collar bone

gazeds

bike crash tuesday resulting in broken collar bone, anybody had same experiance and how long before you were back on two wheels

37monkey

Sorry to hear of your crash, I hope this gives you some inspiration, though it's not a recommendation. You should make your own mind up with advice from your doctor as to when it's right for you but in the mean time
http://frankschleckofficial.com/article ... cyclassics

gazeds

many thanks

Bronzie

Bad luck fella. Done both my left and right collarbones in the last 3 years. It's a pain in the assos injury.

I'd say you should probaly be able to ride the indoor trainer after a couple of weeks and maybe easy rides out on the road within 4-5 weeks, but of course seek your consultant's opinion first (although they're likely to tell you 12 weeks as standard).

PS The pros normally have their collarbones pinned.........don't get that on the NHS as a rule unless it's a really bad break.

keef66

If you're a pro you'll be flying to california to have it reassembled, pinned and plated within 24 hours and back on the bike in a week.

Failing that you're at the mercy of the NHS, so I'd say probably 6 weeks before you feel comfortable on the bike.

softlad

For me - five weeks before I was back on the road again, although I was on a static gym bike after about 2 weeks (fairly standard upright machine, so not much pressure on the shoulders). A lot depends on the type of break and any associated ligament damage....

AlexMac1973

I bust mine into 5 parts last year, had it put back together on the NHS, wasn't ideal but it's ok now. From the operation to being back on a bike it was just under 6 weeks. Think mine was a bit more extreme than a straight break though.

The doctors told me I shouldn't get back on a bike for 4 months, even though I started riding 6 weeks after it really affected my fitness.

If you get chance keep the legs moving.

gazeds

hi alex, how long was it before you where back to your previous fitness

White Line

I broke mine four weeks ago today. First ride was yesterday (just a wee three mile commute and five back).

I went to the hospital today for a check up. They said that I was healing up quite a bit faster than they're used to seeing. But should stay off the bike for another eight weeks just in case I come off again and end up back at square one.

Think I'll try and get out for a proper ride next week.

fluff.

Mine was a horrible looking break with lots of pointy bits sticking out, 8 weeks to be able to drive, another 4 weeks of physio before being back on the bike. No fun.

Lady Venom

I'm at exactly 4 weeks for a triple fracture. Was out of sling after 10 days and muscular and ligamental/nerve damage is the worst. Make sure you take calcium supplements and eat calcium heavy products. I was back on spin bike in week 3, did my first treadmill run today. Anticipate a gentle ride or 2 next week. Have been mind of swimming since I took the sling off but no freestyle. Still no overhead or weight bearing although this is getting better. I have done all this off my own back with just one visit to a physical therapist. Recommend lots of ice followed by heat as well - massage and tiger balm and don't neglect your good shoulder! Tiger balm ultra is brilliant. Mine felt very congealed before massage, which was restricting movement. Am looking into acupuncture as well as have used before with great success.

vorsprung

I wiped out in feb 2008 Going down a steep bit in Devon

After 1 week I was turboing
I didn't get back riding until mid May
The turboing worked to some extent, first week back on the bike I did a 200km ride. Also I didn't put any weight on while not riding on the road

I wasn't on good form all the rest of that year, didn't start to feel strong again until
October

bompington

fluff. wrote:

Mine was a horrible looking break with lots of pointy bits sticking out, 8 weeks to be able to drive, another 4 weeks of physio before being back on the bike. No fun.

Mine was similar, unlike the usual mechanism of injury it was caused by landing hard on the back of the shoulder (ribs & shoulder blade also cracked).
I don't know anything about surgery, pinning etc, I went to the fracture clinic the next day & they said "it should get better in about 6 weeks", they didn't even change the sling the paramedic put it in.
I felt that I could have been on the bike after 6 weeks, but the consequences of any further knocks mightn't have been nice, even small sudden movements were very painful.
3 years later it's still not great & I'm still seeing orthopods, physios etc, but it doesn't stop me doing a lot, only rock climbing is a real problem.

JonEdwards

Talk to this guy.

http://www.physioclinic.net/

Very snake-oily on the surface, but when I bust my wrist, I went for a session on the "nothing ventureed, nothing gained" philosophy, and I had a forthcoming holiday I really didn't want to ruin.

Was back commuting after 2.5 weeks, riding offroad after 4, had the cast cut off after 5 and went straight into a 2 week alpine mtb holiday - landed a 10' drop on the second days riding with no issues.

Now I might just be a quick healer, but I reckon it helped. Lots of top end motorbike racers seem to agree too. YM,YV...

Bronzie

JonEdwards wrote:

Talk to this guy.

http://www.physioclinic.net/

I paid him a visit in May following my latest break - not convinced it really made any difference although being £195 poorer I'd certainly like to think it did :?

JonEdwards

I know exactly where you're coming from, and certainly handing over the cash at the time was a little difficult.

After some time and reflection though, I reckon it was money well spent (wouldn't recommend him otherwise). The healing period was a bit quicker than it should have been, but the simple fact that I could get the cast cut off, ride home, get in the car and drive to the alps, then ride some of the hardest trails I've ever done for 13 days solid with barely a twinge, to me, implied it did something worthwhile.

As I said, your money, your vote at the end of the day. Worth checking out though.

bring_back_jan

i broke mine on the Saturday and could use the turbo with the sling on on the Thursday.
4 weeks i was back on the road and after 7 weeks of breaking it i done the Etape Du Tour.
If you can try and do some swimming once it feels better, it'll help build it up nice and strong.
good luck.

Stuntman

I think everyone's different, I've not broken my collar bone but seperated it from the AC Joint to the shoulder. I was in a sling for 10 days and then had surgery on it(modified weaver dunn op, google it... painful!) and then withing 10 days after the op I forced myself on to the turbo. I was only on it two or three times a week for up to an hour(just gentle pedaling). Back on a bike 10 weeks after the op and now I don't really notice it was done. I missed the whole summer of riding but healed up good.

Hope you get better soon. No alcohol while you're repairing helps a LOT.

MikeWW

Separated AC joint here
On the turbo the day after the injury. Operation a bit similar to above after 10 days. Back on the turbo 5 days later. Back on the road 7 weeks after the operation. Still a bit of discomfort a week later but all heading in the right direction

Stuntman

MikeWW wrote:

Separated AC joint here
On the turbo the day after the injury. Operation a bit similar to above after 10 days. Back on the turbo 5 days later. Back on the road 7 weeks after the operation. Still a bit of discomfort a week later but all heading in the right direction

It got better but Winter last year was tough on the shoulder. It's been a year since I got back on the bike and everything is working great. even fell off a few times and no pain from it, feel more confident in the op now.

conceptual_primate

feel your pain, gazeds. out on a cycle with some people from work on wednesday and broke my collarbone. seems silly as it was an easy cycle at quite a casual pace. one minute i'm leading the group along a poker straight, flat and smooth tarmac'd cycle path at c.15mph-18mph ; the next moment i feel as if my front wheel has hit something massive and, before i can react, i'm flying ar$e over t1t over the bars. land on the top of my helmet and roll forwards onto my back. luckily wearing a helmet, so the only injury was to my collarbone (impact at the top of the shoulder).

from the x-ray, it is a clean break through. had the same shoulder pinned from recurring dislocation (this time a football injury) a few years ago and it held firm, so happy with that. anyway, not in too much pain and enjoying resting up on the couch, drinking milk, watching the vuelta and looking forward to getting back in the saddle.

(not actually sure what caused the crash either, as there was nothing on the road that i hit and looks like maybe the front hub completely seized up suddenly).

ded

conceptual_primate wrote:

(not actually sure what caused the crash either...

Me too! 4 weeks now since I managed to fly off a mountain bike on a simple forest road (was downhill..., guess I should stick to the road). No real idea what I hit, but it trashed the front wheel good and proper - I had to stand on it to get it round enough to get back down the hill (which is a whole story in itself, let's just say I'm glad I knew how to make a sling myself...)

Seems to be healing OK, gets better every day, the original doc said it had almost no displacement and would sort itself out. Have a HUGE lump though and definitely feels crooked but we shall see...

Not been outside on a bike yet - I want it fairly solid before I risk my commute to work... But getting the bus is driving me mad :x it's so slow!

gazeds

ded wrote:

conceptual_primate wrote:

(not actually sure what caused the crash either...

Me too! 4 weeks now since I managed to fly off a mountain bike on a simple forest road (was downhill..., guess I should stick to the road). No real idea what I hit, but it trashed the front wheel good and proper - I had to stand on it to get it round enough to get back down the hill (which is a whole story in itself, let's just say I'm glad I knew how to make a sling myself...)

Seems to be healing OK, gets better every day, the original doc said it had almost no displacement and would sort itself out. Have a HUGE lump though and definitely feels crooked but we shall see...

Not been outside on a bike yet - I want it fairly solid before I risk my commute to work... But getting the bus is driving me mad :x it's so slow!

you must be ready for getting back in the saddle any day now

ded

gazeds wrote:

you must be ready for getting back in the saddle any day now

Maybe. The directeur sportif may have something to say if she sees me back on a bike before the docs said I could... :roll:

Blacktemplar

White Line wrote:

I broke mine four weeks ago today.

Spooky. Must be something to do with the bike :roll: - I had a low speed spill off mine on Friday and have a grade 5 AC joint separation. No broken bones though, just an oddly-placed lump on top of my shoulder.

Going in for the old Weaver-Dunn next week - I know I said I wanted a carbon frame, but this wasn't what I had in mind

gazeds

first ride on the bike this morning, exactly 4 weeks since i broke my collar bone. Bit nervous at first, but after a couple of miles just great, have to say though i did,nt attempt to stand up for the hills as the shoulders still very tender, but what a tonic just what the doc ordered

simon t

gazeds wrote:

first ride on the bike this morning, exactly 4 weeks since i broke my collar bone. Bit nervous at first, but after a couple of miles just great, have to say though i did,nt attempt to stand up for the hills as the shoulders still very tender, but what a tonic just what the doc ordered

4 weeks is good going!

its 3.5 weks since my ac seperation and i reckon i'm at least a couple a weeks away

bs147

Did mine on Sunday mountain biking in the Peak District, absolute nightmare. I;ve only had the standard no driving for 6 weeks so far, seeing the doc this Friday. Hoping its a quick heal!

flanners1

Broke mine quite badly, had it pinned and plated. About 3 weeks before I ventured out again.

AlexMac1973

gazeds wrote:

hi alex, how long was it before you where back to your previous fitness

Took about 3 months before I felt right again, the 6 weeks layoff didn't help but the following 6 weeks was tough going but worth it when I got the fitness back.

I was back on a bike within 6 weeks but wasn't mentally confident for about 3 months for fear of crashing. That was harder than getting the fitness back.

Sirius631

I've broken my right collar bone twice. The first time it broke in two place, the second time in three. All my friends said to get it plated the second time, but the consultant at Walsall Manor Hospital refuses to plate. Both times it stitched in three weeks. The first time I was back to work in five weeks. The second time was three weeks before I was due in Majorca. I made Majorca, but cut down on the number of climbing days that I did.

The worst thing about a broken collar bone is the immobility of having your arm in the sling. Try to keep it mobile.