broken clavicle...surgery or not? - Page 11

that's funny, as I have been sitting around waiting for my collarbone to heal for the last 6 or 7 weeks I've been shopping motorcycles considering moving up from bmx... LOL

Hey, I missed the headliner "Lay down and die" I guess it is pretty comical but a girl has to do what's necessary to continue being active. My husband hasn't, and will not see this site!Best to you all!!

LOL, I'm sure you'll be back to walleyball in a matter of weeks

Hi.I’ve been following this thread for a couple of weeks, wish I’d found it earlier. I fell off a horse last September but fortunately it was only soft tissue damage and no broken bones. Having just fully recovered I came off my motorbike and broke my collarbone.



I broke my collarbone 10 weeks ago. I was given a sling and told to come back in 6 weeks. In the UK they don’t use figure-8 apparently and they like to treat conservatively. The pain was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I also live on my own so every little task was a nightmare. It’s amazing how creative you get.

For the first 3-4 weeks it was really painful .The bone started to mend but what I didn’t know until 7 weeks after the break, was that the lump which appeared is not the join calcifying, but the end of the broken bone. The shoulder end has attached to the side of the chest part. My shoulder has dropped as a result. My collarbone is also thicker and higher too.

I’m extremely conscious of it (that’s an understatement) and sods law it’s where my bra strap goes so that’s aggravated it. This is one time when being ‘well blessed’ is a distinct disadvantage. A nice guy told me last night he couldn’t stop looking at it (the lump), and thought it was going to pop out or something (great, thanks mate).



I’ve been having physio for 3 weeks which is basically acupuncture and ultrasound to get the inflammation down. It was very tender and aching around the place where the bone sticks up and has joined (probably as all the muscles & ligaments have been pulled all over the place. At this stage I’m struggling to do anything which requires me to cross my arm in front of me. Like scratch the back of my left arm (right collarbone broke).

Last week I had a needle move which sent shooting pains up my chest and neck that evening, and I went out on the town the same evening. The next day I was in agony, like someone was sticking a hot poker in me. Physio say’s I did too much (dancing). I did have quite good range of motion but the muscle seems to cramp up now every time I raise my arm. Even the action of eating recruits the neck muscles which then spasm. A week later and at times I can’t even wear a seatbelt as the pain is so sharp. Getting tops off is like a comedy sketch as I fight to get things up and over my head, and I can only carry one bag of shopping as long as I don’t try and lift it in to the boot. Initially I thought I’d be fully fit within 12 weeks but I can see it’s going to be a long road.



This is a really good forum as I was seriously thinking of the surgery option to get it all back in the right place and working properly. I don’t know how misaligned it is but the xrays looked horrific. The docs want to treat conservatively and I don’t want a scar. But I want to get back to all the activities I was doing before and more. I wanted to take up scuba diving this year but I’m worried about the weight of the pack, and I was a big gym person (bodybuiding/weigh training). I was going to replace my stolen mtb. too.With everyones experiences at least I’m armed with a lot more info. thanks all.

I feel for you. I wanted to take up scuba this year too. and paragliding... not going to happen for a few more months probably.

Your range of motion will return eventually, and once it starts it will happen quickly. the cramps and spasms sound pretty normal. after weeks of zero use, you would expect even the slightest exercise to be painful.

If it really looks bad you might consider the surgery. within 3.5 weeks of surgery I no longer had any slings or braces of any kind and the pain is extremly mild. I stopped taking pain killers two days after surgery. I think a lot of it is because I no longer have bone pointing at wierd points in my body.

You do end up with a scar. I'll try to post a picture of mine later. it's about 5 inches long. Being a woman that may bother you more and perhaps doing it the harder way is the way to go for you... but for me, scars are like battle trophies, so I'm more likely to show it off then hide it

Thanks, I'm glad it sounds like pretty normal pains. A pic would be good if you can. I was a bit optimistic with speed of recovery.
My boss was even more optimistic when he called the day after the accident to say he was sending a lap top round, so I could do emails . 6 weeks later i still hadn't picked up any emails, couldn't get it to work from home .

Sorry I forgot to get that pic for you

but you could basically take a red pen and run it across your collarbone about 4-5 inches depending on how big a person you are (frame).

I'm still trying to get one though, I want one anyways

So after some more time, I'm doing much better. One day short of exactly four weeks since the break, my ortho told me I could remove the figure 8 brace the day of my birthday, and it no longer hurts. I'm also down to taking 2 800mg ibuprofins a day. The bone still moves around a tiny bit, but it seems to be less and less everyday.

I start PT next week, and hopefully I should be back to my regular antics in 2 or 3 weeks. I'm planning on getting back to the gym hardcore, golfing, and probably skydiving. As long as it's not in Tahoe, where I hurt my knee (bursitis) 5 months before the collarbone, I think I'll be safe.

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I had the surgery 5 weeks ago and am glad to say recovering better than previously after the initial break in March. I was able to travel to Las Vegas and keep up with everyone, tiring more quickly as I'm still taking ibuprofen 800mg for the frozen shoulder that has accompanied my injury. If I hadn't that complication to deal with, I'd say I'd be back at about 80% right now.

The scar concerned me too, however I am very pleased with it. It is about 6" long, but very thin. I don't think people even notice it when I wear a rounded collar or a standard V neck tee shirt. The thickest part of the scar lies over my shoulder, which is covered by my bra strap. Honestly, the worst part for me was getting used to the metal in my body. I am small framed and very thin on my upper body so I think I feel it more than the average person. It used to burn like a hot rod inside of me, however that has dissapeared. I have extreme numbness around the incision and into my shoulder, I don't know if that eventually will get better or not.

My recommendation is if you're having pain that is keeping you from normal activities, have the surgery. I wasn't able to lift things prior to this as my bone had never healed and was only being held together by tissue. I feel certain that eventually, I'll be nearly back to normal. I no longer feel the bone moving around when putting dishes away or especially during physical therapy. And as a plus, I didn't set off security at the airport!! LOL

Good luck with your decision!

Hi Stace

Glad the scar isn't so bad. Any chance you might send me a pic as I'm concerned about how it would look, and I can't find any pics.
Thanks

i broke my R clavicle mid shaft 4 days ago and was meant to go to surgery today. due to the wonderful uk nhs there were no beds so i have to ring again tomoro to see if i can go in.
this brilliant forum has given me so much info especially as i was having doubts but i now have loads of questions go ask before i make the big decision.

most of you seem to be lucky enough to have had a number of good consultations, i have had the grand total of 2 minutes with my ortho and he doesn't seem bothered which way i go.

for those worried about scars check out bio-oil and vitamin e oil together once the site has healed but the scar is still fresh. my mum knows about good skin and recommends this mix. vit e is too heavy on its own and bio-oil is good to use on new scars.

i would really appreciate those who have had the op keeping us up-dated as to how things go, it gives up hope!!

I've got a photo on myspace but my msn messenger live, hotmail and myspace are all unaccessibly at the moment.

As to an update, I had the ORIF on right clavicle just over five weeks ago, have got about 90% of total movement back, but just can't quite get my right bicep to my right ear without assitance of the left arm. But I'm sure this will sort it self out once I start swimming again.

Althought I've not been allowed to swim as this would put to much stress on my shoulder, I'm on the turbo trainer 5 days a week, running twice a week and roding 16 miles into London and back to watch the final of the tour of Britian today. So I'm almost back to normal, just can't wait for my review this week which will hopefully give me the green light for the swimming.

I'm 63 years old and very active. I ride and surf, and swim around a bit. The other day I did a header over my bars, and broke my clavicle, in the middle. First broken bone. Ever. Doc said to leave it and I have for five weeks and nothing is any better. It still hurts like hell, whenever I move my arm, and I am going to see the doctor tomorrow and request surgery. Not a lot of hope here in Australia to tell a doctor what you want. but I'll try. It is very painful and I haven't had a nights sleep for weeks. And I get stuffed up with the codiene pain killers. I mean, constipated. really constipated. Not a lot of help, any suggestions on how to tell the doctor to operate???? Much health and happiness to all of you. This is a great site to discuss actually what happened and is happening. Bye for now. idjohnson