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

marlon

December 17, 2006

on december 12 i broke my collar bone wrestling and region torments is januray 6 im 14 do u think i can wrestle on the 6th
its been about 3 weeks and im feeling fine but my doctor said i cant play any sports untill 6-8wks wat is normal healing time for sombody my age

I would think that is a bit early to begin wrestling again. Recovery time is different for everyone. Your doctor is going to give you the best estimate. And the 6-8 weeks time your doctor gave sounds like a fair estimate. Remember to think long term. If you try to wrestle too soon and break it again you might be out for even longer.

– Hans

Bob Smith

December 16, 2006

64 Year old male. Fractured Clavicle June 5th bicycling in Austria.
Rode 5 mi. to hospital where Dr. said “yup” broken clavicle. Took X-Ray which confirmed fracture of approx. 2cm. advised that I more than likely should have surgery but a decision to do this should wait 5 days. Advised him I would return to USA for this and was placed in a figure 8 brace. They gave me enough pain medicine for the trip and sent on my way. Packed up my gear and had local bike shop send half my gear and my bike to family in Germany, no way could I carry more than one pannier. Arrived in USA 3 days later and immediately saw my Orthopedic. He took X-Rays and rolled his eyes (he had repaired my torn quad tendon one year earlier). I should mention this Ortho is very experienced in fractures as he spent time practicing in Lake Tahoe. First thing he said is surgery should be avoided at all cost as in most cases a break like this is likely to heal on its own. Gave me an arm sling and a prescription for an EBI Bone Growth Stimulator and said come back in 6 weeks. I did not like the arm sling and bought a Helly & Webber figure 8 Clavicle Brace as this allowed more use of the arm. HMO would not authorize BGS as it was too early to suggest a non healing fracture, non healing is usually determined if there is no progress for a year. Three months later still no healing and as I just turned 65 Medicare approved the Bone Growth Stimulator so I was fitted with one. The EBI pad that sits over the clavicle measures 4″x 2-1/2″ and easily attaches to the Helly & Webber sling with velcro. This device requires 10 hrs. of use a day and when worn attached to the sling makes the wearing and placement of it over the fracture very easy to deal with. My December 15th visit to the Dr. showed there was finally some filling of the gap and the ends seemed to be firmly attached though there is still quite a bit more required to be considered healed.
For the first 2 months there was pain and discomfort in most every thing I did. Sitting at a desk and holding the phone could become very painful during the first 6 weeks. In the 3rd. month I began feeling better, had complete range of motion. I began riding again but was very careful about not using the right arm more for than normal daily activities.
By the way, at four months I had a second opinion and this doctor wanted to operate immediately When I discussed how I heard the bone graft from the hip might be more painful than the initial fracture he said he would be acquiring the bone from the bone bank (ie: cadaver). My regular Ortho said if he felt an operation were needed at all he has successfully used ground Sea Coral as a paste to fill the gap or maybe simply rough up the ends of the fracture and attempt to join the ends without a graft at all. But he said this is still to early an option to consider, repeating; let’s see how it goes with more time.
Hope this info is helpful to those reading these posts as I’ve found other peoples experiences very helpful in the making of my decisions on how to deal with this injury. Bob Smith, Westerchester NY

Josh Quigley

December 11, 2006

Hey everyone 2 weeks ago i broke my collar bone in a ATV accident and broke in half i am 18 years old and have very little pain but everyone here makes me feel better about how their breaks were. Everything is going good i hope and hopfully being able to go out and rip it up in a month

Hans

December 7, 2006

jk – I’ll try to answer your questions:
1. That doesn’t sound like too long a wait.
2. Using pain as a guide is a good thing to do. Although not wearing the sling might cause you to exert your shoulder more than you should be. It’s very important to keep the shoulder and clavicle immobile during the first two weeks. Without the sling you might generate additional movement which can hinder recovery.
3. I don’t know if there’s a limit to the amount of time laying down. I would think it would become very uncomfortable after a while. You might try a sofa or large chair with pillows to prop up your arm(s) and hold you upright. That variation has helped others for sleeping or just resting.
4. If there’s still swelling then heat isn’t what you want to add.
5. I would highly recommend you wait for the ortho doc.

December 6, 2006

after motorcycle crash i was sent from er w sling after dislocation/fracture (they’re not sure) 11/30. i can see bone bump at end of clavicle sort of near adams apple, at its joint. (bump looks like when you bump head.) At er they held me till ortho team assessed surgery since it near vascular stuff couldnt press back in. they decided against surgery. attending tried to gently press in but “whole area is moving together, bone not loose.” sent home w sling. first appt w ortho 12/11 (12 days later). Pain alternates at fracture pt, & neck, & shoulder blade.
Four questions:
1. Is this too far away for first appt?
2. ER guys said sling was just for comfort, the important thing is to keep elbow against side, to immobilize next joint over f clavicle. So i stopped using sling but mimic it. i find i minimize pain w/o sling more than with–either holding my arm in sling position (hand on chest, elbow braced against side); or hand straight down, elbow braced against side; sometimes in addition using other hand to hold other end of clavical (extra immobilization). while flat i can straighten arm along side.
Question: is it ok to not use sling but do what i describe in paragraph above, using pain as my guide?
3. Can one be on back too much at this stage? Hurts least while lying flat on back, either on floor, or futon w pillow under w\elbow and head. I get up till feel pain then lie down. (the transition down is the most delicate, i do say.) but really am considering 24/7 in bed since this minimizes pain & strain!
4. Hot showers on shoulder blade (but not fracture) ok to bring blood to shoulder and neck?
5. Can a good chiro shove joint back in better than ortho? Or is it too late day 5?

Hans

November 1, 2006

Richard – It sounds as if you are getting good advice from your doctors. It’s possible that you may heal after many months. There’s a few comments sprinkled throughout the pages here from folks that have had success waiting.
Some people continue on with their lives without their collar bone ever fully healing. Those that choose that route do so because their lifestyle doesn’t require their collar bone to be 100% healed. On the other hand, an athlete or laborer that requires the full strength and mobility of their shoulder would probably choose a path to healing the collar bone.
I recommend that you evaluate your own physical lifestyle and the demands that you might place on your shoulder. Also look at what your expectations are when you are “healed”. Discuss these with your doctor so that you may both come to a better idea of how to continue your process of recovery.
I hope this helps.

Richard

November 1, 2006

Hello… I am 46 years old..
On Aug. 9th I broke my collarbone due to a fall.
The x ray showed a non union break with about a 1/4 inch gap between the break.
At week 6 there was no sign of healing so the Dr. said it would be my decision to decide if want surgery. He said most likely it won’t heal, but he couldn’t say for sure.
I said, “Should I come back in a couple of weeks for another x ray to see if any healing is going on”? He said most likely it won’t show any healing at that point, and if anything, the x ray might just show some scar tissue, not the much needed bone callous to fill in the gap.
I got a 2nd opinion around week 8, and that Dr. conferred w/ my original doctor after seeing the the latest x ray. But he did mention to me that 90%-95% heal on its own. The 2nd opinion doctor also said an option is, that I don’t have to have the surgery, and I can just go on with my life as is, broken collarbone and all etc.. but he did not recommend this, just saying it’s an option..
So, I was at the outpatient surgery office at the end of week 9 to get the surgery.
While I was going thru the pre-op’s w/ the nurses and the anatheisiologist, they asked if I had any pain in my collarbone. I said I really have no pain. Then my Orthopedic surgeon came in and felt and moved my shoulder etc. and said
“It doesn’t seem to be moving as much as it did when I saw you 3 weeks ago. If you’re not in pain, you really don’t have to have this operation”.
I said, “But can I function with a broken collarbone?” and the Dr. said “Yes, if you are in no pain”
So now I said “What do I do doc”?
He said, if it was him, he would not do it now…
(unfortunatly he had no x ray machine at the outpatient surgery office to check my collarbone’s status right there at the moment)
So I left the outpatient surgery offices w/out having the surgery.
It’s been 13 weeks now since I broke it. The bone seems to still move, but not like before. Before it would make a small cracking your knuckle sounds when I moved the bone etc.. Now it seems like the bone is just bending like tension/rubberband when I touch it. (no knuckle cracking sound now)
Is that a sign of healing?? Or could this just be scar tissue thats maybe keeping it more still?
I will go in for another x ray next week, but I know what the doctors will say to me “It’s my decision if I want the surgery or not” and when I say, “What would you suggest, do you think it will heal”??, they give a neutral answer “I don’t know..”
Thats when I get so discouraged… Especially if the x ray still looks the same as it did when I first broke the collarbone. So frustrating….(I’m hoping & praying that the x ray shows some progress this time after 14 weeks)
I just don’t know what to do? Can it still heal without surgery after this many weeks?? Do I still maybe get the surgery?? Should I wait longer?? Is it ok to carry on w/ a broken collarbone forever and not have surgery on it?? Seems scary but I’ve been doing it so far…
I think i can function w/ my everyday life at 90% the way it is/feels etc… I do still feel a little minor discomfort if I try and sleep on the broken side, and sometimes my shoulder feels a little sore, but other than that it I can function pretty well. I can work etc…
Have you heard of cases where they heal after many months??
Any advise you can give me would be greatly appreciated..
Sorry about the length of the letter…

Hans

October 30, 2006

Lindsey – Healing time varies with each person. But I have commonly heard lengths of 6 weeks to two months to heal. At a later time you may also have the plate(s) removed. That will require another surgery and recovery. But with a bad break it might be your only option. I recommend you discuss these concerns with your doctor.

Lindsey Paquette

October 26, 2006

On July 2nd I broke my right collar bone, as of today is has noe healed, I was dirt biking and flew off, my doc told me it was a bad break, I just found out today, 10/26/06, almost 4 months later that I have to have surgery. I’m a single mother of a 1 and 3 yr old. This is very dramatic news for me and I’m not taking it very well. They will do a bone graph from my hip and add some plates! Any advise on how long it will take to heal?

Hans

October 24, 2006

Ann – Yes, it’s frustrating having to wait while the shoulder heals. But it’s important because it’s so easy to re-injure while the bone try to mend.
Massage of the scar can help. How long it takes for the injury to “not be obvious” isn’t an easy question. It depends on your particular injury, your age, your skin type, and so many other factors. While it does heal you can work on and use more and more stories of how you got it. :’)
——————————————————————
Dee – Quick feedback about posting: please don’t use ALL CAPS. It gives the appearence of yelling and it makes it harder to read. Now let me see if I can answer your questions.
Ouch, it sounds like you have a very painful combination of injuries. The rotator cuff tear can be very painful and take a long time to heal. I injured my rotater cuff and it took over a year to heal. The pain decreased over time but I could still, a year later, move it a particular direction and get a sharp pain.
Using pain is also an indicator you should use when doing any of your excercises. Performing any action that causes sharp pain is an action taken too far.
Also, have you had an MRI for your shoulder? An MRI can provide more specific information about the injury and any coexisting problems. Having one for my shoulder gave my doctor and physical therapist more information and allowed them to prescribe a more specific path for recovery.

DEE

October 21, 2006

IT WAS 9;00 PM ON 9/21/06 I WAS WALKING ON THE OCEAN CITY Nj BOARD WALK AFTER MY SHOPPING FOR GIFTS AND TRIPPED ON A BOARD THAT TOOK OFF MY LEFT NEAKER AND THREW ME TO THE GROUND,,,I KNEW RIGHT AWAY SOMETHING BROKE AND THE PAIN WAS TERRIBLE, AFTER THE EMT RODE ME TO THE HOSPITAL, IRECEIVED EXCELLENT CARE AND WAS X-RAYED AND DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN LEFT CLAVIVCAL AND ROTAR CUFF TEAR,,, THE PAIN WAS SO BAD I COULDNT MOVE MY ARM FROM MY BODY , THEY GAVE ME A SCRPT FOR PAIN PILLS AN PUT IT IN A SLING AND RECOMMENDED TO SEE AN ORTHO DR ASAP,,,
THE DR CONFIRMED THE HOSPITAL FINDINGS AND SAID TO COME BACK IN 2 WEEKS , KEEP THE SLING ON AN 2-3 TIMES A DAY BEND WAY OVER AND LET THE ARM DANGLES AND DO ARM PENDULUMS SWINGS 20 X’S TO THE RIGHT & LEFTS SIDE AND NORTH & SOUTH,, & EAST & WEST ,,,,, B U T I CAN NOT MOVE MY ELBOW TOO FAR MY SIDE BEFORE IT POPS OUT WITH A THUD AND GIVES ME TERRIBLE PAIN THAT BREAKS ME OUT IN A SWEAT AND TAKES MY BREATH AWAY AND I SEE SILVER SPOTS FLOATING IN FRONT OF MY EYES FROM THE PAIN ,,,THE SHOULDER KINDA SPAZZ’S OUT AND I HAVE TO GET MY BREATH AND TAKE THE SLING OFF DANGLE THE ARM DOWN BY MY SIDE AND RELAX MY SHOULDER THAT RISES UP AND TENSE’S UP AND THEN IT THUDS BACK IN TO PLACE IN TWO MOVES WHEN I FINALLY FULLY RELAX ,,,BUTTTT MY DR RELEASED ME FOR 6 WEEKS OF THERAPY AND WHEN THE THERAPIST WAS DOING MY EVULATION AND MOVED MY LEFT ELBOW UP & OUT FROM MY BODY THE CLAVICAL POPPED OUT WITH SUCH A THUD, HE HEARD AND FELT IT ( HIS RT HAND WAS ON MY LEFT SHOULDER),,AND HE SAID HE WAS GONNA CALL MY DR, BECAUSE, THE THERAPIST THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE TORN THE CARTLIDGE BETWEEN THE CLAVICALE & THE SHOULDER ???,,THE DR TOLD HIM TO GO VERY VERY SLOW WITH GENTLE EXCERCISES .. BUT, I AM VERY VERY TENATIVE ABOUT RAISING THE ARM OR MOVING IT TOO FAR FROM MY BODY ,, RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE ME DOING THE PENDLUM, SHOULDER SHRUGS AN ISOMETRIC EXCERCISE ,,ITS WAS 4 WEEKS THIS PAST THURSDAY SINCE THE ACCIDENT ,,,HAS ANY ONE ELSE HAD THIS TERRIBLE SHARP PAIN THIS LONG AND IF SO WHEN DID IT GO AWAY ,,,THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR LISTENING/READING AND FOR ANY ADVICE YOU MIGHT OFFER

Ann

October 16, 2006

Hi all…thanks for your very helpful info. On Sept 2, I was mountain biking and when going down a hill, I flew off my bike hit the side of my head (cracked my helmet) and think I landed on my left shoulder. It was the most painful injury I have ever felt.
After getting escorted out of the woods on a four-wheeler by the local EMT’s, I was taken to the ER to discover that I shattered my collarbone, broke my scapula, and cracked a rib. Finally, I was able to get in to see an orthopedic surgeon a few days later, who told me that I needed surgery because my break was so bad. Two days later, I had the surgery, complete with a plate and screws put into my collarbone as well as some bone graft put in to repair my bone.
Now I am about 5 weeks post surgery. I still have to wear my sling most of the time per doctor’s orders and am doing some codman stretches. It is really frustrating because I feel like I should start PT but I still need to heal quite a bit. Any thoughts/common frustrations anyone? I have been able to walk a lot and get back on my bike trainer, which has totally helped my sanity.
I tried to read through the posts, but it doesn’t look like anyone else has had this clavicle/scapula injury here yet.
Question about surgical scars: I am getting bumps near where my plate is on my clavicle and the doctor told me to massage it daily to keep scar tissue from building. The area still seems more swollen than the other clavicle, too. Does the massage really work? Any suggestions? Also I know I am a girl so I am not quite as into “battle scars” as much as many guys, but I have a thin, but long scar (about 8 inches) that is pink. I am hoping it heals up well, too. My doc and many other people say it looks pretty good so far, but to me it looks huge! Anyone with knowledge as to how long it will take for the scar and clavicle area to be less completely obvious and big? Gee this entry is quite lengthy and I have so many questions…this has just been a super tough injury for me, both mentally and physically, sidelining me from everything that is my livelihood. I am sure you all understand. I am so thankful for this website!

Hans

October 12, 2006

Kathleen – I know that someone commented on the procedure on another page on my site:
http://www.hanskellner.com/archives/2004/05/20/what_to_expect_from_a_broken_clavicle.html
I don’t know more than what I have read about the procedure.

Kathleen

October 12, 2006

Hi,
Has anyone had the Basamania Pin Procedure. Please let me know. I am scheudled to have it 11/06.
Thanks,

Hans

September 25, 2006

Rodney – Feeling radiating pain during recovery is common. But if it persists for several days, is so strong it’s unbearable, or is accompanied by numbness then I would recommend you follow up with your doctor. There’s a few other comments on my “broken collar bone” pages regarding this type of pain. You should be able to search the pages and find the information.

Rodney

September 25, 2006

I am now 3 weeks into my break, and I can definately tell a lot of difference. I am getting back a good range of motion in my shoulder, but I am feeling some of the same sharp pain as Kim stated. Is this normal?

David

September 22, 2006

Thanks for the advice its on-road racing but then again if I took another fall I could do it more harm. I’ll see if I can get to see the doctor a day or so before the race and see what he thinks because the last thing I want is to make the injury worse and have to miss out on the action even longer.

Hans

September 22, 2006

David – That’s a bit soon after the break. It sounds as if your bone has stabilized but that doesn’t mean it’s fully healed and can take the stress of racing. Also, if you’re racing off-road that would be even more risky.
You might also consider talking with your doctor or getting a checkup a day or so before the race. Your doctor may find that you’re healing extremely well and give the go ahead.

David

September 22, 2006

Hi,
Broke my collar bone 4 weeks ago motorcycle racing, the break was in the middle of the bone the doctor said it should heal fine and told me to come back in 8 weeks. Like everyone it was really painfull for the 1st 2 weeks but the thing is its been 4 weeks now and I am able to move my arm and do normal things without any pain or movement in the bone yes my shoulder is a little weak from not moving for a while but other than that I feel fine. I have a race in 2 weeks time and was wondering would I be able to compete in it as I feel I could without a problem?

Nick

September 18, 2006

Kim:
From what I’ve been able to gather, there’s a pretty standard set of PT exercises for a broken collarbone and they all seem to focus on range of motion.
http://www.ubsportsmed.buffalo.edu/education/brokencollarrehab.html
Many years ago when I broke the left collarbone I was not assigned any PT. Just wear the figure of 8 brace until the bone fused together and resume normal activities thereafter. The stiffness and muscle pain disappeared after a couple weeks of normal usage.
Byron:
When last I was in a figure of 8 brace I had to wear it 24×7. No taking it off even for bathing. As long as your shoulders are held up and back and you’re not in excruciating pain you should be good to go. Other than the chafing in the armpits I recall the brace being rather comfortable. An occasional twinge of pain, but for the most part I didn’t even notice that I was wearing it or that the collarbone was broke (unless I tried to lift something unassisted with that arm).
The main thing is to keep the shoulder as stationary as possible. Oh, and don’t lift anything with that arm if you can help it.

Simon

September 18, 2006

Hi,
I broke mine playing rugby, 1st game of the new session, got tackled from behind and driven the ground on my side,heard the bone snap as I hit the dirty and the rest of the team pilled on top!!
Its been 8 days now and I still have a lots of painful moments, when the ends seem to clash together, also the muscle around the neck seem to go in spans allot. I have a collar and cuff sling type thing which seem to more comfortable than a normal bandage sling, I get a lot pain in the back of head and neck and in my triceps.
I broke my left collar bone some years back and also dislocated my shoulder, should have stop playing then. that heal up ok, with a bump in the middle.
I don’t no why but this time it feels different. I only hope that it heals as well as the last time.

Byron

September 17, 2006

I broke my collarbone 4 days ago and it seemed the ER was not too concerned, gave me the figure-8 sling, wrote a prescription and sent me on my way. I am wearing the sling 24/7, but how do I know it is holding the shoulder correctly. I take it off once per day to shower and change shirts and adjust the tightness. Anyone have any insight to what you should feel to make sure the bones are aligning correctly. My Ortho appt is not for another 5 days and I am worried with all the talk of the first couple of weeks that I could be screwed up and didn’t know it. Thanks…

Kim Emanuel

September 17, 2006

Broke the bone 8 weeks ago with almost a complete heal in place. I do notice there is a deep but slight pain in my shoulder when I extend/strech my arm forward and upward >> othersise the arm has wide and almost unrestricted movement >> have not been to physicial thearpy yet >> anyone think thearpy will really help or will normal movement and usage work this out?

Romeo Lim

September 17, 2006

Rod, I competed in an IPSC handgun/shotgun competition 8 weeks after I broke my right clavicle. Handling the recoil from the .357 Magnum shooting with bent elbows was no problem but the 12 gauge was another matter entirely. One shot and I gave it up, it is too dangerous since the recoil pad transfers all the recoil energy directly to the shoulder, pushing the clavicle bakwards. Don’t risk it man, let it heal some more.

Hans

September 10, 2006

rod – I don’t know if your break will be strong enough or not to handle the stress of the shotgun. One worry would be firing before you have planted the shotgun firmly and whacking your shoulder or collar bone with the kick. If the break is still in the process of healing and fusing then I can imagine rebreaking it. The other problem is going to be your muscle strength in your shoulder. You might have problem holding up your arm on the broken side. Shooting on the other side might be the better option, especially if your shoulder isn’t healing fast enough.

rod

September 9, 2006

I’m 6 days into a broke right clavicle. I am wearing a sling and I am really feeling a lot better in the last few days. I go to see my sports med dr. in a few days, but this question is killing me….I have a 12 gauge skeet shooting competition in exactly 6 weeks from today. Will I be able to shoot? If not, what about the opposite side? Any advice is appreciated.

Nick

September 8, 2006

Greetings everyone.
A quick update: Last Wednesday I had another post-op and x-ray and the results looked good. The major break is almost completely healed: Only two small fractures left where the bone shattered. The smaller, second break isn’t even visible on the x-ray anymore.
At present I’m only scheduled for one session of PT and one more post-op. From there it’s just a waiting game until October 2007 to get the plate and screws removed.

jessica

September 5, 2006

This site has been awesome in making me feel better about my busted collarbone! I broke mine just over 4 weeks ago, mountain biking. Long story short, I had x rays at the beginning of the 4 week mark and it didn’t show any evidence of healing yet. The orthopedic surgeon wanted to hold off on surgery, and I go back October 3rd for more xrays. The pain is much better, with today being the best day that I’ve had so far. My arm’s been out of the sling all day today and I plan to run 5k. I tried a 5k run last week, since the surgeon said that I could run, as long as there wasn’t a lot of pain. The part I found most painful was my pec muscle and my left arm muscles. Felt like they tightened up. I didn’t wear my sling out that day, so I was just holding it up. I have a feeling today’s going to hurt, but I am going insane!! I was going to wear my sling today and see how it feels with it on. I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there who was running with their injury and whether or not it delays healing. My physio also said that running shouldn’t affect the healing. I just know its going to hurt! Thanks for any advice you guys have!!

Nick

August 26, 2006

Congrats Bonnie!
I just got out for the first time yesterday evening for a measely 2.3 miles, but it felt great.
Tonight I went out for a little over 8. Nothing but muscle pain. Like yourself I kept the majority of my weight on the non-affected side but managed to hold on to the bars with both hands.
Today is 7 weeks + 1 day post-op and for the first time since the break I was able to lift my arm above my head with virtually no pain but I did feel the unused muscles stretching. This Weds I should have my final post-op and can hopefully get into some weight lifting to rebuild the muscles in my right shoulder and arm.
That’s great news Fred, you’ll be back in action in no time now. Just keep slugging down the calcium.
Andrew:
Right there with you on the motion vs painkillers. Muscle atrophy hurts! Honestly I think that hurts more than the break. I was supposed to be wearing the sling until August 30th but ditched it on August 4th because it was more comfortable out of it than in it.

Andrew

August 25, 2006

Now almost 2 weeks into the healing process. Pretty good bump on that shoulder. I had another X-ray the other day and it appears that the gap is slowly closing, a good sign obviously. Everyone of course asks me if I did it cycling, and so far I have made up several different stories, the truth getting boring. I have been able to work since 2 days after the accident, though sometimes uncomfortably, and occasionally without the sling for short periods. That is mostly because the rest of the arm and my back starts hurting from the relative inactivity. I’d rather a bit of motion than more painkillers.

Bonnie

August 23, 2006

Been five weeks and three days. I saw my ortho today and he gave me the thumbs up to ride. I rode (outdoors for the first time!) about 12 miles. Not much, but it was so different, a great feeling! I didn’t put much weight on it, most of the time I just hung it by my side (gotta work up to it)… but it felt great. Thanks so much for the postings here. I really didn’t know if I’d get to this point, at times I felt dreadful and although I still have some pain, it felt so good to ride. Good luck to all, keep a positive outlook. And take lots of Calcium/Vit D/Mag. 🙂

Angela

August 20, 2006

Thanks for your stories. They have helped me a lot. I have a 7 year old motorcross racer who fractured his left collar bone approximately 7 weeks ago and now has broken his right collar bone and may have possibly refractured his left one. Needless to say, motorcross is over. Just feeling bad about the whole thing. Since the collar bone is a frequent break I don’t feel so bad. Just waiting to get him home from the emergency room and to an ortho tomorrow.

Fred

August 17, 2006

Hi Hans,
Final follow-up on earlier postings. After getting a 50-50 prediction of union on my distal collarbone break of june 21st– great news! My 8 week x-ray shows good callus bridging the displacement gap and the orthopedic specialist saying that in 3 weeks: “all restrictions can be lifted” on use of the arm.
So to all you older breakees out there– don’t get pessimistic– hang in there– these aging bodies (this one’s nearly 55)still have amazing recuperative powers. Best of luck to all of you,

Andrew

August 16, 2006

Well my clavicular failure was just over 48 hours ago at the staff picnic while playing football. I had the ball and had a clear field to the goal line, and was being chased by my boss but tripped on some uneven ground in the semi darkness (about 9pm). It was painful but I’ve felt worse, and though the others there thought dislocation I figured break.
It is near the shoulder end, and not too painful and I have so far taken less than half the dosage of Tylenol 3 and ibuprofen I could have. I am using a sling and trying to keep it stable, but sitting still drives me nuts. I spent 2 hours or so today cleaning my apartment, but of course that would have been about an hour with 2 good arms.
I am going to try to go back to work tomorrow and see how it feels at my desk, with a few modifications (keyboard on the lap and so on). I have a trip coming up and hope I can be driving in about 4 weeks, but not sure that is feasible.
My girlfriend works at the hospital where I had the x-rays done and she has already burnt a copy of the files for me (she works in Radiology!), so I should have them by tomorrow. New desktop wallpaper!

Brent Loveridge

August 14, 2006

Hi All,
Just updating for my busted collarbone. Break occured on the 30 July 06, last post here was 06 August. I have decided to supply as much visual documentation as possible to aid others, and so have changed the way I labelled my pictures in the last post, hence the links in the last post no longer work.
First xray is now here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/xray31Jul06.jpg
First shoulder photo is now here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/bustedcollarbone02Aug06.jpg
Whats been happening since the last post, not a lot.
After talking with my GP, and reading this site, I decided to get plated. I also saw a sports doctor who refered me to another Specialist. He could not see me till the 14 Aug, so I figured I would wait and give him a shot anyhow.
I was not experiencing any great pain, and was on Tramodol (opiate based pian killer) to help me sleep at night. I don’t normally sleep on my back. Unfortunatly some of the side effects of opiates include an itchy skin rash, and water retention (couldn’t pee for 5 days, and put on nearly 3 kgs) so I got the GP to take me off those. First toilet stop was a goody!
I could feel the bones thru the skin, and with gentle pressure could get them to line up quite nicely, no pain involved, just a gentle creak and clicking noise. As the swelling went down, the bits started moving all on their own, and now I have a large lump, and an equally large hole out side of the lump. I can press into the hole and actually feel the gap between the bigger bits of bone. Spooky.
The GP put me on panadol and voltaren, which do not do much at all for me, but with a couple of shots of port I sleep fine.
Went to the new specialist yesterday. Got a new xray here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/xray14aug06.jpg
This xray did not come out as clear as the first one, but you can see that the outer end of the bone has come away from the shoulder joint, the smaller chunk has also floated to a different position. It is now partially obscured. The gap between the broken ends has increased slightly as well. What you can’t tell from the xray is that the lateral offset off the broken ends has changed somewhat, with the bigger broken peice rotating, so now the bones would look like an X if veiwed from above. Perhaps this picture shows it better,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/bustedcollarbone15Aug06.jpg
You can see the upper point, which is the end of the bone still attached to the breastbone , and the lower point is the inbd end of the larger broken piece.
This photo roughly compares the height and position of the shoulder, and the line of the two collarbones,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/comparingshoulders15Aug06.jpg
There is a bit of difference there.
Well, what did the new Specialist have to say,
Based on the xrays and pysical exam, he gave me a 60% chance of a union, not straight, but a union. He would then leave it for a few more months, and then operate to remove the protruding bone ends. Not impressed with that option!!
He did make the comment that “if I was a soldier, and was expected to hump a pack around the hills, I would be plated up right away, but seeing as I am an Airforce Aircraft engineer, it is not so important to have a good collarbone” HELLO, WHAT!!!
He also told me to stop wearing the sling, stop any medication, and then to use pain to tell me if I was using my arm too much. Given its only been a little over two weeks since I broke it, I am not keen to risk any healing I am getting at this stage. I left his office with the sling off, but put it back on later that night as the shoulder was starting to ache a bit. I will take the sling off for stuff like this, I have my arm resting on the desk.
Well, thats it for now, off to the GP to let him know what the specialist had to say.

Tom C

August 14, 2006

Forgot to mention – i also increased the amount of time i took the sling off each day by an hour or so, spread throughout the day. It was about 10 days after the 2-week point before i stopped using it altogether.

Tom C

August 14, 2006

Hi,
I’m now four weeks post-op after surgery to plate my ‘distal third’ break after a non union developed with conservative treatment. It feels pretty good, and like Nick I can move my arm in all directions but have been ordered not to lift above shoulder level.
I wore a sling for 2 weeks post op and did as little as possible – the shoulder didnt really hurt, although the hip bone graft site ached for a week or so! (couldnt even wear jeans for about 10 days!!) At 2 weeks the doc was happy with the x-ray and advised me to wean myself out of using the sling and that i should be driving by 4 weeks and able to do most things (below shoulder level) by 6 weeks.
I’ve been doing my own mild physio exercises since not using the sling and they seem to have worked for me:
extending elbow 20 times, three times daily lying down in first 2 weeks whilst in sling
Then after 2 weeks, leaning forward and moving forearm in a circle with sling support (‘pendulum exercises’ – doc said they dont involve collar bone movement or stress). 20 reps 3 times daily for 5 days
then after a few days when i felt more confident, lifting arm (not in sling) out straight to the side, at 45 degrees, and out in front 10 times each, 3 times daily. The out in front one was hardest, so i took it easy at first.
Then i repeated this , with an increasingly heavier object in my hand (not too heavy – just a book, can, etc), adding weight every 2 days until today, when i feel pretty comfortable.
hope this gives people an idea of what to expect after surgery. and to any recovering surgery patient, did you ever feel like something was ‘catching’ now and again in your shoulder? the plates not sticking out and doesnt feel loose, and theres no pain, but especially when i’m lying down it feels like some tissue catches and is then released – maybe some fibrous tissue from the surgery?? i’m tempted to say it gets dislocated but it really doesnt feel that serious.
keep up the good work Hans – this site has been so helpful to me through all this. Thanks.
Tom

Nick

August 13, 2006

No therapy yet.
The ortho’s a pretty conservative guy in terms of ordering surgery and therapy. At the 12 day post-op he said “for guys like you I won’t even start therapy until at least 6 weeks post-op.” He probably won’t order p.t until the next post-op on August 30th.
A little digging around on the Internet turned up that there’s a rather standard set of exercises for p.t.
Here’s a link with a good explanation and diagrams:
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_brknclav_rex.htm

Hans

August 12, 2006

Nick – Good news! Sounds like everything is going well. Did your doctor give you excercises to perform? Or have you seen a physical therapist to help with the recovery?

Nick

August 12, 2006

Hi everyone. How’s the healing going?
Pretty good here. Yesterday was the 5 week post-op for me. I went to see the surgeon because I felt this rather odd bump and thought that the plate may have shifted or a screw was coming loose.
Talk about an excellent doctor. Even in spite of a full schedule of people that (I’m sure) are in worse condition than I, he saw me on a moment’s notice.
The x-ray still shows the fracture sites and will for a quite a while, but the everything was in alignment and the fractures looked considerably smaller than in the 12-day post-op xray.
Although getting back on the road or any lifting is still out of the question, a semblance of normalcy is returning to our household. I’m starting to use my right arm for small tasks such as brushing my teeth, driving, and getting dressed. Overall the range of motion is pretty good: no reaching above shoulder level, but I can hold my arm out both sideways and forwards at shoulder height.
Now to kick this blasted bronchitis that set in this week…

Bonnie

August 6, 2006

Hans – the shoulders back seemed to hold my shoulder back nicely. Just didn’t seem to give enough support to hold everything “up” as much as the old figure eight. They have some great reviews from various magazines on their site. It’s honestly something I will use to keep my posture more upright after I’m healed more, so for me it was still a good investment.
——-
Brent – thanks for the time frame. It’s been 3 weeks and 1 day and I was hoping to be out of it by August 17, when I leave for the Canadian Rockies (Jasper)… we shall see. I am going to follow your advice and schedule another appt with my ortho to get a second set of xrays. It’s raining here in the Midwest today, and I can feel it in my collarbone quite a bit today. No pain, no gain.. 😉

Nick

August 6, 2006

Bonnie, the last time I wore a figure 8 was 19-20 years ago (a freak accident during a wrestling match in 7th grade). I think I wore it for 8 weeks, but I know I was worming my way out of it much earlier than that: Probably around the 6-week mark.
Brent, that’s one nasty break. I see you also got the funky jaundicing on the chest. That’s actually one of the reasons I sought out a second opinion from an ortho. I had read somewhere that when that happens, it’s not a good sign. Hopefully you’ll get good advice from the second specialist. Not one of the 4 doctors I saw (2 GPs in urgent care and 2 orthos) said to take the sling off other than to shower and put on/remove shirts. Even a pullover shirt was pretty much out of the question until almost the 4-week post-op mark. Hopefully you’ll get some good advice from the specialist you’re seeing this week.
Sidenote: I don’t know if this happens to everyone, but with the plates and screws surgery, the muscles and tendons in both my neck and broken side became very, very tight. Now that the arm is hanging freely, they’re starting to loosen up. Also, there’s kind of a strange numbness below the collarbone that runs the entire length and about 1 inch below it. You can feel that something’s touching you and it doesn’t hurt, but it does feel strange. The doc said the “numbness” would last about 8 months.

Brent Loveridge

August 6, 2006

Hi all,
Had the misfortune of joining your club last sunday, bringing to an early finish two great weeks of skiing. Posted my Xray and photo here,
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/bustedcollarbonexray.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/vagrantnz/bustedcollarbone.jpg
I have had a very stressed out week, with different Doctors telling me different things. On Thursday the specialist said no to surgery, because the risk of nerve and blood vessle damage was too great, and to not wear the sling so much, because exercise was good for the shoulder. My GP could not believe that one.
Finding this site has been fantastic, I have read all three threads and found the stories of others very reassuring. The explainations of the healing process have also been helpful.
Based on what I gleaned so far, mine is classed as a break of the distall third. I have broken the shoulder end into two, a bigger bit and a much smaller chunk.
Initialy I had confidence the sling and time, but as the swelling has gone down, so the amount of movement in the shoulder has increased, the pain level has also gone up somewhat. I truely do not see how the bones can heal decently like that. I can’t afford to wait for two months to see if it heals without surgery, the time lost will mean that I will still be on the mend when our summer cycling season starts. Having missed the last one, and lost so much condition thru being laid up with a neck and nerve injury, I am not going to miss this one.
I am off to see another specialist this week for a second opinion, and with what I have learned from site, I am better armed to push for the surgery.
Thanks all, I will let you know how it goes.
Brent

Hans

August 5, 2006

Fred – Don’t give up hope yet. Age and also your need to use the arm on that side are probably hindering healing. But you still might be healing. Try to maintain reduced movement of your shoulder and then let’s see what the ortho doc says at your next appointment.
—————————————————————-
Bonnie – So your evaluation of the “ShouldersBack” brace is that it’s not enough support for your shoulder? Does it maintain a proper posture and shoulder alignment?

Bonnie

August 5, 2006

Nick,
Good to hear that post surgery is going so well, and even out of the sling! How long (previous breaks that healed with figure 8s) did you wear the figure eight each break? I got a “shoulders back” brace (had been mentioned on this website by someone) and took off the 8 for a day and felt the difference after about 12 hours – def not enough support for now. I am on day 21, haven’t been back in a trainer for various reasons yet.. but my Bianchi is getting pretty anxious, and I’ve gained a few pounds.. yikes. 😉 Everyone here in Milwaukee seems to be on a bike, looks way too inviting right now.
Thanks,
Bonnie

Fred

August 4, 2006

Hi Nick,
Thanks for your insights.
Wish I could have followed the ‘no lifting restriction’ regimen but I have no choice– my left arm is the only one I’ve got (the other’s prosthetic) So until I get this fixed I’m down from 50% function to about 15%!
Guess the lesson here is not to rely on an emergency ward hospitalist’s opinion but to get a proper diagnosis from a orthopedic specialist ASAP–it obviously saves a lot of time, and frustration.
Glad to hear you’re on the mend.
Cheers,
Fred

Nick

August 4, 2006

Fred:
From what I’ve read, a break in the distal third usually requires surgery. Healing time thereafter is approximately 10 weeks.
In regards to using the arm too much for around the house type deals, that could definitely set you back, especially if you were trying to perform unsupported lifts with that arm.
The last time I snapped the left collarbone I had a no-lifting restriction on the left side and a 50 lb maximum on the right.
Even though I vacation a lot in Canada I have no idea how the medical system up there works, but the surgeon who put me together this time is great. His name’s Gregory Lervick and he’s based in Edina, MN. http://www.ocpamn.com
Other news:
I’m 4 weeks post-op and almost 5 weeks post break today.
I ditched the sling yesterday and other than the muscle and tendon stretching pain from letting the arm hang freely the shoulder feels great.
Shoulder mobility is still highly limited, but that’ll get worked out in time.

Fred W.

August 3, 2006

Hi Hans,
Follow-up on my “distal 3rd” (very close to shoulder)left clavicle break on June 21st. Just got my 6 week x-ray and was VERY disappointed there was “no surrounding callus formation to indicate interval healing.”
Did I probably screw up the gluing stage by using my arm too much (not for sports, but for daily household activities)?
Is there still hope or does 6 weeks without any sign of callus pretty much indicate non-union?
I have to wait 2 more weeks (thanks to Canadian medicare)before I finally get to see an othopedic specialist. Unfortunately, it pays here to be a squeaky wheel which I’m not comfortable being.
Meanwhile, I wonder if I’d had more pain (I’ve had almost none) or greater lack of mobililty– whether that would have forced me to immobilize my arm more in the critical early stages.
To all sufferers in the early days of youtr breaks:
Consider that pain– by forcing you to rest– may be your best friend!
Fred

Lee Bramley

August 2, 2006

Thanks guys, iwent to the quack today actually and he put me in a figure 8, bit uncomfortable, but i think i’ll stick with it, the sling was driving me nuts. He also said as you did, it makes no difference if you wear the figure 8 or the sling, so fingers crossed we sdhould all line up quite nicely & not look like we have a 3rd shoulder growing from our collar bone. Good luck with your recovery bonnie & Nick with the surgery

Nick

July 31, 2006

Lee & Bonnie.
Sorry to hear you’ve joined the club.
I’m currently working on my 3rd broken collarbone and have been in both the figure 8 and slings.
This time around I opted for surgery, but the previous 2 times I wore the figure 8 brace.
Somehow the bones just kind of figured out how to connect to each other in spite of movement. As long as you don’t try doing any large motions involving your shoulder you should be ok.
The last time around I had to get x-rays every week, but this time I’m only scheduled for 2: the first at 12 days post-op and the second at 57 days post-op.
Being that my last experience with a figure 8 wasn’t so good, I’d recommend having from fresh xrays taken at the 3 week mark just to make sure everything’s lining up and growing.
My doctors also said it makes no difference if you wear the figure 8 or the sling, but honestly, no that I’m in a sling, I’d much rather wear the figure 8 again.

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