Clinton Has Elbow Operation

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took a tumble at the State Department and would up fracturing her right elbow. On Friday morning she had surgery at George Washington University Hospital, and by Friday evening, she was already recuperating at home.

It looks like everything went well with the surgery, and the family has released a statement through the State Department saying they are "grateful for the many prayers and messages of good will they have received these past few days, and are so very thankful for the excellent care provided by the doctors, nurses and the staff of The George Washington University Hospital."

Believe me when I say I know how she feels. I'm about the same age as the Secretary of State, and a couple of summers ago I broke my left elbow. I wasn't watching what I was doing and tripped on a potted plant trying to get through a door. As I fell, I hit the elbow on the concrete pavement and broke it rather badly.

I had an operation the same day, and it was so badly broken the doctor had to put in some metal pins. I was off work for only two weeks (like Hillary, I am fortunate enough to have a job that requires more brain-work than physical labor). Secretary Clinton is one tough lady and with the importance of her job, I doubt she'll take that long before returning to work.

My own doctor told me I could lose about 20% of the mobility in that elbow. Fortunately, he was wrong and I have gotten my full range of motion back and experienced no lasting pain. To tell the truth, I can't tell any difference in the elbow now from how it was before the accident.

I wish Secretary Clinton well, and I hope she has a full and pain-free recovery as I did.