Humerus fracture recovery
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Humerus fracture recovery - 5/25/2006 3:43:23 PM
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WS18
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Joined: 5/25/2006
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Almost 3 months ago (3/3/06), I severely fractured on my left humerus (upper arm) from arm wrestling, of all things. I am only around 135 lbs, so I have a thin bone structure, which played a huge role in the accident. It was a spiral fracture, so I had to have surgery on it. Two days after fracturing it, I received a gift in the form of a plate and 12 screws in my arm. So I had to stop lifting for a little over a month. The injury was a huge blow - prior to it I had significant gains in strength (had JUST moved up from 185 to 205 on bench in about 2 weeks). Well, at least I didn't have to wear a cast for months.
On a side note, waking up from surgery is the worst pain ever. They had to numb my entire arm so I wouldn't feel any pain. The numbness lasted about 13 hours, and after it wore off, the pain was just as bad as when I woke up from the operation. Luckily, I had morphine on my side.
So they had me do light ROM exercises at the rehab center a few weeks after surgery. The rehabilitation went on for about a month, where I started doing light weights at the end (around the end of 4/06). After rehab was over, I started working out again with really light weights, such as 5-15 lbs on bicep curls, 45-75 on bench, just to get my muscles and tendons working again. It felt like it was the first time I was at the weight room again.
I have slowly worked my way back up again. To this point today, I probably have about 90% of my motion back. I used to be able to hyperextend my elbow, but not anymore. My tendons are still sore from the surgery, especially in the morning. I am probably back to around 70-75% of my strength (now at 155 on bench). The explosion is not there anymore, but in time I believe it will come back. Hopefully I will be at full strength in 2-3 months. I also have a 15 inch scar from the incision, but I am not worried about that, as long as I can get my strength back.
Just wanted to share my story. If anyone has gone through something like this before, please let me know how you coped with it. I am sure there are people who have had much worse injuries and have had much longer recovery periods. I actually feel that I have been recovering pretty quickly, and yet I still feel somewhat helpless about the situation. Hopefully I will not try to do too much and reinjure myself. The road to recovery is extremely tough to deal with, because just a few months ago you were in the best shape, and now you are set back to where you were a year ago. Good luck to everyone who is trying to recover from an injury, major or minor.
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 5/25/2006 10:34:09 PM
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WS18
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I must have some horrible estimation skills- I thought the scar was around 15 inches, but I just measured it and it is barely 10.
(in reply to Lynx100)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 6/21/2006 11:09:25 PM
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vikki
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Joined: 6/21/2006
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Im a 29yr old female, and broke my right humerus arm wrestling (a guy) it is a spiral fracture. its been 2 months, i still have 6 weeks to go in brace and sling before next x-ray. I hope it heals by then, going crazy with frustration. I wont ever arm wrestle again.  Which sucks cause it was a lot of fun - til my arm snapped!
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 7/30/2006 9:19:24 PM
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WS18
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quick update:
it has almost been 5 months now, and I am stronger than I was before the injury for all major compound exercises. Lateral movements with the extensor muscles still hurt a lot, so I am taking it light with those. The 10 lbs I lost post-surgery, I have put back on, plus an additional 5 lbs, so I am back on track. The extensor muscles are still a concern though... I do exercises that stretch them out (reverse wrist curls, lateral raises... etc) but they hurt like hell even with something like 5-10 lbs. However, I am seeing improvements, and I will ask my doc about it when I see him in a few weeks.
(in reply to vikki)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 9/17/2006 6:47:24 PM
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mrpotente
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Joined: 9/17/2006
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Hello you all, my names is João from portugal , i´m 27 and 6.2 height and 187 pounds, so i started on gym about an year ago and with good results until past friday that i´ve broken my right arm humerous distal third im arm westreling, im to surgery tomorrow, and i know for shure that im installing a plate also, i hope that i recover the most possible to go to the gym asap. my question is, can i let the plate insido for the long term, or maybe forever?, is there any problems of that kept inside?
Regards
Joãoo
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 12/29/2006 3:52:15 PM
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bergkamp10
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Joined: 12/29/2006
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hello everyone, I'm Thomas from England. I'm 20
I broke my humerus bone(clean brake ,even heard the bone go snap) arm wrestling on july 1st, this year. I was lucky in that I did not suffer any nerve damage.
They put me in a brace and sling for just under 7 weeks in the hope that the bone would form a union naturally - which it did so I did not need surgery.
as soon as I came out of the brace I was in the gym doing exercises on the arm using light weights.
right now, the doc says the arm is about 80%. In a year 90 % and 2 years 100%- which I find hard to believe. My guess is another 3 months and my arm will be 99% if not 100%.
it's my arm afterall!
(in reply to mrpotente)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 1/8/2007 3:29:53 AM
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Lynx100
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Joined: 2/24/2005
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That exactly the kind of attitude that causes re-injury.
Sure the doctor doesnt 'know you body as well as you do' but it is always better to play safe than risk re-injury.
I suggest you take his advice and ease back into things. Even if they take a year or 2.
If you re-injure it, the chances of it healing back to normal will be very low. Thats just not something you should be willing to risk - especially for gaining a few pounds of muscle.
Value your health. Look after yourself.
(in reply to bergkamp10)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 1/31/2007 4:00:46 PM
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anandzone
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Joined: 1/31/2007
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Hi WS18,
I broke my left humerus seven months before. I was in a brace for four months. I lost all my strength & mass in my left hand. Shoulder, biceps, & triceps are the muscles that were affected the most. It really screwed up my symmetry. I went through physical therapy for two weeks & I started working out again two months before. I managed to work my way up to 55 lb on dumbbell press, but I could not go above that. I could not do lateral rises or the biceps curls very well. I feel some pain when I try to go above 55 lb. I have been using both dumbbells & bare bells. Did you use dumbbells or bare bells to regain your strength?
? Did you use any particular workout programe? Its been so frustrating for me. I could not resist the urge to lift heavy.
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 2/7/2007 4:53:50 PM
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Dave26
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Joined: 9/9/2006
From: New Jersey
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Heh i fractured my left humerus in 10th grade, im now in 12th, it was a clean brake straight through from me doing something stupid. Anyway i just had to keep it in a sling for about 2 months and the doc gave me no rehab or anything. Lost all my muscle in it etc. but i guess its coming back slowly. Still i have trouble with my ROM and cant hold my arm up without feeling my shoulder tighten up and feel all weird. So yea it does suck 
(in reply to anandzone)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 2/23/2007 3:22:12 AM
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Kulama
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Joined: 2/16/2007
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Hey all, 23 from Australia. Spiral fracture on right humerous arm wrestling as well, I weighed 93kgs and now down to 86kg, very obvious that my right arm is shorter than my left.
Clean snap, heard the bone snap, spectators all shocked. Surgery to reassemble the bone (plate +8 screws) pretty cool scar though, definately one I can show the kids when Im older haha
Hurts like hell still...its been almost 8 weeks and I'm still on narcotics for pain....dammit.....all that hard work !!!!!
I'll be making sure I take care of my bones as well as my physique when I get back.
(in reply to Dave26)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 6/9/2007 3:11:43 PM
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SteveO5801
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Joined: 1/12/2006
From: New York
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Just saw this thread and even though it is old, I wanted to reply to it as a way of helping others who are going through the same thing.
I had been lifting weights 4 days a week for two years, when I also decided to test my strength in an arm wrestle. On March 19, 2007 I heard the loudest crack in my life. It was my distal humerus (just above the elbow) giving way in a spiral fracture. It was the worst pain ever! They gave me 2 morphine shots, percoset, and valium, and they still had to knock me out totally in order to set my arm.
What I wanted to add to this discussion though, is that the doctors all agreed not to perform surgery (I had 3 opinions on this), even though it was as bad as you can break your arm. New studies are out that show that if they don't operate but put you in a hanging cast, people do better long term. What stinks is that I was in the cast for a month and I had to sit up in a chair 24/7 (even to sleep!). Then came 2 weeks in a compression brace and then my arm came out with no muscle left in it and three joints that could not move (shoulder, elbow, wrist).
However, after one month of PT I can straighten out my arm 100% and almost bring it all the way in to my body. I have to work on strenghtening and building back (very slowly), but it does appear that if you can avoid the operation, you will do much better.
As for symmetry, it is funny because my left bicep (the one on the arm that didn't break) is like 16" while my right arm (the broken one) is like 10. They were almost the same before the break. Oh well.........I have work to do.
All the best to everyone!
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 8/8/2007 2:50:25 PM
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Joker22
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Joined: 8/8/2007
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I am glad I found this thread. I got a plate and 11 screws 2 1/2 weeks ago. Just like everyone else, I broke it arm wrestling. After trying a cast for a few weeks and then a Sarmiento brace, I opted for the surgery. I lost 15 lbs, mostly muscle, after the injury. My right shoulder has lost almost all of its muscle. I am using my right arm in most of my everyday activities, but I still cannot straighten it. My doctor told me that as long as my arm is swolen, I can expect this. It is good to know that you were back close to 100% in 5 months. Playing golf, working out, hunting, and going to football games are my favorite hobbies. Football season hasn't started yet, hunting season isn't open, and I can't work out or play golf, so I'm about to go crazy. My doctor said that I could be back to playing golf in a month, so, I am counting down the days.
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 8/8/2007 7:28:42 PM
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SteveO5801
Posts: 71
Joined: 1/12/2006
From: New York
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Hey Joker, don't give up and don't get depressed, man. I am at 100% range in my shoulder, elbow, and wrist. My strength is coming back and I expect that I will be able to do everything as before...........EXCEPT ARM WRESTLE! Nobody should ever do that!
Best of luck to you and keep your chin up!
_____________________________
Weight 215
Height 6' 1"
Goals: Bigger, stronger, better.........
(in reply to Joker22)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 8/13/2007 8:38:25 AM
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Nick UK
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Joined: 8/13/2007
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Im glad i found this site. It comforting to read that people are goin thru the same thing as i am. Yes I, 10/08/07 UK <3days ago broke my weaker left arm by arm wrestling, massive snap everyone watching shocked. no-one more so than me incidently etc. Im 22, 180lbs 6ft, fit and have been dumbelling upto 15kg, gym and swimming for years. Plenty of shoulder/arm muscle yet i went to wrestle... then i was losing alot so i put in more effort then snap. I dont know if my muscle broke my own bone or if he did :s I dont know if my bad technique due to me being a bit drunk was the cause of it and the fact that i dont arm wrestle very much at all <1 a year. stupid really!
But it seems to be a common problem which i wish i was more aware of :( anyway rushed to hospital A&E on a friday night, fortunately a clean break in the middle of the bone, humerus spiral fracture. Docs have put me ina sling (cuff n collar) with no surgery, no cast or splint :s apperently the bone will reallign and fix itself with gravity. Am on in my oppinion weak pain killers 500mg paracetamol wit 10mg dihdrocodeine tartrate. but 3rd day in and i dont feel i need them so i dont take them, i have little pain with gravity just holding it their and medium to good use/flexibility of my wrist/fingers despite no strength (cant hold a cup of tea yet). i still take painkillers at night to help with sleep, not that im doin much of that sitting almost bolt upright. I have all my feelings apart for a numbness at the bottom of my elbow about 7 cm circle diameter but i think thats due to poor circulation becasuse my elbow is very swallon like a balloon. Feeling better already altho still no moment with the arm, so frustrating that u cant stretch out or lie down. want to weight train already and its only 3 days in. Anyway am due a check up in 2 days (5 days from 'the snap') i expect they will re xray to see if ther natural alignment is working. feels okay so far, though i expect they will confirm whether or not to splint/cast then. either that or say y the hell arent u in one already. i will post back later. scary stuff tho, never broken anything before and now im worried it will re break if do anything. want to snowboard in 4/5 months and will b paranoid about falling on it i expect. dialy im currently taking seperate coponents of ZMA (zinc upto 90mg to help healing, mag, b6) protein, glutamine, >2g calcuim to grow a new bone hopefully. will see wat the docs ses. guess ima take it easy for now.
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 8/16/2007 4:10:02 AM
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gabe
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i found here through google a week ago but i was in too much pain to register n post then.28-year-old from new zealand. on 6/8/07 i broke my right distal humerus arm wrestling as well, spiral fracture with a butterfly fragment. i was rushed to the ED and they found no nerve damage so put me into an above elbow hanging cast. it's been the most miserable week of my life. i cant sleep in bed at night cause no matter how i position my broken arm it hurts. i just had my first follow-up clinic this afternoon. xray shows that bone has straightened but there's still a visible gap between broken bones. doc says i'm doing ok it normally takes 6-8 weeks but i actually expected to see some sort of bone union after 1.5 weeks. i'm depressed! i'm praying that i won't need a surgery cause i don't like the idea of plate and screws in my body, and by all accounts people going through surgery don't recover as well as those without. not to mention wasted time. i've been lifting weights for about 1 year before the injury and gained 7kg of muscle. i miss the gym already. but i'm not thinking about getting my strength back. all i want now is just a fully functional arm back, full ROM, no pain/disconfort, etc. i'll go from there. but i'll never arm wrestle again. it's nice to read different people's stories here even though they give me mixed feelings. at least i feel i'm not alone. i'll post back next week.
(in reply to Nick UK)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 8/25/2007 12:30:11 PM
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commonhorsesense
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Joined: 8/25/2007
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Found your site searching for "stregenth training after complete humerus fracture".
(I broke mine working cattle horseback....) My Doctor OK-ed me to go back to normal life two weeks ago, I used to be strong...for a girl (26F) no bodybuilding! but farm life and 50lb feed sacks were not a problem now I am struggling and canNOT lift the 5lb weight with that arm! (I've got a 1lb weight I've been using, but progress is very slow!) Terribly frusterating. (I've always been the one that could do anything!)
What types of exercises do ya'll suggest? Mobility is not the issue as much as stregenth is. I've spent a lot of time stretching and such, but how can I build any sort of stregenth back??
Thanks for the input!
(in reply to WS18)
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RE: Humerus fracture recovery - 8/29/2007 9:56:27 AM
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Nick UK
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Joined: 8/13/2007
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Update – 5-day check up went okay, doc said he was happy to leave the sling on and let it heal naturally pending a check up in 2 weeks. The bone did no doubt look more aligned than at first x-ray on the day of the break but it was easy to see it was still a couple of centimetres out of place (wide). It’s still early days though.
So I spent the next 2 weeks resting it somewhat. The balloon swelling of the arm started to have some yellow bruising on the forearm by day 7, then followed by a large darker black bruise on the point of break at the front of the humerus. Then a day or 2 later a 2-inch deep red one appeared behind the break point, showing what are probably ruptured blood vessels. Followed by a long black bruise down the bottom of the forearm. I don’t know why my forearm is becoming so bruised; it’s a little sore if you poke it. The other bruises aren’t too bad despite their appearance.
Anyway the swelling started to go down over the week. Managed to put on a stone (~6kg) and lose it with respect to before and after the swelling going down. Bruising went away nearly as quickly as it came up (3 days), and the arm size is back to normal apart from a build up of now hard fluid collecting at the bottom of the forearm which will probably shift once I become more active. But at the moment if I poke it, it can make an indent on it and feels a bit like a balloon filled with flour, stress ball kind of thing. It’s still mildly numb around the elbow, if you pull the arm hair I can feel it but surface touch sensitivity is still low. I think this will go once the fluid shifts and normal blood flow can return.
I have been fortunate with the pain and hassle it would seem as I said before managed to completely stop taking painkillers after just 5 days, even at night. And by that time I managed to lie down on my side without to much trouble - although not recommended for straight bone union, I thought to hell with this as I needed some proper sleep for recovery plus my neck/shoulder was killing me after hanging that sling on it non-stop for 5 days. I still kept the sling on while lying down just kept my arm in that right angled position making a rough fist into the mattress to support the arm and balance most the arm weight on my hip/rib cage area, otherwise the full weight of it hanging down would make it hurt a lot. I could not lie flat on my back as the arm seemed to roll and bend over my chest and hurt although I could lie back nearly flat on a couple of pillows, I have 6 at my disposal :D To do this I let the arm hang by my side facing slightly outwards and let the elbow rest slightly supporting itself. Of course if I leant on it by accident then it would hurt like hell.
The arm seemed fine during the day so long as it was kept in position and not knocked at all. After the swelling went down by day 10ish, I managed to get a lot more strength back in the hand and I can grip things quite well like x-box controllers, glasses of water etc. I also had a mild pain in my ring finger when I contracted it but that pain went when the arm swelling went down. So not one to be held back I hit the gym to stimulate some testosterone production on day 8 and again a week later and did cycling, leg squat presses and quad work. Cant run yet though, could barely walk fast, the juddering hurt it too much as you might expect after only a week from the break. It used to hurt riding in a car but its fine now.
I did take one or two low doses of ibuprofen at night which worked for me better than the painkillers prescribed and I think reduced the swelling a lot but I know it’s not recommended to take anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) early on as I’ve read they restrict healing, probably because they reduce important blood flow to that area, although reduced swelling equals reduced pain for me and they can be mixed with alcohol which is nice but again you shouldn’t do because it inhibits healing, so does caffeine incidentally.
Right went to the next x-ray check up now 18 days from the snap and it looks good, got a photo on my phone of the x-rays. Alignment is now perfectly straight when holding your arm out in front of you and your wrist facing up in a bicep curl position. When holding in a sling position away from the body a little bit (hand on hip kind of job except I cant flex like that yet) the alignment is heading the correct way slotting in the old grove less than 5mm from lateral connection but still about 3-5mm wide, maybe that’s as good as it will get.
It’s not bad though, its not bowing from sleeping on my side, which is good, and surgery looks off the cards for good, which is great news. Doc says I won’t see union for another 4 weeks yet, but even then it won’t show up solidly for another 2-3 months on x-rays. He could see new bone forming but it’s not really a significant amount. The plan is that I should be good in 4 weeks to start physio, which would make an initial heal time of 6.5 weeks, but I’m not convinced. I can’t even put my arm past 120 degrees yet without it hurting, so I don’t want to rush into any re-break risk. The doc says it will be strong enough but as I said it wont be rock solid for a few months.
I am now taking up to double dosages of ‘Osteocare’ as part of a balance diet of course which contains a lot of things in it that I was already taking (zinc, better quality calcium, magnesium) but now includes Boron which I was missing and it is working out cheaper at the moment than my previous supplements when ordered online (£6.66 for 90 pills or something). Still on protein shakes etc - muscle wastage isn’t looking too bad so far. Doc said supplements are a waste of time but I’ll press on, I’ve researched dosages carefully etc. Don’t want to get kidney stones eh. I will post back in 4 weeks - I hope others find this helpful.
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(in reply to Nick UK)
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