Broken Collar Bone

Parkerd75

Well, bust my collar bone some 4 weeks ago - OTB .... whilst the pain and discomfort has eased I am still a little worried that the bones are still moving against each other, especially at night as I get into my sleeping position. This makes me think:

1. Will they ever heal if I am jolting them every evening ?
or
2. Would I benefit from seeing Brian Simpson http://www.physioclinic.net/index.html

Any positive advice gratefully recieved - especially keen to hear from anyone that has first hand exp. with this Brian chap (and how many visits may have to make).

Cheers in advance

ian220476

HI - not a broken collar bone gut a type 3 AC joint separation so know exactly what you are going through. Just passed my three week anniversary.

The joint is healing well and I slept with the sling on for a few weeks in a reclining chair - this although wierd for the first few nights really helped me keep the joint in position during the night.

You've got to keep the arm as still as possible. If you don't have to move - dont. When I know I'm out for a while I take a long velcro strap with me and strap the upper arm across my chest as well. Just helps to refrain the movement,

I have recently started back on the turbo trainer (hence my reason for visiting this forum - new topic to follow) and strap my arm as above when doing that. I sit bolt upright and leave the bars alone. I have also started taking glucosamine as it is good for joints - anything to try and help.

I haven't seen Brian but ride with a guycalled Rob who runs the Plumb Blossom clinic in Chelmsford (www.plumb-blossom.com). If you are looking at Brian I assume you live in this neck of the woods. Rob is an avid cyclist, has had the injury himself, and understand the strains of the cyclist. He specialises in numerous therapies but I have been having acupunctire and massage on mine and it has helped no end. Yes the pain is still there but the movement is increasing significantly so am really seeing positive steps.

Finally I am waiting on a vulcan shoulder support to come in the post (google it). Looks really good and I think will be of real help. I'll revisit this post and let you know how I get on it with it.

feel free to PM me anytime if you want to catch up or if you want me to get you in contact with Rob. Chin up and good luck!!

Konalisa120

I broke my collarbone 9 weeks ago today and went to see Brian Simpson on day 9. I had laser therapy and magnetic therapy. I had been in a sling since I broke it but was able to move my arm to 90 degrees after the treatment and haven't used the sling since. My range of movement has meant that physio was not needed which was the main benefit of going to see Brian I think.

As for the bones clicking together, that's a good thing because the friction will promote the knitting process. I remember that after the laser treatment it only clicked a few more times.

nozzac

Assuming you're from the UK, why don't you just go to your doctor and ask him whether it will heal. If the problems are out of the expected range he will refer you to a specialist or physio for free.

Parkerd75

Konalisa120 wrote:

I broke my collarbone 9 weeks ago today and went to see Brian Simpson on day 9. I had laser therapy and magnetic therapy. I had been in a sling since I broke it but was able to move my arm to 90 degrees after the treatment and haven't used the sling since. My range of movement has meant that physio was not needed which was the main benefit of going to see Brian I think.

As for the bones clicking together, that's a good thing because the friction will promote the knitting process. I remember that after the laser treatment it only clicked a few more times.

Sold, and from other posts / things I've read about this guy I'm now seeing him tomorrow. For the money, not sure I've anything to lose.

jacko1

Hi, broke right clavicle 30th April and told to go home by A&E, kept it in a sling for seventeen days & used a Vulcan support jacket when out walking, (google it, about £40 but well worth it) wore my sling in bed as mentioned prior & tried to keep it as still as poss. Went to see a specialist who then had me refered to hospital three days later for a plate & pins operation, two weeks after operation was doing light weights & returnred to work (self employed) but didnt push it to far, I am a manual worker & use my shoulders all day long hence I think quick recovery (plus titanium support inside me) just done a ten mile ride down canal for fitness purposes & all fine. It all depends on you, how you feel & if your getting sick pay Ive received no physio at all as yet & no advice, your body will tell you what you can do, but do rest id say for at least two weeks & if unsure, go see the doctor again. Good luck to all in the clavicle club.

zznmfc

Hi all,

I broke my right clavicle fairly cleanly in Sept of this year. OTB, on brand new bike, on a fire road :oops: - stupid boy - don't assume a puddle is only a couple of inches deep.

If you do happen to find yourself as an unwilling member of the recovering collar bone fraternity be sensible in the advice you listen to and don't listen to ppl saying that you'll be back on your bike in a weeks time. Be clear, it's a broken bone and it will take time to mend, don't try (as I did) to drive after a week or so and make ensure you keep your arm in a sling until told otherwise by your doctor. Unfortunatley my bone did not knit, the resulting non-union may have been a result of me pushing things too much. Tbh we'll never know, though I do know I now have plated bone with seven shiny screws and am hoping to be out of my sling in a few weeks time.

The point of this post is simply to say don't feel like you have to "man / woman up", give your body a proper chance to do what it needs to do - that's not to say wollow in self pity, just take your time... and above all, when you get back on the trails, make sure you manual over puddles, regardless of how shallow you think they are .

Happy riding, Mike.

Tinca

I seperated my collar bone 18 month's ago now i think.
I have had full movement back since i went for a few sessions at the sport's physio.
But for atleast the last 6 months, i wake most night's almost in tears, get constant arm ache, and can't lean on my right side without causing alot of pain.
When moving the right arm the grinding is rather uncomfortable too.

Being a man i have not been to the doc's about it, but feel i may need to soon, as it's affecting what i can do at work now, but more importantly, after 18 holes of golf, i am buggered!

FODCADEMON

I would be wary of hunching your shoulders, especially in a sling. I broke my collarbone for the second time last year and after hunching my left shoulder blade now sticks out slightly as the bone healed slightly wonky.

surfymunky

Tinca wrote:

I seperated my collar bone 18 month's ago now i think.
I have had full movement back since i went for a few sessions at the sport's physio.
But for atleast the last 6 months, i wake most night's almost in tears, get constant arm ache, and can't lean on my right side without causing alot of pain.
When moving the right arm the grinding is rather uncomfortable too.

Being a man i have not been to the doc's about it, but feel i may need to soon, as it's affecting what i can do at work now, but more importantly, after 18 holes of golf, i am buggered!

Go and get it looked at. I broke mine last May and it still hasn't healed. I had to get a second opinion as my local hospital were in denial, despite me repeatedly saying it wasn't right. They even told me it was fully fused. (don't think they wanted to spend any money) I have what is called a "hypertrophic malunion" it is when the bone really does it's best to heal but the bones are not touching. So you get a big lump of soft bone material round the break, but it doesn't harden and eventually the bone just moves around and gets quite painful. I can actually move the clavicle up and down in the middle. Can't sleep on my right. If I use my arm for work (drawing/designing) for any length of time it gets to be agony. The consultants at the second hospital took one look and told me this was what it was and confirmed the mal-union with a CT scan. So I have to get it sliced scraped and pinned. So don't delay and get it looked at. Nearly a year down the line and mine is back to square one. Hopefully yours might just need some more sustained physio.

hope it gets sorted

Paul