Getting Personal: Overcoming Injury and Defying Limits
Most people don’t know this about me, but after an injury—either from football or motocross (honestly, I’m still not sure which tore my cartilage)—I had multiple elbow surgeries as a young kid, just 10 years old. And here's the kicker: doctors and specialists didn’t believe me when I said I was in pain.
You see, most of the adults I saw—including General Practitioners and even orthopedic specialists—thought I was faking the pain. Why? Because they didn’t see broken bones or any visible tears in ligaments or tendons. As far as they were concerned, there was nothing wrong with my arm. I was told, by some of the best doctors in New York, that I would just have to "deal with the pain" because it was “all in my head.”
Can you imagine? A 10-year-old being told that? I had a hard time accepting it, but over time, I began to internalize their messages and slowly, I became less active. I gained weight. The advice they gave me for rehab became my new reality, but it came with limits. I was told to be cautious, to avoid overworking the elbow, and essentially, to hold back from the very things I loved: sports and movement.
This was before the days of voice-to-text, so writing was even harder than it needed to be. I couldn’t throw a football or write with my right hand without pain. My physical world became smaller and smaller as my body—along with my spirit—began to feel more confined.
But here’s the part that changed everything: I refused to accept it.
Embracing the Challenge
Rather than let the injury define me, I decided to lean into my curiosity. I wasn’t going to let the pain and the limitations set by others be the final say. I became determined to find my own path to healing and strength.
I started by strengthening my body—specifically, my left arm, which had to take over for the injured right one. I learned how to throw a football with my left hand, how to write with my left hand, and most importantly, how to not let my injury stop me from enjoying activities with my friends. I even rode my bike—looking back, not the smartest move, but hey, I was young and naïve!
At the same time, I found comfort in fitness. I began weight training. This was my new way to take control. But, like most journeys, it wasn’t without its pitfalls. I made mistakes, and I trusted the wrong sources for information. There’s a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is just raw information, but wisdom is the ability to sift through that knowledge, keep what’s useful, and let go of the rest.
High School: Setting Goals and Crushing Them
As I entered high school, I found myself in a new environment where physical challenges became part of the yearly routine. Every year, we did a physical exam that tested our:
1-mile run
40-yard dash
Sit-ups in 60 seconds
And my personal favorite—pull-ups (as many as possible in one hang)
It was during this time that I set my sights on one goal: to have the most pull-ups by my senior year.
When I was a freshman, I couldn’t even do one pull-up. In fact, my result was so bad that they just wrote a 0 on the form. But I wasn’t discouraged. I wasn’t about to let my elbow injuries or any negative thoughts hold me back. I stayed consistent.
By sophomore year, I had completed 11 pull-ups. Junior year, I upped it to 17. And then, senior year, came the big moment: I hit 23 pull-ups, setting the school record.
Mind you, I went to an all-boys Catholic high school, so the competition was fierce. I wasn’t just competing against the random group of kids—I was competing against guys who were stronger, faster, and more experienced. The fact that I not only participated but came out on top was a huge achievement, especially considering that my doctors had warned me to be "extremely cautious" because of my elbow’s anatomy.
But does this number—23 pull-ups—really matter in the grand scheme of things? Not really. The number itself? No. But what does matter is the journey to get there. It’s the fact that I set a goal and achieved it through sheer dedication, hard work, and years of consistent effort, despite the constant reminder that my elbow wasn’t "normal."
The Lesson Learned: Don’t Let Anyone Else Define Your Limits
So, what did I learn from all of this? More than I could ever put into words.
I learned that strengthening the soft tissue—muscles, tendons, ligaments—around an injury is key to providing stability and reducing pain. The doctors may have said my elbow was doomed, but I found a way to adapt and build strength around it. I learned that you don’t have to completely shut down when you face an injury. You can adjust, strengthen, and build resilience in different ways.
Most people, when faced with an injury, will do a complete 180 on their movements. They’re told to rest, avoid stress, and play it safe. I don’t fully agree with that approach. If you listen to the wrong people and let them impose their limits on you, you might never know what you’re truly capable of.
This is where wisdom comes in. You don’t just follow a path because someone else tells you it’s the only way. You take in information, test things out for yourself, and make adjustments that fit your needs. The body is incredibly resilient when you learn how to support it. But only you can know what’s truly possible for you.
I’ve been weight training for over 20 years, and during that time, I’ve dug deep into research on health, fitness, and nutrition. It’s not just about lifting weights or getting stronger; it’s about optimizing your body’s response to stress, recovery, and adaptation.
The Final Thought
We often impose limits on ourselves because of what others say or think. But we are all unique. You can choose to listen to others, but always remember that they are not you. Only you know what you’re capable of.
If you have a vision, a dream, or a goal—whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional—don’t let anyone tell you it’s impossible. Keep going, even when others tell you to stop. You never know how far you can push yourself until you try.
In the end, it's not the injuries, the setbacks, or the negative voices that matter. What matters is your ability to rise above them, keep moving forward, and achieve what you set out to do. So, if there’s something you’re passionate about or a goal you’ve been hesitant to pursue, this is your sign: Keep going.
