Broken Collar Bone Recovery Time

PB Forum :: Fitness, Training and Health
Broken Collar Bone Recovery Time
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flag lblizzard
Posted: Jul 17, 2020 at 5:22 Quote
That would be very complicated to fix if you sewed it up, no pun intended Smile I had a distal break and on top of that the bone split in half, it wasn't a fun recovery.
flag chadzu
Posted: Aug 2, 2020 at 18:06 Quote
hi my friend how did you find out about the bone movement?

I maybe kind of paranoid my broken collarbone is not completely healed or well connected and maybe I got a non-union

thanks

Tony9510 wrote:
Hey guys, Awesome thread been reading through it all morning.
My sad story goes, I broke my Collarbone severely in Sept' 2018 being 38 then, I had a nail inserted through the bone, the hospital removed it after several months then I got back to riding again last summer. I had a couple of small slips nothing major then noticed movement in the bone so I went back to hospital and it turned out I had pseudarthrosis non-union of the bone, but it had grown cartilage around the broken ends (the hospital messed up as they for some reason didn't X-ray me after the nail removal then I would have known it was still not fused) So I then opted for a new operation in Sept 2019 having the bone screwed and plated. All has gone well with that. I was snowboarding with it all winter no problem.
Fast forward to this year. When the lockdown ended last month or so, I dusted off the DH bike took it to Leogang for start of the season, 2nd run I sat on the back wheel heading off a blind drop (not used to the bike or nerves) I stopped the wheel and ploughed head first into the ground, don't remember anything for about 15 mins, but the guys there told me that someone else crashed on top of me as I was laid unconscious on the landing (probably how I got a broken rib). So back to hospital (they know me so well by now) Turns out I re-fractured my clavicle at the distal end where the end of the metal plate is. It's been 6 weeks now, I just stopped using my sling and have started to work out again yesterday. But the doctors at the time said no bike riding for 3 months!!! From reading through this forum is seems most people were back on their bikes a lot sooner. Have had zero pain even right after the accident and the bone has felt stable for over a month, it now only hurts if I try to lift my arms above 90 degrees. I'm thinking as long as I stick to cycle paths, gravel roads and uphills I should be ok, definitely no DH until September that would be 3 months since the crash. What's your opinion guys?

Here's the images of the original break in 2018, the pseudarthrosis and the new fracture from 6 weeks ago.

flag Tony9510
Posted: Aug 3, 2020 at 0:56 Quote
chadzu wrote:
hi my friend how did you find out about the bone movement?

I maybe kind of paranoid my broken collarbone is not completely healed or well connected and maybe I got a non-union

thanks


Hi Chadzu,
When I realised it was broken still, the movement of the bone was very obvious, I could realign the bone then pop it out of place, it wasn't painful and the doctor said I could live with it if I wanted. I definitely didn't. You should go get an X-ray, or even better an MRI scan. Wish you a quick recovery.
Cheers, Tony
flag chadzu
Posted: Aug 3, 2020 at 23:45 Quote
thanks a lot Tony, I appreciate the comment

Tony9510 wrote:
chadzu wrote:
hi my friend how did you find out about the bone movement?

I maybe kind of paranoid my broken collarbone is not completely healed or well connected and maybe I got a non-union

thanks


Hi Chadzu,
When I realised it was broken still, the movement of the bone was very obvious, I could realign the bone then pop it out of place, it wasn't painful and the doctor said I could live with it if I wanted. I definitely didn't. You should go get an X-ray, or even better an MRI scan. Wish you a quick recovery.
Cheers, Tony
flag chriso79
Posted: Aug 15, 2020 at 21:34 Quote
Well, had my first major MTB injury. As you'll see from the video took a big slam on my left shoulder, clean breaking my clavicle in two.

Managed to ride myself out over an hour to home, before heading straight to the hospital.

Had it put in a sling before heading home on heavy painkillers and going to see an orthopedic specialist who suggested surgery.

Just on 2 weeks later I'm now recovering at home after a two day stay in hospital, with a plate and screws now holding it all together.

I'll keep this thread updated as I continue through my recovery.
Hope everyone stays safe out there.


photo
flag fielonator
Posted: Aug 16, 2020 at 10:03 Quote
Ah that sucks, good effort though. My X-ray looked very similar to that. Clean break with a reasonable overlap and both bones pointing at the wrong angle. I had it plated and now it's fine. My only complaint is how the screw heads stuck up. They're not too visible but bloody painful if they get a knock, usually if one of my kids jumps on them.

Try to keep on top of the physio, and don't rush back to your bike. It seems like a long recovery time but you'll be stronger in the end if you do it right.
flag chriso79
Posted: Aug 16, 2020 at 23:31 Quote
fielonator wrote:
Ah that sucks, good effort though. My X-ray looked very similar to that. Clean break with a reasonable overlap and both bones pointing at the wrong angle. I had it plated and now it's fine. My only complaint is how the screw heads stuck up. They're not too visible but bloody painful if they get a knock, usually if one of my kids jumps on them.

Try to keep on top of the physio, and don't rush back to your bike. It seems like a long recovery time but you'll be stronger in the end if you do it right.

Cheers mate, good advice.
Going to take it slow, and booked to see physio in two weeks to get started on rehab.
For the moment just doing some minor hand and arm movements to keep mobility while in the sling.
flag Tripmo
Posted: Aug 17, 2020 at 2:08 Quote
fielonator wrote:
Ah that sucks, good effort though. My X-ray looked very similar to that. Clean break with a reasonable overlap and both bones pointing at the wrong angle. I had it plated and now it's fine. My only complaint is how the screw heads stuck up. They're not too visible but bloody painful if they get a knock, usually if one of my kids jumps on them.

Try to keep on top of the physio, and don't rush back to your bike. It seems like a long recovery time but you'll be stronger in the end if you do it right.

I have 1 screw visible, and it's also painful when you push on it. But went to the doctor last week for my last follow up checkup (I was assuming would the final checkup and would get discharged... nope), now he suggested me to go for operation to remove the screws and plate. Now the operation scheduled for 2 September.

Hate it, gonna be out for a few weeks again. I do think the recovery will be faster now then last year when I broke my collarbone at 3 places.
flag chriso79
Posted: Aug 17, 2020 at 19:10 Quote
Tripmo wrote:
fielonator wrote:
Ah that sucks, good effort though. My X-ray looked very similar to that. Clean break with a reasonable overlap and both bones pointing at the wrong angle. I had it plated and now it's fine. My only complaint is how the screw heads stuck up. They're not too visible but bloody painful if they get a knock, usually if one of my kids jumps on them.

Try to keep on top of the physio, and don't rush back to your bike. It seems like a long recovery time but you'll be stronger in the end if you do it right.

I have 1 screw visible, and it's also painful when you push on it. But went to the doctor last week for my last follow up checkup (I was assuming would the final checkup and would get discharged... nope), now he suggested me to go for operation to remove the screws and plate. Now the operation scheduled for 2 September.

Hate it, gonna be out for a few weeks again. I do think the recovery will be faster now then last year when I broke my collarbone at 3 places.

Good luck mate, hope it all goes well!
flag mitch32
Posted: Sep 18, 2020 at 0:42 Quote
I guess this is the right spot for me xD
Crashed on 8th August in chatel...
9 broken bones including collarbone and acromion.
5 weeks after surgery the collarbone just starts to heal but currently only the metal keeps the bones together.

Can't imagine how people can ride bikes after couple weeks. But it depends on your individual injury...

My orthopedist told me the collarbone isn't supplied with blood very well thats why the 6weeks rule isn't for collarbones.

3 months overall is the standard time frame until you should be fine with everything Smile

Next 7 weeks started yesterday.... ^^

photo
photo
flag fielonator
Posted: Sep 19, 2020 at 3:43 Quote
[Quote="mitch32"]I guess this is the right spot for me xD
Crashed on 8th August in chatel...
9 broken bones including collarbone and acromion.
5 weeks after surgery the collarbone just starts to heal but currently only the metal keeps the bones together.

Can't imagine how people can ride bikes after couple weeks. But it depends on your individual injury...

My orthopedist told me the collarbone isn't supplied with blood very well thats why the 6weeks rule isn't for collarbones.

3 months overall is the standard time frame until you should be fine with everything Smile

Next 7 weeks started yesterday.... ^^

Sounds like quite a big crash. Must be pretty much the end of the season now. Rest up and recover then you'll have all winter to get yourself ready to ride again in spring.

Hopefully the scar won't spoil your tattoo.
flag Superlate79
O+
Posted: Sep 19, 2020 at 7:09 Quote
6 months after my break and surgery riding was tough I was still very tender.
flag Roguee
Posted: Sep 19, 2020 at 10:20 Quote
Superlate79 wrote:
6 months after my break and surgery riding was tough I was still very tender.

6-7 months before I could properly ride again. The worst part is when you've been told 6 weeks you should be good to go, 3 months in and your wondering why its not fixed. Some people seem to get lucky and good to go after 8 weeks or so but it can drag. Mine feels 100% now though, Its only been 10 months but its taken some big slams since.
flag GBangShredder
Posted: Sep 19, 2020 at 12:45 Quote
Man, I guess I was heaps lucky then to be pretty full on after 6 weeks and 7 screws. I assumed it was more common.
flag mitch32
Posted: Sep 20, 2020 at 11:56 Quote
fielonator wrote:

Sounds like quite a big crash. Must be pretty much the end of the season now. Rest up and recover then you'll have all winter to get yourself ready to ride again in spring.

Hopefully the scar won't spoil your tattoo.

Yepp quite big... Unfortunately...

I hope the doc is right and now the healing begins... Luckily the winter in Germany is good for riding hopefully I will hit some fresh dirt end of this year

 


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