Apr 30, 2007
657
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Uhm I can't hit the shift key all that well, so sorry for the terrible grammar and typing!! I got wrecked on sunday.

Inventory: bent handlebars, a hefty concussion, and broken left collar bone, and a sore spot on my back from getting hit or ran over where my CP hinges.

Collar bone is overlapped now, and a dr. visit will tell me more a lil later today...ish!!

I personally don't remember anything after the first corner, but I know that there is another corner and a set of 5 rhythem jumps between that first corner, and where I woke up with a crowd of people around me...

more to come later!!
 

oldguy

Always Broken
Dec 26, 1999
9,419
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Welcome to the collarbone club altho membership really is not so
exclusive.

Maybe I can refer you to my surgeons ;)
 

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RM85rider123

Member
Oct 28, 2007
681
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oldguy said:
Welcome to the collarbone club altho membership really is not so
exclusive.

Maybe I can refer you to my surgeons ;)




how bad does it hurt when you break your collarbone? by the way, get better justalonewolf :cool:
 

MXGirl230

Stupid tires and trees
~SPONSOR~
Mi. Trail Riders
Dec 19, 2002
2,358
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That sucks! Good luck with the healing process!!
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
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RM85rider123 said:
how bad does it hurt when you break your collarbone? by the way, get better justalonewolf :cool:

I don't remember the breaking part (good thing probably)...I did know it was broken right away when I was laying in the dirt trying to figure out where I was and how I got there.

It hurt a lot, but didn't seem too bad at first. I was in a lot of shock though, and extremely disoriented. I was more concerned about my lack of vision.

Then I tried to get up again, lost my senses again, and they couldn't pick me up...

Then, when my adrenaline wore off in the hospital, it hurt so bad that I begged for a puke bag and pain meds...
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
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oldguy said:
Welcome to the collarbone club altho membership really is not so
exclusive.

Maybe I can refer you to my surgeons ;)

I was already part of that club sadly enough...and I have no idea when or how I did it. (trampoline + older brother might have had something to do with that).

This is the opposite side this time (left). I have lots of Vicoden too...

A dr visit showed that one end is pointed up, and the other is pointed down...The plan is to give it two weeks to see if things start healing by themselves. then another x-ray, and then surgery and plate...if things don't look good.
 
Apr 30, 2007
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It will most certainly be getting replaced! even though it was only used for about four rides :(

I'm really curious to take out the liner too and see how things look inside...

What about my CP? Are there any warnings that I should check for?

I have some bruising along my backbone about halfway up my back, and am thinking it is due to the hinged action (fox airframe)..
 

colbyc28

Member
Dec 1, 2006
67
0
RM85rider123 said:
how bad does it hurt when you break your collarbone? by the way, get better justalonewolf :cool:


One never knows how heavy your arm is till it's dangling by muscle. I broke mine on a quad...(yes...I know...a quad). I hurts! Worse than the knee! Wait till you sneeze a week or two into the heeling process..... good luck lonewolf!
 

sick 96 250

Damn Yankees
Member
Jul 16, 2004
1,207
0
wow sorry to hear that and hopefully a speedy recovery. I myself got to meet some cactus this weekend, took a couple to hours to pull all the pins out. Wasnt fun. Keep us updated on your progress!!!
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
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colbyc28 said:
I broke mine on a quad...(yes...I know...a quad). ....Wait till you sneeze a week or two into the heeling process..... good luck lonewolf!

Funny, I ride one for work (not a racing model) and I don't have too much against them or their riders for the most part...

But my quad hates me...first day out, I managed to run over myself. (Used the throttle to help me climb on by mistake...and it just squished me into the dirt a little).

I've already sneezed... :whoa: it made me a little loopy with the pain...

Thank goodness for pain killers!! They keep me smiling even though I shouldn't be!!!! :)
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
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Sleep...yep I am good at that part of the recovery...thank you all for the well wishes!
 

Apr 30, 2007
657
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Here's most of the adventure!

I still have the big black spot in my memory. All I remember is that I came into the first corner in second place, looking up in to the next straight section thinking that the 3rd place rider had stalled in the start.

I remember pinning it, and thinking that I had better not blow my lead.

Then, I was staring up into a ring of people's faces thinking "huh?" I could only "see" and "recognize" one of them

I didn't take a very good inventory of myself at first, being a racer, and tried to leap to my feet (very unsuccessfully).

I immediately knew my left collarbone was broken, just by the weird feeling...It was either that or completely dislocated. At that point, I decided that getting up might not be such a great idea, because my back was also giving me a lot of pain just between my shoulderblades (and a little below).

At that point, I asked to get my helmet and goggles off, since I had a lot of dirt in my face and eyes, then they took my gloves too. I remember the bikes passing me twice, and then my vision darkened almost completely except for a quarter sized spot.

They stood me up, and got me into the ambulance, and interrogated me. My head was very fuzzy...and it was like thinking through black cherry jello.

One of the emts leaned over, and commented, "Ahh yea, we're going to have to cut that chest protector off in order to get to her shoulder."

This served to clear some of the fog...

"DO NOT CUT MY CHEST PROTECTOR!!! SERIOUSLY DUDE DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"

"It's gotta come off..."

"No!!! Please don't!!! See lookit this cool little snap thingy!!! The arms snap off! If you can un snap this little thing here, you won't have to cut anything! The rest of me is fine!!!" This frantic speech was paired with equally frantic gestures and pointing by my right hand.

It took a little working to get the snap to release, but after that, it came off with no problem, and then got me in a temporary sling, and finally drove me off the track. I had demanded to walk, but they just laughed and said "ah, just stay put. We'll try make it careful."

(It was an extremely rough ride, and I got kinda mad at the emts).

I declined the ride to the hospital, in an attempt to lower costs (insurance isn't so great), as someone just outside offered to give me a ride to the hospital.

I spotted (literally, as that is all I could see) the speaker as being rider 589 (pretty dang good friends now), and yelled "Hey dude get in here!!! How'd I crash!?!"

The EMT was still talking off in the darkness that was the right field of my vision, and I had to concentrate quite a bit in order to figure out what he wanted.

"Okay. Yep. Got it. I am declining your care, and the ride to the hospital."

"That is correct. Sign here please."

I felt a pen put in my right hand, but was totally clueless.

"Sign where?"

"Right here."

"Where?"

"Ahhhh...yea. Hangon just a second before you sign...how many fingers am I holding up."

"Uhm....one...two...three...oh wait, you've got all of them."

"How many is all of them."

"I can't count that high! I'm a freakin' psychologist not an engineer! I suck at math and numbers." (a joke I over-use).

"Alright how many now."

"Uhmmmm...None."

"Wrong!"

"That was cheating. You put up a thumb half way through!"

The entrance of 589 added an intermission to the game, as her dad had seen the whole crash (the emt's hadn't). I had to calm her down in order to get the full story though.

"OMG I was so effin' scared! Everytime I drove by you were jus' laying there and not moving at all except for the last lap! I was gonna stop, but I couldn't...but seriously! I rode over to you afterwards so fast, and they took a lap off the race!"

"Chill...I'm mostly kinda okay! What happened?"

"Well you came into the rythem section, and the rider behind kinda got into you, and then you endoed! And then your bike smashed you, and then the rider hit you hard, and then kinda ran over you...and then she crashed too!"

*****EDIT*****

Just got an email from the riders dad, and it sounds like things happened WAY differently than what I was told! She had gotten past me (I am assuming in the corner, because she is way better there than I am :cool:) and I came out of the corner too hard trying to pass her back, and hit the rhythm section too hot, and started to endo. She slowed to avoid me, but hit my bike after I left it.

I seriously wish someone would've caught it all on video...as I really would have liked to have seen it all happen.

*****/EDIT*****


I actually have a glimpse in my memory, just a short movie-like clip of a bike being tipped over on it's rear tire...being picked up by someone.

I wanted to hear more but the emt interrupted again. I struggled in trying to sign on the line, as the line kept disappearing from my sight...which was extremely frustrating for me. Stacey (589) had also disappeared to go get her pickup.

They brought me outside of the ambulance, and I stood there swaying for a few moments before they led me to either the bleachers or the bumper of the ambulance. I'm not exactly sure which, and only knew that it was cool and metallic.

The trophy lady showed up and was in tears. "I was so scared I was in tears! Are you okay!"

"Yep...Just a little hurt shoulder!"

I didn't exactly tell her the truth, in fact, I couldn't even really see her, but she said she'd be thinking of me and wished me good luck with the ride to the hospital.

Stacey showed up with her pickup, and my cell phone.

"Dude, I called your mom, she's on the way."

"Ah...what about my bike and stuff?"

"It's all loaded up! My mom is bringing it to her house, and your parents can pick it up there."

"Okay...suh-weet...tell them thanks for me..."

I don't remember much of that ride at all. It was maybe 8 miles away, but the ride seemed to last a long time. Stacey said I didn't stop talking until a mile or two away from the hospital. Then she said I paused mid word, and said "Oh...wow...Ow..." And stopped talking completely.

I remember refusing the wheel chair since I was so dizzy and feeling downright sick from the pain, so I walked into the hospital myself. The emts had called ahead, and let them know I was coming. I sat while registering, and did my best to answer all the questions the nurse had for me.

I got stuck on insurance number (which I have memorized), but she said I could give it to her later when my parents showed up.

All of a sudden, to my horror, cabana boy's (my boyfriend) mom showed up in the hall and started walking toward us. She had been at the race, but I have no idea why or how she figured out we were at the hospital. I'm sure her intentions were good, but she immediately crowded me, and I had to forcibly tell her to take a step back because I was about to puke on her.

I didn't puke, but it did get the idea across for two seconds.

Then she tried to put an ice pack on my shoulder.

"HEY!!! Don't touch her effin' shoulder!!!"

Stacey came to my "rescue" just in time, and the nurse sent us into the exam room.

Cabana boy's mom followed us in. A second later, Cabana boy himself showed up. I guess getting a concussion makes one telepathic. Because he tactfully escorted his mom from the room, and she did not return with him. (I felt hideously about it, but I was not in a very good state of being at that point...).

Two nurses came in, and began interrogating me. I was so confused and fuzzy at this point that Stacey did most of the answering for me.

"Well let's cut that jersey off and take a look."

"NO!!! I can get it off!!! NO scissors!!!"

I usually wear a tank top underneath, and didn't hesitate to begin pulling my favorite jersey off. It even has my name printed on it, and there was no way I was going to let her slice that thing up!

I nearly passed out, but I got it off somehow.

After that, I started pleading for painkillers.

"Well we can give you a pill but that might take a little bit to kick in. Otherwise we can giv-"

"Needles are fine!"

It took them roughly 15-20 minutes, and many different place to get the needle in my vein. I was pretty dehydrated, and have small, stubborn veins to begin with. When they did finally get the needle in, I managed to bleed all over the place.

It was all worth it in the end though, when they pushed in the good stuff...

"Whoooaaaaa *giggle-huge grin*..."

They took some x-rays, and an MRI (I think) of my head. I felt great (and sleepy) the whole time. I could hear the gentle pulsing of blood in my ears, every muscle was relaxed, and I was even happy to ride in the wheelchair, "braaaaaaaap"-ing all the way down the hall.

The nurse went into a fit over my drugged up antics...as I really am a goof when I'm not in pain.

Then came my parents, and the rediculous sling from the bowels of hell.

It came in pieces and velcro-ed all together somehow at the end. It took two nurses a good 15 minutes to figure out how to get it on me. It was especially difficult, as it was a size large, and I am a size "extra freakin' small." Somehow, it was necessary to push and pull and lift my shoulder and arm.

That's when I lost my cool tough girl bravado, and shock took over.

I was a whimpering, shakey mess of pitifulness by the end.

The DR. came in, and told me that the two halves of my collar bone were overlapping, and that I would need to see a doctor the next day, and shouldn't eat in case they needed to do surgery.

I'm not totally sure about the whole situation after that, but Cabana boy took me to my home with a prescription of Vicoden, and stayed with me the whole night, making sure to wake me up every so often to get pain pills and juice, and check for me being okay.

The next day brought a doctor visit, and a few more x-rays. The two halves of the bone weren't even close to being aligned at all, but the dr. said to wait two weeks to see what happened. If they didn't meet up, or met too crookedly, they will put in a plate.

A week later (today) the pain is so low that I don't even need to take tylenol for it unless I am up moving around for more than 3 hours at a time. I have more mobility than I expected too. I can actually move my left arm some, without much pain at all. I just have to be careful about making no sudden movements.

I should be back at work tomorrow!

Not such a great experience, but at least it is mostly over with!

Thanks to everyone who helped me out at the track!!!
 
Last edited:

rmc_olderthandirt

~SPONSOR~
Apr 18, 2006
1,533
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justalonewolf007 said:
One of the emts leaned over, and commented, "Ahh yea, we're going to have to cut that chest protector off in order to get to her shoulder."

This served to clear some of the fog...

"DO NOT CUT MY CHEST PROTECTOR!!! SERIOUSLY DUDE DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!"


A few years ago my son dislocated his shoulder while wakeboarding. Getting the wakeboard off and him back into the boat was a challenge! We left his ski vest on until we got to the hospital. Like your experience, their first approach was to try and cut it off.

Like you, he was very fond of that jacket and no way were they going to ruin it. This vest was an "over the head" type and getting it off require a lot of pain.....

Good luck and I hope you have a full recovery.

Rod
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
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Quick update, and editing notes! (Check out my post above!) I got some clarifying information from the other racer, and the crash was definitely wasn't caused by her. In fact, when she asked if I was okay, I told her that I was fine, and to keep going. (I don't remember, but it really would be like me to say something that optimistic!)

Here's the very first 'ray they took of me at the emergency room. (Yell if it's too big and screws things up). At that point, the bones were nice and close together, and the doctor just sent me home. You can kinda tell that I'm sleeping in the xray...The next day, they were pointing at odd angles, with one trying to get through my skin, and the other pointing at my lung in a very hostile manner.

n1110271946_30083928_783.jpg


2 weeks after the crash (today) I went to the hospital to check how things were healing. I pretty much gave up on the sling idea, and have been working to keep my shoulder mobile since it doesn't give me much pain.

I was looking forward to seeing the new x-rays, thinking that it would show a nice bony looking mass, and that the ends of the break wouldn't be so...pointy.

I was sorely disappointed to see that the 3rd set of xrays looked no different than the 2nd. My mom, who came along to discuss the possibility of surgery finally interrupted the doctor to ask "Well...isn't she even trying to heal!?!? It doesn't look like she's made any progress at all!"

It was rather funny, as the more I looked at the pics of my shoulder, the more I could feel the break shifting around as I showed the range of movement I had. I finally had to stop looking.

I can reach well above my head now, with only a little pain, and have good forwards and backwards movement as well. We decided to hang tough, and forego putting in the metal plate just yet.

The dr. seemed downright amazed at my pain tolerance and movement, but thoroughly scolded me for even thinking of throwing a leg over the little CR.

"ABSOLUTELY NO jumps for three months."

I did walk out of there with my head hanging a little lower. I am seriously bummed about not being able to race, and the new x-rays did a good job of sinking in the full gravity of my injury.

"You're young, but this is going to take a full year to heal."

I go back in four weeks, and if I haven't made enough progress, they'll go ahead and stick in a plate.
 

rmc_olderthandirt

~SPONSOR~
Apr 18, 2006
1,533
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You might want to condsider getting a second opinion. This just doesn't sound right to me.

One thing that I have learned is that medicine, especially orthopedics, is not an exact science and different doctors have different philosophies. Both can be "right" but one better for a paticiular situation.

In the case of orthopedics you have the "take it easy and let it heal however it can" approach. This works very well with old people who would take longer to heal from a surgery than original propblem.

Then there is the "Let's get this fixed and have you back in operation ASAP" approach.


If you go to a "sports" doctor you get the fix it ASAP approach.

What bothers me the most about this story is I don't see how the bone is going to fuse back together if they are not in proximaty to each other. Unless there is swelling or some other factor that prohibits surgery I don't understand what the delay would be for.

I recommend that you find a sports doctor and get a second opinion.

Rod
 

DR500

Member
Jan 21, 2001
1
0
Hey Tolle, you might want to send your pix to Dr Mark over on the KTM Talk web site. He deals mainly in shoulders and joints. My son broke his and he was told just to let it heal by itself, well a year later he did it again and we found out that it never healed right the first time. Get a second opinion.
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
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rmc_olderthandirt said:
You might want to condsider getting a second opinion. This just doesn't sound right to me.

...If you go to a "sports" doctor you get the fix it ASAP approach.

I recommend that you find a sports doctor and get a second opinion.

Rod

Rod,

I checked out the "badge" on this guy today, and found him to be an actual sports doctor. I didn't notice this in my highly drugged state when I had visited him two weeks ago.

I was impressed with his patience, as he answered ALL of the questions I peppered him with (and by peppered, I mean I *really* came close to interrogating the poor man).

One reason to hold back is that my insurance isn't so great, and having surgery would only get me back to full strength a month quicker than normal healing (unless my bones decide to be stubborn).

Being I'm young, and too competitive, a plate would get me back on the bike more quickly, but (as I usually manage to do) a crash would leave me with a bent plate, and back at step one in trying to re-heal a collarbone.

DR500,

I don't have access to the updated x-rays quite yet, and the image I posted just doesn't quite show the change that happened over two days (Things shifted some, between the emergency room visit, and the sports doctor visit).
 

medwaste

Member
Dec 1, 2006
289
0
I'm so sorry to hear of your injury. It has got to be so frustrating for you on so many different levels. I just don't understand how the bones , even if they were overlapping, are supposed to knit together. What does the collarbone do anyway other than break when you fall?! Sorry, I'm upset that this happened to you. Love your writing.
 

xrannie

Member
Feb 5, 2008
22
0
hey there- sorry bout the injuries- hope you've healed up some- know it takes a while from experience.. broke my collar bone the very first time i rode a dirtbike-

how are you now?

heal!! i command you... heal!! haha... good luck w/recovery- don't rush anything-
 
Apr 30, 2007
657
0
Right now I almost feel great!

I have 1.5 months left of being ground ridden (like bed ridden?)

I only missed one week of work, and was back on the 4wheeler again 2 days after that (Hurray for power steering assisted yamaha!!!).

The biggest factor I'm struggling with now, is that I have damaged my "good" shoulder. (From compensating for the broken collar bone + arthuritus) It's grinding and popping like it's been filled with gravel and popcorn...

It just started killing me yesterday as I was loading up the 4-wheeler ramps. And the rest of the day was downright miserable :ahhh:

I may have seen it coming, as previous to this, I had swam almost all year round for 6 years when I was in HS. During the last 2 years, I blew my right shoulder (left one is the broken collar bone) about three times.

I go in again on monday for updating x-rays and it will be the final word on whether or not they'll install hardware.
 


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