clavicle fracture Options

[adydow]

Broke my clavicle 3 weeks ago and on my visit to the fracture clinic I was told I don't have to keep it in the sling all the time & to use common sense, now a few weeks on I don't have it in the sling at all, unless it really starts to ache. My question is how much can I move it as the shoulder is getting stiffer and range of movement is more restricted, its more uncomfortable at night so I have sleep on my back or left hand side. I don't mind a bit of pain so will I be doing much harm if I try and move my arm higher, if I try and raise my elbow above my shoulder or level then it becomes uncomfortable.

My next visit to the fracture clinic is not until 1st June, so I,m unsure if physiotherapy exercises should start before or after the 2nd visit as it seems a long time or am I being impatient.

[huw]

Broke my clavicle 3 weeks ago and on my visit to the fracture clinic I was told I don't have to keep it in the sling all the time & to use common sense, now a few weeks on I don't have it in the sling at all, unless it really starts to ache. My question is how much can I move it as the shoulder is getting stiffer and range of movement is more restricted, its more uncomfortable at night so I have sleep on my back or left hand side. I don't mind a bit of pain so will I be doing much harm if I try and move my arm higher, if I try and raise my elbow above my shoulder or level then it becomes uncomfortable.

My next visit to the fracture clinic is not until 1st June, so I,m unsure if physiotherapy exercises should start before or after the 2nd visit as it seems a long time or am I being impatient.

I did mine 2 weeks ago and the consultant I saw yesterday told me to try and (gently) move it as much as possible, he also said to see a physio as soon as possible.

Happy healing.

[Mick]

Broke my clavicle 3 weeks ago

How'd you do it?

[adydow]

How'd you do it?

Went to Glentress for the weekend, * had to hire a bike because I had a mishap with my Heckler & killed it, so Alpine bikes had a 50% discount off their demo bikes so I booked a Trek Remedy. Anyway going up the first climbs to get to the first bit of the Red Downhill bit, all was fine apart from the rear brake catching, so of I go down the trail 100 meters on I'm on my arse tangled up in the bike & felt by shoulder pop, so a couple of the guys help me back to the top and their happened to be an Orthopaedic Nurse sitting at the top who strapped me up then a lady drove up and took me down to the bottom carpark and another m8 took me to A&E.

I blame the tyres as the bike had the crappy factory Bontrangers, which I had reservations about as did everyone in our group I took the bike back the next morning and got a partial refund & they didn't charge me for the buckled front wheel.

Spent the rest of the weekend in the pub and SWMBO had calmed down by my return on Sunday.

Anyway here are my X-Rays.

 X_Ray.jpg ( 2.39mb ) Number of downloads: 24
 X_Ray_2.jpg ( 1.29mb ) Number of downloads: 14

[Mick]

I blame the tyres as the bike had the crappy factory Bontrangers,

Sounds like a bad workman blaming his tools to me!

Oh yes, get well soon

[Bernard]

Bugger. Get well soon, we may need some more off piste guidance on the Marin

[Mick]

Bugger. Get well soon, we may need some more off piste guidance on the Marin

yeh but you need to get rid of those factory bontragers first

[adydow]

yeh but you need to get rid of those factory bontragers first

I was just going with the consensus of opinion my other Trek owners , Also waiting for the new mtb, which the frame importers & ash cloud are delaying, hoping to get on the roadie to lose some pounds and get my fitness back.

Happy to do some guiding of the Marin Off Piste. Mums the word!

[Mick]

I was just going with the consensus of opinion my other Trek owners , Also waiting for the new mtb, which the frame importers & ash cloud are delaying, hoping to get on the roadie to lose some pounds and get my fitness back.

Happy to do some guiding of the Marin Off Piste. Mums the word!

I was only kidding Thought you might have SHOUTED at me

[adydow]

I was only kidding Thought you might have SHOUTED at me

Nah the happy pills must be working! I know your taking the pizzzzzzzzzzz

[torihada]

yeh but you need to get rid of those factory bontragers first

I've just fitted my fourth set of bontrager tyres onto my Remedy. No complaints here.

[Mick]

I know your taking the pizzzzzzzzzzz

Moi? never

How long will you be out of action?

[adydow]

I've just fitted my fourth set of bontrager tyres onto my Remedy. No complaints here.

Bugger There's always one isn't there move along your not helping. You probably get them for peanuts anyway cause nobody else wants them!

Must of hit something to buckle the wheel as well, it all happened to quickly I don't really know what caused the crash.

Moi? never

How long will you be out of action?

If you ask the Mrs I have been for years Should be okay for a few gentle road rides this weekend, SWMBO wants me to get insurance though as I am self employed in case I have another crash and I can't work, so I will be taking out the British Cycling Gold membership as insurance is included and looking at a better life policy, otherwise I am not allowed back on a bike.

[bodger_the_biker]

I'm guessing you came off on pennals venal, ive heard thats claimed quite a few shoulders recently

Hope you heal quick mate

[adydow]

I'm guessing you came off on pennals venal, ive heard thats claimed quite a few shoulders recently

Hope you heal quick mate

Has it, that's interesting, there was a lot of small branches with pine needles lying all over the place, perhaps I was unlucky and the front washed out on them or something, I was having trouble braking coming into the switch backs, I was sliding unintentionally, but that could be I wasn't used to the bite points on the brakes as it was a new demo bike.

[bodger_the_biker]

Well the three ive heard about was somebody nailing themselves into the tree at the end that just screams look at me and aim for me, another was somebody losing the front and whacking into one of the rocks in little rock garden 3/4 of the way down and last was someone over cooking black sections drop down on to fire road . It probably doesnt help much that the black sections sign has disapeared

[Gareth]

Broke my clavicle 3 weeks ago and on my visit to the fracture clinic I was told I don't have to keep it in the sling all the time & to use common sense, now a few weeks on I don't have it in the sling at all, unless it really starts to ache. My question is how much can I move it as the shoulder is getting stiffer and range of movement is more restricted, its more uncomfortable at night so I have sleep on my back or left hand side. I don't mind a bit of pain so will I be doing much harm if I try and move my arm higher, if I try and raise my elbow above my shoulder or level then it becomes uncomfortable.

You may well be in the proper bone healing stage. This means that the bone ends are starting to stick together in whatever position they are in now. If you move the shoulder too much you could end up with a non-union. I would say take it easy for a while longer, sorry if that's not what you want to hear but a non-union is worse than going right back to the beginning!

[adydow]

You may well be in the proper bone healing stage. This means that the bone ends are starting to stick together in whatever position they are in now. If you move the shoulder too much you could end up with a non-union. I would say take it easy for a while longer, sorry if that's not what you want to hear but a non-union is worse than going right back to the beginning!

Thanks Gareth, dually noted, will do! Hope I have not done more harm than good by mowing the lawn, used my left arm to start it Been rubbing in Devils Claw to help the aching.

Well the three ive heard about was somebody nailing themselves into the tree at the end that just screams look at me and aim for me, another was somebody losing the front and whacking into one of the rocks in little rock garden 3/4 of the way down and last was someone over cooking black sections drop down on to fire road . It probably doesnt help much that the black sections sign has disapeared

There was nothing to worry me in fact I was getting some good speed up chasing down the guy in front, it was after the first few switchbacks!

[N03L]

Broke my clavicle 3 weeks ago and on my visit to the fracture clinic I was told I don't have to keep it in the sling all the time & to use common sense, now a few weeks on I don't have it in the sling at all, unless it really starts to ache. My question is how much can I move it as the shoulder is getting stiffer and range of movement is more restricted, its more uncomfortable at night so I have sleep on my back or left hand side. I don't mind a bit of pain so will I be doing much harm if I try and move my arm higher, if I try and raise my elbow above my shoulder or level then it becomes uncomfortable.

My next visit to the fracture clinic is not until 1st June, so I,m unsure if physiotherapy exercises should start before or after the 2nd visit as it seems a long time or am I being impatient.

I broke my collar bone 3 weeks ago and I'm in the same boat. The consultant said wait 12 weeks before deciding if it's knitted properly or not and if it needs fixing he'll fix it.
In the mean time take the paracetamol and try not to move. Ha!
I've taken the sling off this morning to try to start the gentle use of my arm. After 3 weeks in a sling my elbow is now more painful than the broken bone.
How did you get on?
Are there any ongoing problems or pains that I should expect. Everyone's different, I know, but I reckon your X-Ray's looked so similar to mine that the issues you've had will be similar to what I'll face.

TIA.

N03L.

[Coveboy]

I broke my collar bone 3 weeks ago and I'm in the same boat. The consultant said wait 12 weeks before deciding if it's knitted properly or not and if it needs fixing he'll fix it.
In the mean time take the paracetamol and try not to move. Ha!
I've taken the sling off this morning to try to start the gentle use of my arm. After 3 weeks in a sling my elbow is now more painful than the broken bone.
How did you get on?
Are there any ongoing problems or pains that I should expect. Everyone's different, I know, but I reckon your X-Ray's looked so similar to mine that the issues you've had will be similar to what I'll face.

TIA.

N03L.

Be careful guys I broke my collar bone last October. Same deal really told to use it but not to do anything that was painful. Never really gave me too much trouble, Kept of the bike but started rowing in the gym and a few spinning classes. Like I say very little pain but the end result of using it was a non union joint!! and an op in Feb to graft a piece of hip bone, pin and plate it back together My own fault without a doubt but just take care even if you are pain free