Broken clavicle experience?

shred_da_gorge · Wed May 26, 10 7:03 pm **Broken clavicle experience?**

Anyone know from experience how much time I can expect to be off the water? Anyone with problems flying 2:1 bar pressure as opposed to 1:1 after the injury heals? Any rehab advice?

I've got time to read kite forums again... Sad

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

I broke mine about 17 years ago. Sling for 2 months. Didn't really feel solid for a long time, maybe 9 months. Mine was a multiple break, pretty bad really. It still doesn't look normal, though it's not as obvious as it once was.

I pretty much did all my normal stuff after 2-3 months. This required living with some discomfort, but nothing too bad. My guess is you'll be working it by August, but with some aches.

DBrice · Since 01 May 2010 34 Posts Vancouer

I broke mine in a car wreck and it took like 2 months before I was really able to lift any weight with that arm or lift it above my head, I also messed mine up by not waiting long enough to start using my arm and mine healed funny and now causes shoulder problems, so don't push it..

shred_da_gorge · Wed May 26, 10 10:25 pm

Thanks guys! That doesn't sound reassuring but I will take your advice on not pushing it. I think I was lucky in that it was a clean break and I got a surgery slot two days later and had a titanium plate with six screws put in. It's been a week and I'm already able to use it outside of the sling and raised my elbow to shoulder height (gently) today. Did you guys have any surgery?

I was urged by two different cycling coaches to get it because everyone they knew without it had recurring pains. The ER doctor said I could just let it heal, and one surgeon said up until around 2006 they would lean toward letting it heal itself, but a shift in techniques and experience leans toward surgery now, especially for active people. They use either stainless or ti based on whether the plate is to be removed or not.

I'm coming back to Hood River next week for the Mt Hood Classic and to pick up a new quiver. My cycling buddies remind me I can still mix their cocktails for them with my left hand, and I guess I can hold off a little on the new kites. Got medical bills to pay in the meantime. Sigh.

DBrice · Since 01 May 2010 34 Posts Vancouer

I think your much better off with the surgery, I didn't get it because they said they usually heal back normal, now the fix for my shoulder is to surgerly rebreak my collar bone and reset it which doesn't sound real pleasent.

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

Mine was a funny situation in that I broke it in the wilderness and it took several hours to get to a doc. When I finally rolled in to civilization, the ER doc grappled the pieces into place (sort of) while I insulted his mothers purity at the top of my lungs. As you might expect, this did not result in a perfect realignment.

I would've been a good candidate for surgery, since there was a floater piece and it was fairly jigsaw like. But no knifework for me, doc just told me it would look good as new in a decade or so and he was right. No shoulder problems in the meantime, just lots of funny looks at the beach. To the contrary, I've watched several buddies pull their shoulders out kayaking while my weirdo wing stayed solid. Go figure. It used to be a problem with keeping a pack strap from rubbing it raw since it stuck out so funny, but no longer.

Sounds like you're much better off than I was. My first three days were utter misery. On the other hand, I was early 20-ish when this happened, so I still had some young person healing mojo going on.

I guess I'd be extra careful following the doc's advice since you did have surgery. I more-or-less ignored my doc and things still turned out ok.

DownStream · Since 18 Apr 2007 381 Posts Obsessed

this is sweet thread

got to see mine one time while it was sticking out of my shoulder. had mobility and could put some pressure on it after 6 weeks, but wasnt very solid until about 4 months.

Pete · Since 29 Oct 2007 843 Posts Opinionated

I've broken mine five times. Each time, I was back in action in about four weeks. I have never had surgery.

It's too late for you, but with all of my broken bones, I have always been of the opinion that if you can avoid it, don't get any metal put in your body. All of the people that I know that have had metal used to assist in fixing their bones, have had problems with it later. Your body usually isn't too keen on a bunch of metal hanging out inside of you, and it can cause other problems, including recurring pain, other soft tissue rubbing against it, etc.

Let you body heal naturally. The less foreign substances you put into it, the better.

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

I broke mine skiing in high school (25 years ago). It re-broke about 3 weeks into healing on New Years when another reveler got too excited and grabbed my shoulder. I remember it seemed strange to wear a flimsy figure 8 brace after having casts for broken bones. It was a couple of months before it was solid again. It healed pretty straight, though maybe one shoulder rides a little lower than the other. Symmetry is for pansies, anyway. The only symptom now is a cranky shoulder when I sleep on my side too long.

Heal up!

shred_da_gorge · Thu May 27, 10 12:01 pm

Pete · Since 29 Oct 2007 843 Posts Opinionated

Yeah, I had quite a bit of displacement as well. It's amazing what the body will do to heal itself though. The bone growth will fill in that gap.

I believe the increase in surgeries to fix broken clavicles is a direct result of Dr.'s trying to pad their profits with more unnecessary surgeries.

shred_da_gorge · Thu May 27, 10 12:19 pm

Believe me Pete, not arguing with ya on either of those points! Smile

pdxmonkeyboy · Thu May 27, 10 9:26 pm

God I hate breaking shit. At least it's raining Smile

. Heal up bro

shred_da_gorge · Sun May 30, 10 9:38 pm

Thanks PMB.

So this happened just over a week before coming up to Hood for the Tour de Hood and Mt Hood Classic. Been training for months.. at least I'm stoked to reunite with Gorge friends. Finally had a chance today to catch up on the overload that Google brings on the subject (mostly bike-specific, big surprise), and this one stood out: http://john.jpy.com/clavicle (wondering if he was skiing Hood?).