I was a coward at the PA States Nov 14th

[philbauer]

The last time I pulled my right arm exploded and I have spent the last 15 months healing.

I still have to see the doctor about my right arm...getting x-rays and trying to pay for rehab. We talk about surgery but insurance won't cover it because I got insurance after the break etc etc.

Insurance only covers so much after the break.
I am the world's slowest healer.

My doctor estimates my right arm at 80% healed. My x-rays show 60% healed. But I am no doctor.

Not good considering most arm wrestlers who break are back at it within a year.
If I were to pull right handed I would re-break.

The PA States on November 14th was supposed to be my time to get pay back...It was supposed to be my time to show everyone my Left arm was strong.
(At least at the novice level to make a comeback)

I trained and I trained and I trained.
I even bought an arm wrestling machine
Nothing compared to real pulling, according to Frank Hirst.
He is right.

I did not expect to have a complete mental shut down when it was my time to pull.

I wanted my muscles to do the job but my idiot brain wouldn't let me.
I can't explain it...
I froze out of fear of another break.

My first match I knew was a loss...He was a regular puller, almost ready to go into only pro class. I accepted that and lost.

My second match I knew I could win...We held after the go and I couldn't convince my body to do the regular side pressure to the pin.

So I let up so he could pin me.

Physically I am twice as strong with my left than I ever was with my right arm but I couldn't harness that strength.
Even warming up with Frank Hirst I couldn't give it my all.

Mentally I was broken.

That's not the worst part...

Hirst saw it.
Snook saw it.
Latella saw it.
Miller saw it.
Kopa saw it.

Thank God Pete didn't see it.

I can name many others...

If anyone thinks breaking your arm hurts your ego...try making a comeback and failing because you were scared.

If anyone can help with recovering mentally I would appreciate it.

[Jake Smith]

My brother broke his arm pulling and he never returned to the sport. Many others are the same way. Props to getting back on the horse and feeling it out. It will be a process but atleast you got back up to the table.
p.s MOST of us dont think you were being a p u s s y. hahaha. jk just keep training

[philbauer]

Thanks Jake. Please kill me.

[Joshua 'Turbo' Borrow]

phill quit bein a flowerbed, you know what you did wrong to break your arm, so fix it, go in there pissed off like you have something to proove, because you have everything to proove from all the crap you have talked, its time to put up or shut up and show everyone what you;re made of. pull hard and pull with your right arm too if it breaks again your insurance will cover the surgery this time. RI state is where you need to reinvent yourself as an armwrestler

[Jon Brown]

Failed?? I don't know about that Phil...

You got back on the table after breaking your arm and you think you failed because you didn't win?? You got back up there... that's what matters. This armwrestling thing can be humbling to strong men because it can sometimes make you feel not strong at all... just give it time and have fun.

Sorry I didn't introduce myself in PA by the way, I actually didn't realize who you were until you were gone.

[philbauer]

Sorry Turbo...I like Jon Brown's approach.

Thanks Jon.

And yes Arm Wrestling is very humbling to us "strong men" aka "Fat guys"

[philbauer]

Regardless of what is said I still feel worthless and that won't change until I compete again.

It would help if I had a wife who supported me and arm wrestling.

[philbauer]

Everyone says "oh are you Evil Sasha?"

They should say "oh are you anti-arm wrestling Sasha?"

[Rick "Lummox" North]

Hang in there Phil, I'm sure Sasha is just worried because she loves you and has seen the stress, pain and anxiety that the arm break has caused you. Nobody would want to see someone they care about go through that again.
Once she realizes you are better prepared and trained she wil feel more confident(so will you) and come around. see you Saturday!!!

[Anthony Snook]

Baconator, all I saw is someone who needs to get more table time to work the kinks out. Chill

Your wife was scared $hitless...........for your well being. You can't fault her for caring too much.

BTW where the hell did you disappear too. I kept asking "Where's Phil", and nobody knew

[TK]

PHIL,

WE CALL THAT COURAGE, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK! KEEP PULLIN IT'LL NATURALLY COME BACK.....JUST LIKE A CAR CRASH...MOST PEOPLE GO RIGHT BACK TO DRIVING...TAKES A WHILE TO WORK OUT THE NERVES. CONGRATS TO YOUR RETURN!

T/K

[Leonard Harkless]

Nov 17, 2009 23:23:19 GMT -5 @philbauer said:

The last time I pulled my right arm exploded and I have spent the last 15 months healing.

I still have to see the doctor about my right arm...getting x-rays and trying to pay for rehab. We talk about surgery but insurance won't cover it because I got insurance after the break etc etc.

Insurance only covers so much after the break.
I am the world's slowest healer.

My doctor estimates my right arm at 80% healed. My x-rays show 60% healed. But I am no doctor.

Not good considering most arm wrestlers who break are back at it within a year.
If I were to pull right handed I would re-break.

The PA States on November 14th was supposed to be my time to get pay back...It was supposed to be my time to show everyone my Left arm was strong.
(At least at the novice level to make a comeback)

I trained and I trained and I trained.
I even bought an arm wrestling machine
Nothing compared to real pulling, according to Frank Hirst.
He is right.

I did not expect to have a complete mental shut down when it was my time to pull.

I wanted my muscles to do the job but my idiot brain wouldn't let me.
I can't explain it...
I froze out of fear of another break.

My first match I knew was a loss...He was a regular puller, almost ready to go into only pro class. I accepted that and lost.

My second match I knew I could win...We held after the go and I couldn't convince my body to do the regular side pressure to the pin.

So I let up so he could pin me.

Physically I am twice as strong with my left than I ever was with my right arm but I couldn't harness that strength.
Even warming up with Frank Hirst I couldn't give it my all.

Mentally I was broken.

That's not the worst part...

Hirst saw it.
Snook saw it.
Latella saw it.
Miller saw it.
Kopa saw it.

Thank God Pete didn't see it.

I can name many others...

If anyone thinks breaking your arm hurts your ego...try making a comeback and failing because you were scared.

If anyone can help with recovering mentally I would appreciate it.

I still say that you should look for another doctor. There is something seriously wrong with only being 60% healed after this long.

[Jeremy Durfee]

do you actually practice on a table with other guys? You need to get used to people applying pressure to your arm and then get used to hitting. Even if you only hit 25% of your strength it might help you to get over the nerves and build up the confidence..... By the way, I didn't realize it was you either in PA or I would of introduced myself. That was very cool what you did with the Table.

[Hungry Hippo]

I wouldn't get near a table if the arm I broke wasn't not 100%, but 110%. Concentrate on your left. Remember, you're asking ARMWRESTLERS what to do. We're gonna say get your arm up there and pull or what not. Make sure it is healed ALL the way. No competing right handed. Just therapy and light pulling til it's ready for competition. Your left should be your focus.

[Leonard Harkless]

Nov 18, 2009 9:45:52 GMT -5 Hungry Hippo said:

I wouldn't get near a table if the arm I broke wasn't not 100%, but 110%. Concentrate on your left. Remember, you're asking ARMWRESTLERS what to do. We're gonna say get your arm up there and pull or what not. Make sure it is healed ALL the way. No competing right handed. Just therapy and light pulling til it's ready for competition. Your left should be your focus.

Don't forget that Steve Phipps rebroke his right pulling left because the right didn't heal.