Those of the Collarbone Club

[whatAride]

Broken collerbone

Once its overlapping the bone will be shorter. But i heard from some people that when you do FT and then work out the bones will realign better, not perfect and this take time. What is your overlap if its more then an inch you may have some trouble. See what your doc says and let us know, get well.

 

[Domenic]

It's been five weeks for me and I believe the break is still moving around. I've been a poor patient, using my arm too much. only wear the figure 8 during the day. My ER doctor was surprised that I didn't break my shoulder, didn't seem to be too concerned about the clavicle. At least I can cough without a rib sticking into my lung now :bang:

 

[Kliff]

I broke mine when hitting the handlebars with my shoulder after a big, bad, uncontrolled highspeed-jump. In hospital the nurse didnt know what to do, so she took some phonecalls and send me home with some strong painkillers. I slept in a chair for almost 2 weeks, the pain was very bad. When I tried to lay down, I felt like someone trying to choke me.

After 1 month I went to get a second opinion, and the doctor got suprised that they didnt do any surgery on it. It took alltogether 6 months before I could begin to exercise with weights and use the arm normal. I learned my lesson, and its a good partytrick to show the bone, it looks like it will come right out of my chest.

 

[boardadikt]

Well if you saw my post about two months back, the doc told me it was going to heal fine and I would be on my way in four weeks. I was really good about letting it heal, and it didn't. Two months later I have a floating collar bone. I can do almost everything, but it does get soar and tired out if I lift heavy objects and work it alot. I went in and saw a shoulder specialist and he said it will not heal so I need to have surgery. I will be going in two weeks to have the bones set back together with a titanium strip of metal and a few screws. I'm going to get in some heavy riding time for the next two weeks, if my shoulder can handle it.

 

[psycho]

Mine broke in 2 places from landing on my head and shoulder (feet in the air). Got chunked off the bike when it chose to go elsewhere (sure it wasn't my fault). Hear it break when I hit the ground and knew what was up. Doc originally wanted to do sugery but then opted to see how it would do on its own. Wore the figure 8 for approx. 3 months before everything looked like it was going to hold. Been a little over a year now and it feels fine. A little weird to look at but functions ok. Anyways, that is my brief story.

 

[Imathorp]

well after all my whinning and complaining for three weeks the Doc decided to do an ORIF-Open Reduction Internal Fixation on me. they did it yesyerday and let me tell ya, you think the initial break hurt? thishurts twice as bad.

I now have my arm in a swathe tied up tight to my belly for the next 10 days. it was busted in two in the middle-third and had two pieces of bone floating around causing nerve problems.

I am now anatomically correct again! Geez does it hurt to be perfect!

 

[Domenic]

Went to the orthopedic today for the six week follow-up check. Was very surprised as was the doctor that it has fused and is healing fine. I have a 25mm overlap and gap, plus bone fragments floating around, broke in 3 pieces and I'm 46 years old. So don't give up hope, the odds are in your favor. It does suck not being able to ride this summer, but there's always next year. :cool:

 

[Imathorp]

waxy-on, waxy-off

That's all i've been doing. Oh and the occasional ride on my boys JR50. For tune-up purposes...of course LOL

 

[boardadikt]

Change of plans for me....since my collar bone didn't heal and is still floating, the doc wanted to do surgery. Since it doesn't hurt and I can still ride my bike (although it gets tired kind of quick) I told him I didn't want to have surgery, although I will if I really need it. He called me on my cell phone to see if I was interested in electric bone stimulation therapy. So my insurance paid for this little device that I put on my shoulder that is supposed to have an 86% success rate for nonunion fractures (a bone that won't heal together). I'll go back for x-rays in a few weeks to see if there is progress. I'll keep you guys updated in case anyone else was thinking of using it.

 

[radical ron]

I have done mine twice and what you do depends on the nature of the injury. Getting an X-ray is always a good place to start.(I did not do this on my last break I was confident that it was only fractured so I healed OK.) The worst thing that could happen is that it broke and was displaced enough not to be able to knit back together. The most critical time is the first few days after the injury if the bone is not back in place where you want it the body will heal the best way it can which may not be good as new.

 

[MikeT]

I feel like an idiot.

Even thought I know it was a completely a racing incident (wouldn't have been if the guy didn't cut the whole turn and me off) but I did it. Yesterday on lap two of my race I got totally cut off and landed on my left shoulder and CRACK broke my collarbone. :(

I am very bummed. It is overlapped pretty bad so I am going to a specialist ASAP and I'll keep you all up to date. This stinks!.

 

[Speeed]

MikeT , sorry to hear that. rest up, relax & keep your brace on.
your right ......it sucks!

 

[MikeT]

Just came back from the Doc.............Surgery on Friday :(

 

[MikeT]

Nope, now it's Thursday. Sooner is better.

 

[MikeT]

Well I had the final X-Rays today and the bones are a little better but they are still about 1.5 to 2 bone diameters apart. The Doc says the only way he sees to get things straight is surgery. I just can't see how the bones would join any other way. They are just so far apart......not even close to touching.

The surgery is set for 1PM EST Thursday. Please say a prayer for me. My wife is very scared about the anestesia.

 

[Speeed]

good luck Mike, tell wifey not to worry its a pretty routine surgery.
I feel bad for ya Bro...........I didnt have surgery but I was layed up for 8 weeks and it sucked.
I had a brand new baby at the time and I couldnt even hold him.

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Ouch! I was wondering how the race went. :(

Have you been under before? They really have it down to a routine procedure, now.

Where on the track did it happen?

Good luck today!

 

[MikeT]

It happened right after the new jump they added around the corner from the start gate. You go out of the gate, make the left "U" turn, go down the straight make a 90-degree right turn and there is the jump. I didn't crash on the jump, the other guy just landed before I did and turned completely into me. I had no way to avoid him because I didn't even land yet. He went from the left side of the track and cut the whole turn off with me included. I don't think he knew he was cutting someone off, I just think he showed some bad judgment. Usually you would somewhat keep your line but he didn't. I would say it was a combination of me passing him faster than he thought I would, and him not having that much experience. I don't have any bad feelings, nor do I think I could have done anything to avoid the situation other than not showing up for the race that day. I was riding really well and it was on lap two. The pass I was making was for the lead. When we crashed I had my leg caught under my bike and was mainly concerned with getting off of the track and not getting hit. He had both bikes on top of him and was trapped. I instantly knew I broke it and bad at that.


Well, I am here typing a day after the surgery and I must say that I don't think it could have gone any better. My shoulder is now in the correct spot and the Doctor said the bones went together "flawlessly". He said they are aligned perfectly and the incision (although about 3 inches long) doesn't look that bad. I got very nauseous in the recovery room and they did a great job giving me medication to stop it. The pain has so far been rather minimal. I am on Oxycodone and that seems to be working pretty well.

I want to thank all of you whether you mentioned it or not for praying for me. I really believe it helped everything go so smoothly. I even ended up with a Doctor that has been doing research on creating a new type of plate for specifically this injury, I don't believe that was coincidence. I am feeling good and am very happy with how this all turned out.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Great news Mike!

I take it you got the plate, and not the bolt/screw, aka Hagie Pin. Did your doc discuss these options? I wish I would have had surgery on mine. Maybe next time... :ohmy:

 

[MikeT]

Ya, I got the plate. He didn't mention any other methods of attachment. I talked about an external thing so it could be removed afterward but he said the I didn't really want one of those. From what he said the plate will be able to be felt throught the skin but it won't bother anything. I'll take the plate over having the huge protruding lump I would have had IF it would have healed which I don't think it would have. It was just too far apart.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Hagie Pin: http://www.wheelessonline.com/orthoo/5100.htm

Other Cool Info: http://www.wheelessonline.com/orthoo/51.htm

And the Mother Of All Broken Collarbone Sites: http://www.jpy.com/john/clavicle/

 

[High Lord Gomer]

Oxycodone?!? I'm surprised you still speak English. That is some serious stuff! I'm sure they ddin't giveyou more than a few days worth, but be careful with that stuff.

Glad it all went back together well.

 

[MikeT]

I am actually able to take 2 tablets every 4 hours. Today, I just took a total of two during the day and I'll take two before I go to bed. They really get you relaxed and that's what I need to sleep.

 

[MikeT]

Had a hectic day today with my........ah......... "internal plumbing" getting back online shall we say. I didn't know that your body shuts totally down after the anestesia and takes a while to get going again. Man sorry for the TMI but I was not feeling to well.

My collarbone is doing better. I'll tell you all how the Dr. visit goes on Wednesday.

Mike

 

[MikeT]

I have to say, I am simply amazed at how well I feel. It is almost like I didn't break it. The cut bothers me a little because it simply hasn't healed all the way, but the bone feels nearly perfect. I am laying off it and not picking up anything with a weight of more than maybe 3 pounds per the Dr's orders. The swelling is going down rather well and my arm feels stronger every day.

What I think is crazy is it has only been one week since the operation. I almost completely forget I hurt it. I'm not saying to go out and not worry about breaking your collarbone or that anytime you break it that you should get surgery, but atleast there is a very good way to fix it IF you break it.


BTW If any of you want to know When I broke it, I was wearing an O'Neal Rock block chest protector. As Ivan can attes to is a pretty big and bulky protective CP. A SportProtection back protector, a big (and properly fitted) neck protector. The reason I broke my collarbone was that I got SLAMMED directly on my side and my shoulder got hit directly into my body. I don't know what more protection I could have been wearing but if you have any ideas I'm all up for it............

.Anybody got any old football shoulderpads??