Collarbone Break Updates

[Smit-Dog]

Looking for updates from others here who have had a recent collarbone break, and are in recovery mode.

I just got back from a 4-week follow-up x-ray. My left collarbone was broken in 2 places, on either side of a break 20 years ago (also broke riding dirt bikes). On the original x-ray, the collarbone looked like a figure "Z" - pretty crooked. I've worn the figure-8 strap 24x7 (except for the occasional shower :scream: ), as tight as I could bear. I have the bleeding sores under my arms to prove it! :(

At 4 weeks, doc said that there is no visible bone growth. She said if I was 8 years old, everything would have been healed already. But I'm going on 38, so that's not the case here...

It's not to say that some healing is not occuring. As explained to me, first there's a lot of bleeding around the breaks, then fiberious tissues starts to form, then minerals start to attach and calcify. The x-rays won't show anything until there is a fair amount of calcium around the break.

On the plus side, the doc mentioned that considering the compound break, the bone was fairly aligned. My shoulder has looked pretty whacked the last 4 weeks because I have it pulled back high and tight. My wife was afraid that's I'd be permanently disfigured, but doc says that's what has helped re-align the bone as good as it is.

I know that there are varying opinions regarding wearing the figure-8 vs just a sling (I did both for first 2 weeks), but based on my experience, I'd recommend to all others to wear the figure-8 as tight and as long as you can.

- Bill

 

[oldguy]

thekid goes in the 16th for his 5 week checkup. so far he feels good and has full motion back. Our dr doesn't believe in the figure 8- I asked him specifically for 1 at the first appointment. He is of the opinion that a sling or immobilizer is just as effective. His other thought is with the figure 8 under clothes there is no outside evidance of the injury and leads to many unintentional shoulder pats from others.

 

[Smit-Dog]

I'm assuming that "The Kid" is teenager. He is definitely doing better than me.

Did he wear the figure-8 a lot? Does he still wear it? Although I can use my left arm as a "helper" arm, there is no way that I can lift my hand above my ears at 4 weeks out.

Good luck with the rest of the recovery.

 

[oldguy]

Yes he is a teenager 14 yrs old. He never did wear a figure 8. He uses the immobolizer that ties the arm to his waist at night to sleep and will sometimes use that or a sling during the day if he feels the arm getting tired.
This last weekend he rode alot (on flat ground) at our get together at Wardy's and had a lot of discomfort on Sunday but he claims it is gone now. As I said his mobility is about 70% back and hopefully the july 16th appointment will say it is alright to start training again on the bike

 

[Shawn Mc]

I broke mine on 12-9-2001. I'll be 40 on the 14 of this month. I was down about 8 weeks total. But, I quit wearing that damn sling at 5 weeks. You dont need it if the movement has stopped. Ya just have to be really careful with what your doing. I rode at nine weeks, and cleared, err, came up short on my first double at 11 weeks post break. Coming up short was a tad painful, but hasnt hurt since. I slept in a chair for the first 4 weeks. My particular break was kinda scary. My doc sent me to an orthopedic to make sure I didnt need surgery. As far as the break went, it didnt tent up. It broke down, straight at a lung. Not good. Scary when ya look at the Xray.
So basically, if the movement at the break has ceased, youve started to calcify. If you still have movement at the break points and the doc isnt worried, Id get a new doc. At 4 weeks, the movement should be almost nil. You shouldnt be lifting anything with the broken side arm. Nothing heavier than a coffee cup anyway. Give it 6 weeks before ya try to lift anything. But you should with help be able to raise the arm to level. When I tried to sleep on a bed again, that was the only way I could sleep. Arm up, around a pillow. Ya I know, weird.

 

[t300mag]

I broke my left collarbone on 6/16/02 , i went last tuesday for my 2 week check up he took an x-ray and said keep on wearing the figure-8 thing and come back in 2 weeks . He said it would probably take 6 more weeks to grow back together

 

[1A]

I broke mine 6/8/02 at Trainrobbers. I'm 51 and I think my helmet broke it when I high sided at speed. In my opinion, the doctor that said the figure 8 brace didn't work as good as immobilizing or a sling is off his rocker. He has obviously never had a broken collarbone. The figure 8 device was instant relief for me. Nobody made me wear it - I wanted to. I wore it six weeks and have gone two weeks without it. I'm going riding tomorrow. If you want my figure 8, I'll mail it to you.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Hey 1A,

Hopefully your break wasn't that bad, and it healed pretty quick. I'd be careful though if you're going riding tomorrow - that'd only be 7 weeks out.

I'm still wearing my figure-8 about 90% of the time at 8 weeks out. I agree strongly (contrary to statistics the doc gave me) that it's a better way to heal the bone compared to a sling. I think it's the only way to pull the broken bones back enough so that they are half-way aligned.

I broke mine in 2 places, same side I broke 20 years ago. At 7 weeks Doc said I have some "bone glue" forming, which has stopped the movement, but it's still a long way from hardening completely. Trying to see if insurance will cover at bone stimulator to help speed up the process. Because of my age (38), compound break (x-ray looks like a letter "Z"), and breaking it over an old break, the blood flow to the area isn't that good, hence the slow progress.

Glad you healed quick, but make sure you don't take a hit on that side until it's well healed! :scream:

Ride hard, but don't take chances!

- Bill

 

[SiCnTwIsTdYz]

sounds like the same injury i had but my left collarbone was broken from my shoulder side, im all healed now i cant wait to go out and ride its been 3 months, i know im out of shape, it took my collarbone to heal for 12 weeks i had to wear a figure 8 brace which puled my shoulders back and lined up the bones together, hurt like a son of a b!tch but im all good now

 

[98cr150mx]

I seem to break atleast one of my collarbones per year. Usally I don't wear any brace or sling and am able to ride after 4 weeks. I don't see why you guys have to wait so long to ride.

 

[Gary B.]

I broke my right collarbone on 8/12/02. I'm 42 years old. Had a 1 inch "floating" piece that sort of laid across the break. Wore a sling & figure 8 brace for about a week, wore the sling to work just as a reminder not to do anything stupid (lifting, reaching, etc. as I'm right handed). Wore the figure 8 for about 5 weeks, and I gotta agree with 1A, it was a great pain reliever. My ortho did tell me to remove it for an hour or so every day and to make sure I did plenty of stretching excercises on the shoulder and arm (in the shower, talk about your pleasure and pain experiences! Hurt like hell, but felt really great!) I was back on a bike, riding REALLY easy at 5 weeks, and back to normal in about 13 weeks. :aj: My fracture was "fused" in about four weeks. As for your lack of bone growth, it may have to do with your age or the overall condition of your bone structure. I know some fractures require surgery and I sincerely hope you are NOT in this catagory. That would truly suck because you'd be starting back from less than zero. I truly sympathize with you. Good luck, and don't hesitate to post questions here. If you had a nickel for every collarbone break by DRN members, you'd be shopping for a PAIR of new bikes right now! :)

 

[Smit-Dog]

Originally posted by 98cr150mx
I seem to break atleast one of my collarbones per year. Usally I don't wear any brace or sling and am able to ride after 4 weeks. I don't see why you guys have to wait so long to ride.

I must really be a wimp! ;)

How do you know you've broken your collarbone? If I was able to get by without a sling or figure-8, and ride 4 weeks later, I'd think that I didn't break anything.

For the first 3-4 weeks I could feel bone ends rubbing together. Broken in 2 places, I had a piece about 1" long floating around, along with a lot of bone fragments. My left arm and hand were swollen like a balloon for the first 5-6 weeks. My left hand and most of the inner arm are still numb 8 weeks out from nerve damage. Being 38 doesn't help either. Doc said 8-12 year olds heal up pretty good in 4 weeks. How old are you?

I guess breaking at least 1 collarbone per year wouldn't be so bad if I had your experience. ;)

 

[Whoops]

I broke my collarbone in two places last Jaunary. One of the breaks has healed completely and the other has healed. No problem with range of motion and I've been riding for a couple of months now. It looked really weird and hurt occasionally so I talked to myOS last week. His policy is if it doesn't heal in 4 months he'll consider operating. Obviously, I qualify for the operation.

The operation involves taking some bone from my hip and inserting it between the disconnected collarbone and then adding some Ti to hold things together while it all grows back. There's t about a 12 week recovery period, but the way I heal who knows.

He also said that if it doesn't bother me an operation is not absolutely necessary. I told him I needed to think about it. I went riding yesterday to help me think. This will probably require a lot more thinking.

Whoops

 

[sk8mdw]

Originally posted by Smit-Dog
Looking for updates from others here who have had a recent collarbone break, and are in recovery mode.

Bill - I broke my left collar bone in March. Double break with a floater in the middle. X-Ray of the break is in my photo gallery. Wore the figure 8 for two months. Loved the figure 8, very supportive. Two more months of just taking it easy on the arm.

The bones never healed completely back together, which the specialist said is fine. I'm 42, which probably has a lot to do with the minimal healing. :) I have full range of motion, and haven't had any pain at all.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Hey Whoops...

Here are some helpful links if you are considering surgery. Most doctors I've spoken with do not recommend surgery except in the most extreme cases, i.e. malunion. There are a lot of nerves and blood vessels that run under the collarbone area.

Dr. Basmania from Duke University Sports Medical Center in North Carolina is using a Hagie pin to straighten and help fuse malunions. Check it out here:

http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/Med/clavicle.htm
http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Medical_News /Clavicle1.jpg
http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Medical_News /clavicle2.jpg
http://www.medmedia.com/orthoo/5100.htm

Here are a few more relevant links:
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/features/061401_EX_collarbonepin.html
http://www.shoulder1.com

I am 8 weeks out, and just started wearing a bone stimulator 24x7 for about 6-8 weeks to see if that helps the bone heal.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do, and how it eventually turns out.

- Bill

 

[Smit-Dog]

Originally posted by sk8mdw
The bones never healed completely back together, which the specialist said is fine.

The x-ray in your gallery looks like the break has about an inch gap, and that's why the ends didn't meet enough for them to fuse together.

Although I also have a floater piece in the middle, I believe that all the ends are close enough together so that the "bone glue" gremlins can fuse them together.

Thanks for the feedback!

- Bill

 

[CrazyTed]

Well, on June 11th I joined the group of collar bones-r-us while training on my mountain bike. Broke it in two spots but the bones where close together. If was very painful and doc thought I had caught a nerve in there. After some manipulation and putting on the figure 8 I got some relief. Also had a sling and swath. (ties arm to chest so no movements) Tried to take the 8 off at one week to clean out the underarms but the shoulder flopped back forward and really, really hurt. At two weeks I could take off the 8 and bath. At 4 weeks doc said stop wearing the 8 but keep wearing the sling. He originally told me to not use the arm for anything and I didn't. Now, had meeting with doc and he says looks excellent and I can race on Aug 25th. Really starting to feel almost normal now other than some funky stuff in my shoulder joint from the impact. Still can't reach my back like I used to.
Here's an important fact. You need to alkalize you body. I don't use too much caffiene usually and I stopped after the break. Caffiene really acidizes your body and just messes it all up. I have contact with a racer who is a dealer in alternative medicine stuff. I use his products and it healed great.
Oh, I'm 31 yrs old and pretty active.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Originally posted by CrazyTed
Here's an important fact. You need to alkalize you body. I don't use too much caffiene usually and I stopped after the break. Caffiene really acidizes your body and just messes it all up. I have contact with a racer who is a dealer in alternative medicine stuff. I use his products and it healed great.
Oh, I'm 31 yrs old and pretty active.

Hey Ted, can you elaborate on what you need to do to "alkalize" your body, why you need to do it, and what benefits it offers. And how does caffine "acidize" your body?

I don't think I drink too much caffine (2 cups coffee and 1 pop per day), but I know I don't drink enough water, and get pretty dehydrated by the end of the day.

As far as the bone healing, I asked my doc about supplements (I was popping 1500mg of calcium per day). She said that as long as you already have a balanced diet, supplements aren't necessary. She said that your body is pretty smart, and will deprive certain parts of your body in order to focus nutrients to the injured area.

She also said good blood flow is very important to healing bone. In my case, collarbone was broken in 2 places, on either side of a break from 20 years ago. There are major blood vessels and nerves that run along the underside of the collarbone. I suspect that mine were either damaged or fairly traumatized. My left arm and hand were swollen like a balloon for the first 5 weeks (neither were injured in the crash), and I had severe nerve pain around my collarbone and shoulder blade that would come and go. The inside of my left arm and hand are still numb 9 weeks out. Stopped wearing the figure-8 strap at 8 weeks.

Doc ordered me a bone stimulator device at 8 weeks after the crash to wear 24x7 for about 3 months. There are 2 electrodes that I stick onto the skin, each on either side of the break. Sends out a low-level electrical impulse that is supposed to stimulate blood flow, thereby accelerating bone growth.

The device costs $4,000, which seems outrageous. You can check it out here: http://www.ebimedical.com/products/fracture/orthopak.html.

Renting the device is not an option. The company that makes them requires them to be purchased. I think my pager has more technology built into it! It appears to be a very simple device, mostly plastic, and powered by a 9-volt battery (that lasts 1-2 days). The kicker is that it is programmed to shut off permanently after 200 days of use, so it can't be used over and over again.

I go in for another x-ray 9/6 to see if the stimulator is helping any. Does anyone have any experience with bone stimulators? Good / bad / indifferent?

- Bill

 

[Gary B.]

$4000! I bet we could build something for 1/10 as much with a DieHard and electrical probes that could heal it in 1/2 the time.

 

[lawman]

i broke mine 7/22/00 (funny how collar bone vics seem to remember the date better than their anniversaries!). it hurt like pretty bad for a few days, then the pain subsided & the worst part was feeling the raw ends of the bone scraping together. doc offered the surgery, but discouraged it, so i declined, & i'm glad i did. a buddy had it & swears it was a mistake, & he's had several clavicle breaks from riding. i wore the fig 8 brace most of the time b/c it helped hold the broken ends still. i think it was about 6 weeks before i went riding, about 8 before i really wicked it up (doc had said about 12). i have a big knot there now, but it has healed up (i'm 43) & doesn't bother me. this too shall pass!

 

[CrazyTed]

Here's what my Dirt Doc had to say:::

"Take 2 -3 months worth of Coral Calcium, Herbal CA and our Bone/Skin Poultice. This will also help to alkalize your system which will promote healing and proper bone restoration. You also need to cut the acids from your diet (i.e. caffine, too many proteins). Drink plenty of water (pure and fresh) and REST. "

Hope this helps....

 

[Smit-Dog]

Finally got my scanner hooked back up, so thought I'd post some x-rays of the collarbone I broke 6/2/2002. The floating piece in the middle is the calcium lump from a previous break 20 years ago. It broke on either side of the lump this time.

It's been 6 months now, and my range of motion is about 90%, strength about 80%, and the nerve endings in the tip of the shoulder are about 95% back.

:aj:

 

[Smit-Dog]

Don't try this at home.... or anywhere else!

 

[Gary B.]

Glad to hear you're healing well! Have you done any riding since this happened?

 

[Smit-Dog]

Sure! My first ride back after breaking the bone was a very easy two-track in early September (14 weeks out). Then I rode 2 intense days of over-my-head tight and rocky single track in the U.P. in late September. I was nervous about falling on it during this ride, but got lucky. Should be 100% and ready for riding completely by next spring.