I broke my clavicle at the end of June, and here's my experience:
I spent one month in a sling. At first I didn't think I broke the bone but, four hours later it was
pretty obvious I was assymmetrical. When I saw the x-ray it looked like I should be screaming in
pain and writhing on the floor, but it really was just kind of, well, broken. The Vicadin turned me
into an idiot so I just used Alleve after that. I put slicks on my mountain bike and started
commuting again after six weeks.
I have a giant knot of bone where the two ends occluded. It's very strong but makes wearing a heavy
backpack uncomfortable. Fortunately I use a messenger bag slung from the opposite shoulder. I still
feel a little pain in the knot of bone. Most importantly, I did some serious nerve damage that
wasn't apparent until a month after the accident. I still can't do some things, and I have to
exercise daily. The therapist said that nerve damage can easily take a year to dissappear. All of
the doctors and therapists said that the shape of the bone is unimportant to a degree - what's
important is that you regain full range of motion.
In my opinion, I would have preferred the doctor gave me some Vicadin and reset the bone. Both
doctors said resetting was feasible, but considering that almost everyone regains full motion
anyway, resetting is compartively difficult and painful. In addition, one doctor was concerned that
I might have "soft tissue interpostition" which means that muscle tissue grows between the fractured
bones before they have a chance to join. This prevents the bones from ever closing, and a prosthetic
metal plate is required. I feel that setting the bone would have made it heal faster, and I'd have
less problems carrying things.
However, they're all right in the sense that you're not going to be too deformed and the chances of
regaining mobility are extremely good, unless you are an underwear model or competition bodybuilder!
Did that help?
Incidentally, you will get very good at typing one-handed
-Collin
"John Shelton" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a wealth
> of knowledge here. So here we go:
>
> Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me
to
> go away for a while.
>
> In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching
but
> not very well matched up.
>
> I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
> the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.
>
> I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.
>
> So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info.
Know
> any horror stories? Urban myths? Witches brews?