strong since.

[mattyd69ab]

Hey thanks for the reply. Yea I know part of my pain before the surgery was referred from the ulnar nerve being aggravated. I have seen their PT and have been doing my flexor tendon exercises and such. i have my follow-up on monday. I am as sore as expected I am just really trying to formulate a plan from here to get back into the game and am curious if anyone has had lasting problems.

Does it still hurt at impact? Did you have surgery or got it to heal non-op?

I do have some loss of ulnar deviation right now but it has slowly been improving. I feel as though that will all come back with time but I am going to ask my doctor about all that on Monday.

[lulu57]

I'm nine weeks out from hamate surgery and still have pain with pressure and ulnar deviation. Wouldn't want to hit a golf ball with it. Are you mad? :-)

[NavySWAo]

All. 8 days post hook removal. Very sore, weak grip. I am most concerned about loss of fine motor skills with my fingers. Right handed golfer, left hamate. The motor skills has me real nervous. Have you experienced? How are you 2 years out?

 

Thanks,

 

Tim