Broken Clavicle No More!

Or maybe I should title this “What’s your problem? Look at Tyler Hamilton!”

Back at the end of May I busted my left clavicle (collar bone). You can read about it here “Broken Clavicle”. It’s been almost 3 months and everything seems to be healed up fine. I have a nice little bump where the ends of the bone have fused together. The long portion never pulled itself back down and it now doesn’t align with the small end. Thus the bump.

Occasionally my shoulder gets sore or I get a slight jolt of pain. Playing volleyball, especially extending the hands and arms out and upward, will make it sore. On the bike, if I bunny-hop or pull up sharply on the bars it hurts a bit in my shoulder. Overall though, I feel good.

During my earlier visit to see Dr. Testa, he created a workout schedule for me. It’s purpose was to help me maintain my fitness and allow me to get back onto the bike and racing as soon as possible. The schedule was designed for use with a stationary trainer. He also instructed that I should raise the front wheel so that the strain on shoulder was reduced and that I should stop an exercise if any pain arose in my shoulder.

Here’s the schedule he gave me for use with my bike on a stationary trainer. It’s a three week plan and each day is broken into a morning and an evening workout. Having two workouts per day reduced the stress on the shoulder.

Recovery Training Program

Week 1

Days 1-3

morning: 15′ = easy spin
evening: 15′ = same as morning

Days 4-5

morning: 25′ = easy spin with high cadence (95+ rpm) for last 10′
evening: 25′ = same as morning

Days 6-7

morning: 30′ = alternating 5′ high cadence (95+ rpm) and HR (75%-83%) with 5′ lower cadence (85-90 rpm) and HR (<73%)
evening: 30′ = same as morning

Weeks 2 and 3

Day 1 (off)

Day 2

morning: 20′ = easy spin with high cadence (100) and HR (75%-78%)
evening: 30′ = 10′ warm-up, 5 x 2′ increasing resistance at 60 rpm and HR (<83%) with 2′ recovery

Day 3

morning: 30′ = 10′ easy spin HR (<70%), 10′ easy spin HR (75%-80%), 10′ easy spin HR (80%-88%)
evening: 45′ = 2 x 10′ and HR (75%-80%) with 5′ recovery, easy for last 20′

Day 4

morning: 45′ = 10′-15′ warm-up with cadence (90-95 rpm) and HR (<70%), 2 sets of raising HR (70%) up to HR (93%) with increases of ~2.5% Max HR (for me it’s 5 beats) every 2′
evening: 45′ = same as morning

Day 5

morning: 25′ = easy spin with last 10′ at 100 rpm and HR (75%-80%)
evening: 40′ = 10′ warm-up, 5 x 3′ increasing resistance at 55-60 rpm and 2′ recovery, 5′-10′ easy spin for cool down

Day 6

morning: 25′ = easy spin with last 10′ at 100 rpm and HR (75%-83%)
evening: 40′ = 10′-15′ warm-up, 3 x 10′-12′ at HR (80%-88%) and 4′ recovery

Day 7

morning: 25′ = easy spin with last 10′ at 100 rpm and HR (75%-83%)
evening: 45′ = 10′ warm-up, 30′ constant spin at HR (80%-85%), 5′ cool down

Fun! 🙂

I would also wear my sling during the workouts. I tried without it a couple of times but my shoulder muscles would start aching. I also found that sitting upright reduced the strain.

Soon after finishing this workout I headed out to Europe for a month long trip. The first portion of my trip was a bike camp in Spain. The training program above paid off and I was able to ride all of the routes and distances in the camp. Over the remaining portion of my trip I added many more miles and my shoulder started feeling better and better. Riding in the Pyrenees, watching the Tour de France live, and seeing Lance Armstrong kick butt were highlights.

Of course with Tyler Hamilton blasting the field with his broken collar bone I was getting no sympathy! But it also goes to show how quickly you may recover from this type of break.

Cheers!

More “Broken Collar Bone” Articles

Don’t miss reading the information and comments in the other collar bone entries:

Broken Clavicle (collar bone)
What To Expect From A Broken Clavicle (collar bone)
Chad’s Broken Collar Bone Report

DISCLAIMER: The following content is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions should only be performed by your doctor or other licensed health care professional. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this site.

218 responses

bonnie

July 29, 2006

Lee – I broke my left (middle third)14 days ago after a nice pseudo cyclocross accident (just me being a little crazy off of the side of a calm street while road training with some friends)…
my rims got caught in a large rut between the grass and the road.. i flew over on my head and shoulder…ouch.
It’s not lining up with i stand or sit in the now smelly figure eight (thanks to a midwestern summer heat wave) although when i lay down it does the same thing. i wasn’t very impressed with my $500 5 minute trip to the ortho last week, as he gave me a figure eight (a large-
i’m 5’3″), and basically said it really didn’t matter if i wore this or a sling. I am wearing only the figure eight (thankfully a newly purchased small) at this point, most of the time just the 8 without the sling. Last night a friend hugged me a little too tightly and it seems to have set me back a little, at least regarding intensity of pain. Great website, look forward to getting back on a (stationary) bike tomorrow.

Lee Bramley

July 27, 2006

I broke my right collar bone 4 days ago falling of a BMX, snapped in half, quite a nice one. The bone doesn’t seem to be lining up when i stand or sit but when i lay down it lines up quite nicely. Has anyone else experienced the same thing? as i dont see how the bone can fuse together if it keeps moving. Any comments would be appreciated.
Cheers
Lee in London

jason

July 21, 2006

Thank you Nick and Hans for your advice. Im going to see a P.T on Monday and hope to get my strengthening process underway. I agree Hans that your age plays an important role during recovery. The ortho told me before surgery that if I was twice as old, he would most likely refuse to operate because the risks would outweigh the benefits (infection, delayed healing time and continued risk of nonunion). So, surgery may not be the best solution for everyone. This webpage has been great for me and has helped me to realize that I am definetely not alone with the problems that arise from a broken collarbone. Anyone that has healed with no problems, congrats and good luck. For those that have hit a roadblock trying to achieve a union, keep your head up and don’t get depressed about your situation. It is amazing what positve thinking can do for someone. Thanks and Good luck!

Hans

July 19, 2006

Fred – No, ‘calcification’ and ‘fibrous union’ are two different things:
Calcification : the formation of calcium deposits in the tissue which can lead to hardening of the tissue.
Fibrous Union : the joining of a fracture by fibrous scar tissue. The scar tissue is formed by excessive tissue repair caused by the trauma.
Your question about the ‘likelihood of non-union’ is difficult to answer. It requires a skilled doctor that has examined you. Even then it can be hard to estimate. Along with the difficulty answering that question is trying to answer how long to wait before deciding surgery is your option. I know age makes recovery take longer. I wish I could tell you how long. If you haven’t already, take a look through all of the comments on each of my broken clavicle pages (links in article at top of this page). Look for comments from others that are near your age.
Again, I wish I could offer more help.
—————————————————————
Jason – Glad to hear you are healing. I would recommend you see a physical therapist. You might need to work on both range-of-motion and strength. You don’t want to do the wrong workout and injure yourself. A good P.T. person will set you up with a right plan.
—————————————————————
Nick – You are getting on your trainer just in time to race the Tour de France virtually. I spent many hours on my trainer when recovering. Lots of watching races, movies, etc. while on the trainer.
One suggestion is to rotate your handlebars upward so that you don’t have to extend your arms as far. As you heal further lower them back down until they are in their original postion.

Nick

July 19, 2006

Jason, congrats on the good news.
One strength/endurance exercise I did the last time I broke my collarbone was to hold a five-pound weight at arm’s length straight out from the shoulder sideways or forwards. Hold it there until you can’t hold your arm up any longer. Rest until you can hold it again. No definite amount of reps, I’d just go until I couldn’t do it any more or had to take off to do other things.
Increase the weight as needed/desired.
Tom – best wishes. The plate and screws are a bit uncomfortable at first, but after a few days you probably won’t notice much other than muscle tightness/stiffness.
I’m a little under 2 weeks post-op for plate and screws. Just got the stitches out today.
Got another post-op in 6 weeks. Sling until then.
The good news is that my ortho gave me the go-ahead to get my bike on a stationary trainer…just no reaching for the handlebars.
The doc must have talked with the ortho who put me and the rest of my family back together ’cause he said today “for guys like you, I won’t start physical therapy until at least 6 weeks post-op”.
It sucks being stuck in the sling for another 6 weeks but right now I’m just happy to be back to showering instead of bathing and ecstatic about getting back on my bike even though it’s just on a stationary trainer.
Hang in there everyone. The “cripple-time” sucks, but eventually it’ll heal.

jason

July 19, 2006

Just an update from my previous post July 14. I have finally achieved a union that involves bone. Doc looked at xrays and said that it looks like a nice neat union with strong bone showing. He did the pressure test (lol… pressing down on it as hard as he could it seemed) and it didnt budge. I was advised to strengthen my shoulder before I return to work. I should be ready to go by the middle of August or so. Getting plate and screws put in has turned out to be the best decision I have made regarding my collarbone. I feel great and I am only nine weeks post op. Still a little pain though but it is definetely tolerable. Any suggestions as to what sort of strength excerises I can do? I asked the doc and he said what ever feels comfortable.
Fractured clavicle of the distal third = fiberous union = non union = plate and screws/bone graft + 9 long weeks = a union FINALLY!
Good Luck Everyone!

Fred Wright

July 18, 2006

Hi again Hans,
Thanks for your feedback on my initial posting. Just thought I’d offer you this update on my situation, 4 weeks after my break:
Went to my GP who had the radiologist’s report on the x-ray taken 22 days after the break– disappointing to hear that the x-ray showed a displacement of “half the width of the bone” and “no signs of calcification.”
In the 4 minute consultation I was afforded I asked the GP if ‘no calcification’ meant the same as ‘no fibrous union’ and he said it did. (Right or wrong?) He recommended another x-ray in 2 weeks which he said should be time enough to determine whether there was any sign of spontaneous healing or whether I should pursue the surgery option.
In answer to my query about how much I should limit my range of motion in the meantime he recommended ” avoid playing rugby.”
While my purpose here is not to offer a negative impression of my GP (or of the Canadian public health care system!)
my question is:
Given my age (54), my difficulty in immobilizing my arm (it’s the only one I have) and the nature of the break (distal third) what is the likelihood of non-union?
Finally, given these factors– what is a reasonable amount of time to wait before concluding that surgery is the only option? To be honest, in my situation I can’t imagine how I could possibly cope while recovering from surgery. Survival depends on at least 20% mobility of one arm– surgery would have to be absolutely the last resort!
Cheers,
Fred W.

Tom

July 17, 2006

Hey guys,
I’m having surgery to plate and bone graft my left collar bone non-union tomorrow – its been over a year and whilst not too bad i just wanted it sorted out for good (and reading jason’s notes above about fibrous unions giving way has helped confirm my decision!).
will let you know what happens,
Tom, England

Hans

July 16, 2006

George – A fibrous union may calcify and turn into bone but it’s not guaranteed. It can provide plenty of support though. But it depends on the physical activites that are performed. A fibrous union might not be good enough for someone that places large amounts of stress on their shoulders.
Being able to ride vs. lifting weights and other load bearing activites makes sense. Casual riding shouldn’t place the levels of strain on your shoulder as you might lifting weights. Just don’t try taking your bike out for a “big air” contest :’)
———————————————————–
Nick – Sorry to hear the operation didn’t go as planned. Sounds like you really banged up your shoulder.
———————————————————–
Kristen – If your shoulder and bones have stabilized then it sounds like you should be able to ditch the figure-8. That should make you happy, especially in the hot weather.
Thanks for the note about thinking and riding safe. I had met and ridden with Pat a few times. A very nice person that will be missed by many people.

Phil

July 16, 2006

Hey guys, I broke my left collar bone about 5 weeks ago during school. We were playing football in Phys. Ed and I went for a diving catch in the N-zone, although I scored the winning point and was the un-official hero of the game, sadly, I broke my collar bone by landing on my shoulder with outstretched hands. By now of course I’m feeling much better and feel very confident about using my left shoulder and arm to do things, I would estimate that I’ve recovered to about 80 – 90% movement thus far.
I just wanted to emphasize as many others have already done how important it is to keep your shoulder and arm immoblized for the first 2 or so weeks. Even if you feel up to it, don’t try moving it as this can severely increase your recovery time and affect the way your collarbone and shoulder heal up. In my case the bone was very close to the surface of my skin, I was becoming paranoid about whether or not I would wake up in searing pain one night with a bone sticking out of my shoulder (This is also due to the fact that I consider myself a bit of a ‘hypocondriach’ and I’m always scared out of my pants of having some sort of life threatening illnesses and whatnot). So to play it safe I stopped sleeping in my bed and parked myself back on the couch for some late nights sitting up, trying to get to sleep. Another thing I might add is that if your doctor will allow it, try and get some sleep inducing drugs. Rest is very important as this is the time when your body does most of it’s healing, so sleep as much as you can.
Also, it’s important to STAY POSITIVE no matter what. I apparently had a somewhat rare break where the ends of the bone were bent. Despite this, the doctor says I’m healing rather unusually well and the bones are setting themselves straight and back into my shoulder. The point is, even in the strangest circumstances, psychological state is extremely important to healing up. Some people can almost “will themselves” to heal. Although it can be very boring, you gotta keep your hopes up and think happy thoughts, if you have a kid going through this then try and do things with them to cheer them up. Take their mind off of the injury and let them know that thy can still have a good time and things are going to be okay. People in depression can get very sick and stop healing well, keep this in mind.
Now, I’m a very physical person… I’m extremely heavy into martial arts, which many of you will know is very physically demanding and can hurt quite a bit and I love sports, particularly the rough sort. The doctor says I should be able to resume regular activites by next week. This is great news because sitting on the couch and watching terrible television all day long is very degrading and makes for a bad summer.
Finally I should mention that I’m 15 years old (or young, rather) and healing is obviously much easier for me. So don’t gauge your own injuries’ healing with mine if you’re any older as this can make a dramatic difference. Anyway, I wish everyone the best with their recoveries and would like to thank everyone for posting on this site which has become an invaluable resource.
Have a good one.

jason

July 14, 2006

George:
I broke my collarbone two years ago and I was told after 12 weeks that it healed, but is was a fibrous union. My doc told me that usually this causes no problems and that possibly over time, it would calcify and turn into solid bone.. In my case he was wrong. I lived a normal life for one year post fracture until one day, POP! It turns out my fibrous union was really weak. This pop caused my collarbone to twist – yeah twist. So instead of my fibrous union being in an overlapping position, it was now shifted 180 degrees downwards. This caused extreme pain with day to day activities. I saw an ortho right away – it was now referred to as a non-union with severe displacement and a floating shoulder. It was highly recommended I have surgery right away – so i did. I had a bonegraft done with plates and screws to correct the problem. I am exactly two months post operation and things seem to be going alright. Still pain and my range of motion is not that great, but I feel like I am better off. I see the doc on the 19th, should now more after xrays are taken. I still may need another two – three months before I can go back to work, though. This has been the worst experience of my young life – I am only twenty years old. The doc said I will probably always have discomfort in my right shoulder, which is my dominent side. I hope your fibrous union will hold up, because mine sure didnt. I have read many stories of people – young and old – able to live a normal life with a fibrous union, so there is hope. One day I feel great like nothing ever happened, the next day Im in a doctors office discussing surgery. Not a pleasant experience if I must say so. Good luck with your healing process everyone.

George

July 13, 2006

Kristen, thanx for your input. Some days the range of motion is better than others. Now they’ve said I can add light (1-2 lb) weights to my workouts. Still hitting that pain point though while standing and lifting the arm to level. Everything else is going great.
The trouble is with short arm movements.
For instance, if I try to brush my teeth, the shoulder locks up and I have to bend my head down to reach my hand. But if I bend forward toward the floor and relax my arms, then the affected shoulder sort of “pops” into a looser position, and I can then raise my arm to brush my teeth, wash my hair, wash underarms, etc. But then it’s on the way down that I hit the pain point again, as I lower the arm. Shortly before my hand is at my side, my shoulder hits that point, and I flinch slightly as the joint reestablishes it’s “lock” position. One way I can lower the shoulder smoothly is to point my elbows outward as I lower the arm like a chicken wing. Then it lowers without hitting that pain point.
Is this, in fact, the symptoms of a locked shoulder I’m describing? Anybody with a similar feeling out there? I can curl 10 lb weights with no problem…
…I guess the old adage is true – “No pain no gain!”
Sorry to go on about this. Just looking for someone to commiserate with.
George in Ohio.

Kristen

July 13, 2006

Nick
Sorry to hear that the surgery wasn’t a perfect slam dunk – best wishes!!!
All
It’s hard to believe it’s now been 4 weeks and 4 days (I’m counting) and about 2 weeks since my last entry. My next x-ray is 7/19. I am looking forward to it so much, hoping for a good prognosis. It feels like the bone has stabilized now (I don’t feel it moving anymore). I believe it is healing in an overlap now – I can feel the end of the break near the skin on one side, and the point beyond the break seems lower. Has anyone else healed through overlapping bones? (Has anyone else become obsessed with feeling the bone to guess how it is healing???!) The first week I couldn’t even look at myself in a mirror because I didn’t want to catch sight of the protruding bone, now I am checking constantly! (Has it gotten more “normal” in the past 8 minutes?!)
I’m still wearing the Figure 8 diligently although I take it off for a few minutes during showers – I have 3 that I wash and rotate. I assume that is OK (?!) – the X-Ray will tell all…
Hans
Yes, I can’t believe that it is so gorgeous here lately, and I am not cycling. I am hanging out with cyclists who are going out on this ride, that ride…I confess the indoor biking isn’t the most thrilling adventure I’ve ever done in my life.
George in Ohio,
My dr. told me to practice my range of motion with my arm (letting pain be my guide). So I now actually have excellent range of motion (although a week ago I couldn’t raise it even level with my shoulders). I definitely experienced the clicking in my shoulder at first but it’s lessened considerably. I’ve been told not to push, pull, lift anything, or drive still. I find it surprising that my dr. told me to start gentle range of motion movements after about 3 weeks. It’s paying off in the arm mobility; hopefully my break will also heal well!
All,
A very sad story – a cyclist (Pat) died in the last week. That, in combination with my accident, are big lessons in the importance of absolute focus and attention to safety, even when riding a route you’ve done 1000 times or a place that seems so easy its boring. That’s how my accident happened, and I’ve definitely heard a lot of similar stories (like the one above) where the accident happened in the territory of the familiar.

Nick

July 12, 2006

George, sorry to hear about the healing not going so well.
This my 3rd broken collarbone and the previous 2 healed up pretty good.
Since someone inquired, my surgery didn’t quiote go as planned.
What should’ve been a 1 hour procedure (Basamania) was abandoned after 2 hours of trying to get the pin in.
The ortho opened the top part of my shoulder because he figured he would just have to re-set the bone.
Here’s where he hit a snag.
In addition to the two very visible breaks, one end had slammed so hard that it had multiple smaller fractures that created a Y-formation.
Any attempt to tighten the pin would’ve caused splintering, so the doc had the O.R. re-setup and repositioned me for plates and screws.
The next day sucked because they had me on morphine the entire time and the prognosis is: 1 month minimum in a completely immobilizing sling, 3-5 months for bone fusion, and the plates and screws will have to stay in for a minimum of 1 year, but more likely 15 months.
Absolutely no riding for at least 3 months!
Oh well, time to join that great sport…walking!
The missus is really big into homeopathic healing and has bought this gunk from the Dr. Christopher line that’s supposed to be really good for tissue and bone damage.
http://www.worldhealthdepot.com/index.mhtml?sp=1&category=product&page=product_display&product_category_id=15&product_id=1814
The meager amount of research i’ve done seems to indicate that comfrey is supposed to be really good for breaks, perhaps it may also help inthe solidification of a fibrous union.(?)

George

July 12, 2006

One more thing, I promise!
Does a fibrous union ever harden and calcify into bone?

George Elias

July 12, 2006

I almost forgot –
My doc told me yesterday that I could ride again! And do light jogging. But no pushups, chinups, etc, and definitely NO weights. I see him again in 2 months. I don’t get it. The pressure on the handlebars for a long period can’t be much less than doing pushups. These are the sorts of things I couldn’t think to ask him in the office. (You always remember these things on the ride home from the office!) 😉
Anybody have any similar experiences or advice?

George Elias

July 12, 2006

What a find this site is.
I broke my right collarbone on May 13, and it’s been 2 months of fear, stress, rehab, and finally just yesterday, good news. The fracture is showing signs of healing, and my doc said I won’t need surgery. He said it’s creating a fibrous union.
I’m an athlete, in my early 40s.
The bikeride I made that day was the best I’d done since last Fall.. I rode about 15-20 miles, even stopped halfway to run steps at a local stadium. 3 blocks from home I made a left turn I’ve made a thousand times. Problem was, there was an oil slick I didn’t see in time.
The wheels went right out from under me like I was on a sheet of ice. I was falling to the left then sharply overcorrected and lunged to the right. I tried to roll at impact, but my entire body weight landed on my shoulder. I still managed to roll a few times and ended standing completely upright. I knew it was broken. Not too much damage to the bike, just a twisted handlebar and seatpost. I walked the 3 blocks home and my buddy took me to emergency. Out in less than 2 hrs with only a sling.
3 days later to the ortho.
He said it was aligned well and should heal, but that there was a 10% chance of surgery. 3 weeks later still not healing well, so he ordered me a bone stimulator and I was to wear the sling 1 more week, then start rehab.
That was 5 weeks ago.
Thing is, it’s been a struggle with rehab. Something not too many people have mentioned here. I have to do 2 sessions at home everyday. About 12 or so different exercises. Half using a stick. (I’m a person who did 50-100 pushups, chinups, pullups, dips, not to mention the weights, and 1000 various situps and crunches for strenthing 3 times a week. Biking and running another 3 days.)
I still have pain, but never with the bone. It’s more in the frontal area of the joint. It’s one spot that I describe as a “speed bump”. An area that I have to pass through every time I move up and down. Once I get past it, I can move well. Has anybody else experience this? The doc says keep doing the rehab, and it will eventually fade. He says it’s because the rotator muscles are weak.
Also, any info on a fibrous union?
Any advice would be much appreciated.
George in Ohio.

Hans

July 10, 2006

Nick – I just did a little research on the procedure you mention. I found this interesting article:
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2001/04/collarbone420.html
And Dr. Carl J. Basamania’s site at Duke Health:
http://www.dukehealth.org/physicians/F389C81B5DCEAC8985256DFD006A9302
It sounds like an interesting procedure and a heck of a lot better than a plate and screws. It would be great to hear how your procedure turned out.
———————————————————-
Fred – Yup, I hate to tell you but age is against us when it comes to healing. It’s true the first two weeks are a critical time for healing. But the healing doesn’t stop then. The body will keep working to heal the bones. In some cases, if the body can’t fuse the bones back together, it will create a fibrous union. That can sometimes provide enough stability.
I would recommend you keep using your pain indicator for use of your arm. Just take it slow and work up to more range of motion and heavier objects. You might also consider a consultation with your doctor and a followup x-ray around four weeks after the break.

Fred Wright

July 10, 2006

On june 21st, I broke my left collarbone in a fall on an icy patch while hiking alone in the local mountains.Although my arm was in considerable pain, I hiked out and drove home.
My daughter drove me to the Emergency where an x-ray confirmed a break on the distal side, about 2 1/2 cms. from the shoulder joint with about 1/2 cm. displacement.
This came as a real shock since I am an amputee, and although healthy and active at the age of 54, I depend entirely on the arm that is supposed to be immobilized for healing.
In any case, I booked off work for the month, and have been trying to use a sling although I can’t avoid using my hand for the basics.
Like another personm who posted here, I’m using pain as an indicator for limiting my arm mobility and have thus far have experienced more discomfort than pain. The swelling and bruising now seems to be subsiding and I am actually recovering most of the mobility although I’m still not lifing anything heavier than a teakettle and using using the arm only in bent position, close to the body. I could actually do without the sling but am still trying to use it for a few hours a day.
However, being already past the critical 10-14 day “gluing stage” I’m worried just how much the use of my arm, as well as my age, may be delaying the fusing of the ends of broken ends of bone.
Advice?

Nick

July 7, 2006

On July 1st I took a nasty tumble in a bicycling race and snapped the right clavicle in two places.
This is my 3rd fracture.
The first urgent care I went to gave me a two-strap sling and lateral immobilizer and said to check back with ortho.
I went to the ortho as dictated and he said that he would do nothing until bone was protruding through the skin even though you could see the skin “tenting” through the swelling.
This ortho gave me a different style sling to wear.
About 5 hours later I was in the E.R. because the bone had scraped away so much skin that I was bleeding under the skin: the same ortho was called and he maintained his stance.
After a little research, I found out there’s a better method than plate&screws and “let nature take its’ course and hope for the best”: the Basamania procedure.
On the recommendation of the ortho who fixed my knee 8 years ago, I saw a different ortho who specializes in shoulders and elbows.
I’m going in for a variation on the Basamania surgical procedure today at 2:15 PM.

Hans

July 2, 2006

Kristen – Hey there fellow NorCal-er. NorCal is such a great place. But it sure sucks to be busted up here since we have so many outside activities to miss out on.
Your comment about reflex grabbing busted me up. Once I reached for a glass that tipped over but the pain stopped my grab. The glass fell and spilled the drink on my lap. So I ended up with a sore shoulder and a wet lap.
——————————————————
HD – Thanks for your story. Dang, that crash sounded bad. Yeah, I can relate about not wanting to leave your bike. It’s the same reason we jump up from a crash and check the bike before our own bodies. How many times have I said “Yeah, but how’s my bike?” :’)

June 30, 2006

Well, I just found this site while looking for a broken clavicle “how long does it take to heal” search. I figured I would let you know about my experience with a broken collarbone.
It happened March 4, 2006, while motocrossing in the deserts of Las Vegas. I was riding by myself, although other dirtbikers were nearby, and I went over an unfamiliar hill. Well the other side was more of a drop-off than I expected, the bottom had no width to ride down and back up, and the other side was too far to jump over the span. So I ended up crashing into the upward side of the hill. My right shoulder smashed into the inclined hill. Crack…and an immediate bump on my right upper chest…yeeeeouch!!
I could tell something was wrong and could feel some pretty serious pain there, along with a sharp part of the bone trying to push its way out of my skin. I managed to lay there for a while until a couple guys on a quad and another motorcycle showed up. I stayed on the ground because I had to get the air back in my lungs…haa. Once I stood up I was seeing stars and finally everything went white. I couldn’t see but I could still hear, but I stayed standing. I was told later the “white” was pain…haaa.
The guy on the quad wanted me to leave the bike there and he would take me back to my truck. I said no way was I leaving it out there. I finally had one of the guys lift my bike up and start it for me and I rode it back to my truck, about three miles in the desert. That was fun. I went home, dropped the trailer/bike off and drove myself to the hospital.
X-Rays comfirmed it, it was broken into three pieces. I saw the X-Rays and thought “how is that ever going to get back together?” The bones were completely misaligned and there was a big space between the pieces. I was given the surgery or “heal on its own” option. Because they had already placed the figure 8 on me I was already experiencing the joy of wearing that thing. It was extremely uncomfortable. I seriously was leaning toward surgery. They told me not to take the figure 8 off. They said it would have to stay on at least 6-8 weeks if I didn’t have the surgery. There was no way I could wear that thing that long. Besides, I needed to get back to work.
I chose surgery. My injury happened on a Saturday. On the following Wednesday (March 8) I went for the surgery. It went well. They put about a 7 inch plate and about 8 screws through it to hold it on. One screw was needed to attach the third piece to the bone shaft. It doesn’t go through the plate at all.
I didn’t have to wear that figure 8 anymore and only had a sling I could take off if I didn’t feel I needed it. The sling was to control pain. I was given a prescription for pain meds which I was able to stop taking in about 3 days, and then only for a couple more nights so I could sleep. The scar was about 8 inches long.
Once I removed the bandage, after about 4 days afer the surgery, I was horrified. The scar was a bright purple strip and was about 3/8 of an inch wide. What I didn’t know was what I was looking at was a skin glue, Dermabond. Designed to reduce the scar visibility. The actual stitches were placed under the skin and were the type that absorb into your skin with time. No Frankenstein stitches are there, only a line. The purple Dermabond eventually pealed off like strips of rubber. It wasn’t as bad as it initially looked.
I went back to work May 20th. I was light duty but at least I wasn’t burning up my sick time.
After the surgery I have had monthly visits for X-Rays. Each month showed progress. I could see the fusion working. I just had my last X-Ray and Dr visit June 29. I am healed!! I don’t have to go back and the Dr said I can resume normal activity. That’s cool. Because this has been a painful reminder that I’m not a young guy anymore at 45. There is no bump, I don’t have to worry about a non-union or an eventual surgery to fix that. The scar is almost invisible with my tan and with the exception of the occasional numbness of the skin below the scar, I’m pretty happy. The numbness came from cutting the nerves to do the surgery, which is one of the possibilities of having surgery. Another is infection, which I didn’t experience. My mobility is about 90% and only because I need to start stretching it out and rebuilding strength.
One thing I think I should warn everyone about is when the DR says don’t take the figure 8 off, listen to him. Pre-surgery I was at home alone and felt the figure 8 should be a little tighter. I decided to try and tighten it myself. Well I got the straps bunched up in the locking device and had to take it off to fix it. After my shoulder had been held back for 2 days and I took the thing off, my shoulder spazzed and moved forward pushing the broken part of the bone out and against the skin and it was trying to push out….I was dying!!! It took some serious mental concentration to stop the spaz and the pain and move my shoulder back. The figure 8 went back on…and I left it there…haaa.
If you are having a hard time trying to decide the surgery or not route, I would suggest looking at the distance between the bones and the angle they are in. Too much space or too much angle will be a tougher healing process and, from what I’ve read, a greater loss of mobility. There is always a possibility you may have to have the surgery later to correct a non-union if you try to heal without surgery. That is a lot of wasted time if it has to be fixed that way. Then you have to wait again after the surgery for that to heal.
Just my two cents…if it happens to me again, gosh I hope not, I know which route I’m taking.
I know this is long. Hope I didn’t bore too many of you. Take care. HD.

Jake

June 28, 2006

Hello, I broke my collar bone on June 4th in a motorcycle accident. I new it was broke because I could see the bump on my clavical…and it hurt! I was hurting for a couple of days. I went to see the orthpedic three days after the accident and got an x-ray. The break was about an inch apart. My Dr. recommeded that I have surgery otherwise it might not have healed due to the large separation. So, I opted for the surgery. However, it was not a plate and screw surgery. The Dr. used a Rockwood pin to align the bones back together. After surgery it felt better. I’m now on week three after surgery. The only downfall with the surgery is that you will get a scar due to the incision in order to put the pin in. I have another x-ray apt. in a week to see how things are healing. There are new alternatives that make it better to opt for surgery then letting it heal on it’s own. But definitely talk to your Dr. about this option. Happy healing to all!

Adam

June 26, 2006

I took the keyboard totally off the desk and placed it in my lap. That was a VOILA realization!

Kristen

June 24, 2006

Hans – thanks – this is encouraging. BTW I am a fellow-Northern-CA-er (Bay Area)
BTW The most ruefully hilarious thing is that my natural reflexes still think my arm works — when I start to drop something my right arm instinctively reaches out to grab it even though I broke my right clavicle (ouch!). I suppose we could all keep adding to these lists. I cut a slit in the neck and back of a t-shirt today to get into it….

Hans

June 24, 2006

Kristen – I was sitting/typing a week after my break. I would slide my arm out of the sling and use the chair’s arm rest for support. But I had to be careful not to start leaning on that arm and applying pressure into the shoulder. Additionally, I would continue to wear my figure-8 sling. Since it was difficult to extend my arm forward I raised my chair and slid the keyboard closer to my body. This allowed me to get my hand/fingers close enough for typing. A little akward but it worked.
I wore the sling along with the figure-8 since it helped when my arm/shoulder became tired and provided support. My doc wanted me taking my arm out of the sling several times a day. He also asked me to bend the elbow and shoulder joints to keep them limber. This reduced the chance losing range-of-motion. But he did stress not to do any movement to the point of pain.
To help promote healing I tried to keep the shoulder on the broken side immobile as much as possible. Wearing the figure-8 most of the time, sometimes even when sleeping, really helped. Then I took additional supplements, calcium, etc..
I hope this helps and that you recovery quickly.

Kristen

June 23, 2006

Hans or others –
I broke my collarbone cycling on June 10…
Q: What can you do to promote a full union after week 2? And what’s the story on desk work and sitting/typing? I see encouragement for immobilization and have found that even staying home “resting” doesn’t equate to immobilization since you can’t set/cast the bone; there are always needs to get up; move; cook; read sitting up; pay bills; go to drs appts for this accident and a skiing accident I had earlier this year (!); live. the first week every time I laid down or got up I could feel it move (with the result that trying to ‘rest’ felt worse than walking around!)
Reading this site I think I pushed it too hard over the last few weeks. The drs took it pretty casually & everyone I had talked to said they were cycling within 5-6 weeks & on trainers by Day 2 or 3. Originally the pieces were perfectly aligned, but as of Day 10 the part next to the shoulder had descended so there was a partial lineup but not perfect alignment anymore. Dr says this is still fine, the pieces are close together. I was in a sling/working part time Days 1-6, resting mostly out of sling days 7-9 (now reading this site I think this was crazy), and have been in a figure 8 since Day 10. The dr says I don’t need to wear a sling (“overkill” sinc I’m in a figure 8).
I love this site and I confess some stories provokes worries that neither dr did (both have been very positive)

Max

June 21, 2006

I broke my right collar bone 3 weeks ago. Drinking too many beers and riding a bike turned out to be a bad combination. People call me a dare devil, and I admit that I’m a active person. The doctor told me it would take 6 – 8 weeks for it to heal. I freaked out! I live in Sweden, and everyone who has been in sweden knows that we sweedes live for the swedish summer. Summer pretty much started the same day when my bone was broke, hence my frustration. Two days ago I went wake boardning with my mates. Turned out well. I had to use my left arm only. Didn’t do any massive jumps or anything… Couldn’t even do 180’s coz my right arm wouldn’t hold the rope.
It was a good wakeboard session! My shoulder is pretty sore now though… Well, you live and learn I guess.

ontheshelf

June 14, 2006

Adam,
I had xrays taken the same day of the break and at two weeks, four weeks and at six weeks. I was also asked to come in at 6 months after the break to get another set taken. I went over the final xray with my doctor and by what I had seen and what he was telling me, it was clearly a union. My question as to what happened has not yet been answered because my GP could not provide one. My ortho surgeon assumes I broke it again without realizing and that the fiberious tissue seen on my xray this spring was it trying to heal again. I find it hard to believe this theory because I cannot recall an actual incident where I might have done such a thing. It is kind of scary to not actually know what caused this.

Adam

June 14, 2006

ontheshelf,
Just curious … at what points after your clavicle break did you have follow-up x-rays taken?

ontheshelf

June 13, 2006

Thanks Hans for providing a great site! I am not a cyclist, but I am a fellow athlete who has also broken their clavicle. I broke my right clavicle while playing rugby two years ago. Anyways, I healed up really quick (about 6 weeks), and I was back to my normal activities without any discomfort. I had a huge bump at the break site and was told by the orthopedic surgeon that as long as it didn’t cause any pain, that there was no need for surgery. No pain was a result of it so surgery had never crossed my mind. That was until March of this year, where I began to notice severe discomfort when reaching for things above my head, lifting heavy objects, etc. Since I had a very labour intensive job (oil drilling rig), I figured that there was no way I could keep on dealing with the extreme pain I was left with at the end of each shift (burning in the shoulderblade, weakness in the arm and lower right back pain). I had the problem checked out by an orthopedic surgeon, who stated that I had a malunion and that my collarbone had never actually fully healed and that it was only being held by fibrious tissue and was a result of the severe displacement when the original fracture occured. I was puzzled to say the least because this was the first time I had complications since the break in the spring of 2004. Now I had the pleasure to deal with this great inconvienence that has put my professional life on hold. I talked with the surgeon about the best possible procedure and he highly recommended a plate and screws with a bone graft to fix the problem (based on my job, age-21 and overall health). The big day was on May 16 at 10:00am. The procedure lasted two and a half hours. It is exactly 1 month post op and I can already feel the difference stability makes. My shoulder does not droop down anymore and my arm doesn’t feel like it weighs 200 pounds! So my advice to anyone with a clavicle fracture is to take things slow to prevent complications from occuring in the future. Plate and screws may not be for everyone and you should discuss your needs to the doc. Good luck to everyone. I am concerned however, that I will not be able to perform my job the way I used to as a result of my added hardware (doc says back to normal but he hasn’t had a broken collarbone or a physically demanding job). If anyone can assure me that Im talking crazy, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
P.S : Also, has anyone had this procedure done and how long was it before you were able to work again. All this time off is causing me to go nuts!!

Geneen

June 12, 2006

I broke my right clavical 4/11/06. Wore the figure 8 for 8 weeks. Using bone stimulator for last 5 weeks. Definite improvement on use of right arm but I still can’t lift it higher than shoulder level. Started PT last week so doing painful excercises that I see are helping w/mobility. I am starting to think surgery might be the way to go…Has anyone regained full mobility going the natural route after 12 weeks??? or even longer….???? Thanks for any info…Geneen

Hans

June 7, 2006

Tammy – Yes, Market street is a nightmare for cyclists. Oh, and I’ve kissed the pavement because of the cable car tracks over on Columbus. Luckily I only left some skin on the road.
Surgery or not is such a tough question. I am biased towards no surgery because of the risks involved. But others have had surgery and have had great success. I would recommend getting more than one doctor’s opinion. And it’s important to be very clear about your expectations and how you use your shoulder. Someone that rock climbs versus someone that is sedentary will have very different needs for their shoulder. If a doctor doesn’t know your needs then they might suggest the wrong treatment.
————————–
John – Yes, Adam is correct in suggesting you see your orthopedic doctor. Getting a second opinion is important and getting one from a ortho doc is even better. As I mentioned to Tammy above, be sure to explain your expectations and needs for recovery.

Adam

June 7, 2006

John,
First off, see an orthopedic specialist. My orthopedic doc has me coming back at 3 weeks post-injury to take another x-ray to see how the healing is progressing.
Tammy,
Don’t know how to advise as far as surgery or not but I do have some of the same concerns as you as far as over-compensation. I’m planning on seeing my physical therapist about that.
Good Luck to both of you!

John Maas

June 7, 2006

I’m in my mid 50’s. Around three weeks ago I took a bad fall that produce a banged up rig cage along with a broken collar bone. During the first week after the fall I saw the local MD twice, once for the broken bone and again for some breathing problems. At the moment everything would seem to be healing up except for the clavicle break.
Anyway, what I’m thinking about is how long should I wait before going back for another x-ray to check progress with the break. Also, I have an orthopedic surgeon that I’ve seen before with good results. I’m thinking that maybe I should go to him instead of my MD in the general premise that he would have more experience with this sort of thing? And of course I could always go to a doctor that specializes in sports medicine.
So, anybody have any ideas about this?
John

Tammy

June 6, 2006

Hello all. I’ve been reading everyone’s helpful comments. I am inspired to go back to the gym now that it’s been a week after my clavical break. Slippery train tracks on Market St in SF are hard to avoid on a bike! But there is one thing I need advice on that wasn’t covered in the comments on this page. My clavical bone is broken into four pieces. I have two conflicting doctor’s opinions. One says I have 60% chance of natural healing, and if it does I will have a sloping shoulder, a pointy bump (it almost cut through the skin three days ago but the pieces keep moving around), and I will have 80% mobility with a loss of overhead mobility. He suggests getting the plate, but he also suggested getting a second opinon. The second doc says it’ll heal naturally, no need for surgery, the bump can be filed down later. I can clearly see two bumps now, one behind the other in a verticle alignment. Eek. I concerned that a sloping shoulder may lead to over compensation somewhere else in my body, like lower back pain, resulting in problems that may arise later in life. The sling has been on since day 1, I’ve stopped taking the pain killers and my left hand is learning new tricks, but I need help with deciding surgery or no surgery. Thanks. Tammy

Hans

June 5, 2006

Carl – Shoulder pain is common. There might also be some soft tissue damage. I wouldn’t recommend trying to read your x-rays. It really requires a specialist to see what is and isn’t wrong. I suggest following up with your doctor and explaining the pain and issues you are having. It might simply require more time and probably some physical therapy. But follow up with your doctor.
———————-
Adam – Great news you lucky dog! There are going to be a bunch of jealous people here reading your comment. Now just don’t go crash on it and then have to come back here with a bad report. :’)

Adam

June 5, 2006

Just to update my situation. It seems different breaks require different levels of care. I saw the second doctor, he took one look at the x-rays and totally agreed with the first’s diagnosis and after-care treatment. Apparently, with the main two sections of my clavicle overlapping one another and another little piece wedged in their there is very little room for the bones to move around — it would in all likelihood take a good jolt to get things to budge. So back on the bike! Woo hoo! Good luck to all of you and I hope this information helps some others out too.

Carl

June 2, 2006

i need some help i have broken my clavicle , has been broken for 4 weeks now i still have some pain when i lift my arm straight up in the air or move in fast in one direction is this a normal thing to happen or could thier be something else broken aswell, i looked at my x- rays today and it looks like thier is a little crack at the top of my shulder iam not realy sure. it isnt a break right thru. this was done during a football accident.
thanks carl

Adam

June 1, 2006

Thanks Hans! After speaking with my physcial therapist and reading here, I have scheduled an appointment with another doctor that in a conversation last night recommended a taping regime to keep things in place. The appointment is for Monday, which marks two weeks since; hopefully I haven’t missed (or screwed up) this 2 week window of opportunity.

Hans

June 1, 2006

Adam – Well, I would stay off the bike just a bit longer. It really sounds like your sports doc is taking a very lax attitude dealing with broken collar bones. Keeping the break immobilized for the first two weeks is really important. That helps to allow the broken ends of the bones to find themselves and begin fusing. Movement can disrupt and break those bonds that are forming. The first two weeks are when the body tries the hardest to form the bonds.
You might be lucky in that your break might be such that the bones are staying rather immobile. But I wouldn’t risk it. Stay off the bike or only ride a trainer (off the bars) until you get the follow-up x-ray. At that point you will get some indication on how well you are healing.
As for your lack of pain, you are lucky. Each break is unique and each person unique. There are many factors that determine the level of pain. No pain is a good thing. But no pain doesn’t mean your break is healing correctly.

Adam

June 1, 2006

Oh man, I just found this website after breaking my right clavicle on 21 May, and now I’m worried. It has now been 11 days since I broke it. It is a full break with the two sections of my clavicle overlapping one another. My doc (a sports medicine doc) did not sling me, said I could use my arm letting pain be my guide, just don’t fall on it, and come back for an x-ray at week 3. After consulting with him several days later to confirm that getting back on the bike was OK, I was on the bike trainer on day 7, on my road bike on days 8 and 9, and have gone back to bike commuting. Now I read this stuff!!! What should I do? See another doc? Either my pain receptors are all screwed up or I’ve just been lucky as though I have experienced pain it has been very tolerable. After breaking my clavicle going over the handlebars 1/4 of the way into a MTB race, I got up and finished the race and only needed painkillers the day I broke it. Perhaps I’m now doing damage that I am unaware of???? Recommendations please!!!!

Hans

May 31, 2006

JB – Pain is always a good indicator of something wrong. If you are doing movement that generates pain then you are going too far. The problem with moving the shoulder during recovery is a double-edged sword. Movement helps to keep your shoulder from losing mobility. But it can hinder the bone healing process. A good physical therapist or orthopedic doc should be able to give you better information based on your particular break and the current level of your recovery.
——————–
David – It’s been a long time since I played baseball. I would think that once your shoulder and brak has stabalized then you should be able to begin swinging the bat again. How long that takes depends on too many factors. I recommend you have a good sports doc do your evaluation and provide recovery workouts. There isn’t one set of excercises that work for all people with a broken collarbone.

David flaherty

May 30, 2006

Yeah I broke my left collar bone on 4/20/06 playing baseball, its now beggining to heal, but i was wondering how long it might take for me to start swinging my bat again. Hopefully anyone who has ever played baseball can help. And also what kind of workouts should I be doing? Tips, suggestions would be appreciated

May 24, 2006

I broke my clavicle 2 days short of 4 weeks ago. I am working. It is physical. I have no real choice at this point. There are days where I have to move my arm and above the shoulder is pinchy and a little painful. This has been the most unorthodox recovery because I can’t just sit and let it heal. I do have the sling on most of the time and wore the figure 8 for about the first 2 weeks off and on. I never took pain meds because I wanted at all times to know where I was at with the injury and because I’ve been using it. I wanted to know the exact points at which I was straining it to a place of no return? This being a 1 to 1 1/2 centimeter displaced break on my right clavicle, assuming that it is healing, is there any real danger in ‘wrong’ but not jerky movements. There is no clicking any more and there are no major pains with the exception of soreness or if I do something that is sudden.
I know this all sounds pretty wacky but I am in a wacky situation.
Please give advice as to how I might deal with using my arm at moments yet being sensitive (as much as I can be) to the healing process.

Vikas

May 17, 2006

I am back for a follow-up! Now its been 11 weeks since i broke my clavicle. Recovery has been complete. I have full range of motion in my shoulder. Theres still some deep embedded stiffness in the muscles which i think will go away with time. I have returned to the gym finally, have been exercising for a full week now. Back exercises, triceps curls and leg exercises are a breeze but i am still not comfortable with the Bench Press and i can do heavy Biceps Curls with dumbbells. For shoulder exercises i was only able to lift 8 pounds dumbbells but not more than this :-(. I think full strength would return in a few weeks or so :D. So dont get down, its get okay people! Patience!
@paul: looks to me you are quiet anxious to be back to full steam again. You just need to be a lil patient. I have never done surfing, but i can imagine what kind of strenght and shoulder motion it can take. My shoulder still cant take sudden jerks without a little pain but i think this is due to less strength in the shoulder muscles, which will improve with exercise. Also i wasn’t able to lift my hands above the shoulder level from the front even after 7 weeks!. I was so frustated at times that i thought this will never become okay. But it did, i did the shoulder exercises (link is given above) and slowly in a week, i could lift my hand up. Now i have full range of motion.
So it will take time, if it takes 4 weeks to rest give it that or if it demands more, then give accordingly. A few weeks of No Surfing in return for a strong shoulder is a good deal and dont try too much to “push for mobility”. That will come with patience and exercise.

Jay

May 17, 2006

I’m 37 and broke my collarbone about 6 1/2 months ago playing hockey. I got checked into the boards and my shoulder took the brunt of the impact, shattering the left clavicle. The x-ray showed at least 4 distinct pieces – the doctor thinks there may have been several smaller fragments we couldn’t see. The first couple of months were really miserable, but the doctors assured me that the bone would heal without surgery. I was able to start moving my arm again after about six weeks, but even after 18 weeks, the x-rays showed no sign of bone growth. I was told that there was some fibrous tissue that was holding the bones together, but that the bone may never fuse. One doctor, who had originally recommended no surgery, even changed his mind after the first two months, but I decided to give it more time, just in case. There was a lot of uncertainty for a long time. Even though I’d regained all my mobility, I still had a pretty sharp protrusion from under the skin and I didn’t feel very good about the idea that the bone may never heal completely. However, I had another x-ray at the 5 month mark and *finally* there was clear evidence of bone growth. Since then the point has started to round out and is slowly forming into a bump. Despite how bad the break was, I’ve regained full mobility and am looking forward to getting back on the ice in another month. The moral of the story is, I guess, be patient. It does eventually heal – and even though at the beginning you might think that things will never be the same again – the mobility does return. If it weren’t for the bump, I could easily forget the injury ever occured. Hang in there, it may be slow sometimes, but the human body has an amazing capacity to repair itself.

May 16, 2006

i broke my collarbone 25 days ago.the pain has gone away and my hand can make more moves than before.i went to the doctor and he told me not to get an xray because from what he show it was fine.i made an xray elsewhere after 25 days and the other doctor told me that there where no signs the bone is sticking back together and that it had moved a little bit from its original position.i showed the xray to my doctor and he told me that i was fine and tha the fact i can move my hand in everyday routine is an indication that it is doing fine and healing.what do y think????

Paul

May 12, 2006

This is Paul again, now 3 weeks since my break. I am now to the point of going crazy, sleeping on my back, wanting to do more with my damaged side, but not being too sure of how much to push things. I have been able to hit the trainer, take vigorous walks, start to push the arm and shoulder into some range of motion “actions.” Just what is frozen shoulder? I feel that mine is somewhat locked, not wanting to let my arm/hand raise up above just below shoulder level. Sometimes, when I go for a longer walk, all the muscles around the break seem to seize up, which they probably are doing. I have a follow-up x-ray next week (wk. 4). Do you think I should wait until this x-ray before I keep “pushing” for more mobility? I know that comfort level, not time since the break, is probably the answer to this question. Oh well. Since I love to surf, it has been comforting to see fairly poor and windy conditions since my break. My doctor told me 3 MONTHS until I could surf. This seems like a long time. Does anyone out there have experience with coming back from the clavicle break and getting back out on a surfboard? I am a fairly mellow longboarder. Thanks again for your site. – Paul

Bill

May 2, 2006

A follow up on My April 5 post. Last week April 23 I was able to race my m/c, this was 5 weeks after original break and only 3 weeks after a rebreak, not bad for 56 year old. Doc said you can ride just don’t crash again hmmm, well I fell down three times because I was going to slow, race bikes don’t handle well going slow! The main thing is I made it through the race and received a finish. Today is 6 weeks plus one day and I feel fine, no soreness and full range of motion in right arm. I feel this was a remarkable recovery considering how bad the break was. I do not want to go against any Dr’s orders but, I wore the brace continued to work (not to physical) and removed the brace for 2 hours a day starting at week 3. I increased time without brace every 2 days with minor exercise to prevent long recuperating time. I tried doing exercises that worked the muscles without straining them, on weekends I would fish instead of ride my bike. At week 4 I did 20 min light work out on eliptical treadmill, once I started these workouts I could felt better on a daily basis. The only other thing that I might mention is I doubled my daily dose of vitamins from week 1 to week 5 (multiple vit, fish oil vit, vit E, vit C). One last thing, think positive about your healing and just will yourself to getting better. Good luck and good bye!

Recovery Training Program

Week 1

Days 1-3

Days 4-5

Days 6-7

Weeks 2 and 3

Day 1 (off)

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

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