Broken collar bone and shoulder blade - when can I get back?

jsands294

Hey guys

Recently broke my collar bone and shoulder blade after a stupid crash.

I was out on the Sunday cycle with the club. My mate and I started to sprint on ahead, but his chain got caught up and jammed mid-sprint, causing him to skid out and lose control, hitting me and making me fall hard on my shoulder. He was 100%, bikes needed some repairs.

But, about my injury. When 'should' I get back on the bike? My shoulder is very sore but I have been working at it and have full range of movement back already after 7 days, just have a little trouble with lifting anything.
Might have a turbo trainer lined up, but when should I be hitting the roads again?

Anything else I can do to get me back out there quicker or other ways to train?

Thanks for reading and any advice is welcome.

Bobbinogs

Bad luck there fella. You might find some guidance here, at the end of the thread:

viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12805868&

If you really did break your collarbone only 7 days ago then you should absolutely be forgetting about "working it". Your main concern is keeping it steady so that it can start mending which will take between 8-16 weeks, depending on your age and the nature of the break. Listen to your consultant, he should have given you specific medical advice which probably includes "do not lift anything at all at the moment"!

Bottom line is that it took me ~9 weeks to get back out on the bike but another 3-4 before I was doing OK and could cycle without being aware of the pain and compensating in some way.

The turbo works well (make sufferfest your friend!). I had to raise the stem and flip it so that even holding one handed was ok. Made a simple sling out of a fabric band so that it could go in the wash straight afterwards.

Take it easy, you really do not want to get out too soon and have another prang or you will be back to square one. Your big priority, IME, is trying to work out how you can sleep well (cushions, support, etc.). Best of luck in your recovery.

jsands294

Thanks! Only 20 on the 15th March. Was looking forward to the clubs TTs and RRs but looks like thats out of the equation for the moment. I can sleep no problem most nights with it, its more getting in and out of bed is the problem.
Got no real advice from the doctors, but my mum is a nurse and got me a proper comfortable sling, which Id say is helping my recover a lot. I asked mum about the recovery time, but she agrees I'm making ton of progress.

That's why I'm wondering when I can hit the road again. It's already getting to me!

Bobbinogs

At the age of 20 you will closer to the min repair time of ~8 weeks but this is about the minimum. Nothing to stop you riding earlier but if you saw a decent consultant (I was lucky enough to have an excellent one) I cannot help thinking they will tell you that if you let your fracture heal properly now then it could save a lifetime of hassle.

There was an interesting article about a chap who rode huge miles in the 50s and, after breaking his collarbone, he simply strapped it up with a innertube and carried on riding about 200miles a day for the rest of the year...but the report concluded that he never got over the injury itself.

I am in no way medically trained so my advice is firmly in the 'only informed because I have done it" camp...but I think you really should see an expert. You need xrays and a review by a fracture consultant and I would suggest this sooner rather than later. If your break is clean and the bones are nicely aligned then you just need a regime on the recovery... but lifting, moving your arm excessively and working should be off the cards until then.

fossyant

Have you had it x-rayed ? Are you sure it's broken? 6 weeks for out on the road is usually advised if it's a clean break, but I'm a little confused if you've got lots of movement - sure it's not a fracture ?

jsands294

Went straight to the A&E after the crash. Clean break through my collar bone and fracture through my shoulder blade. Not sure why I can do so much with it myself, but happy all the same about it

fossyant

Breaking the bone is better than soft tissue damage - I'll tell you. Knocked off over 3 years ago, now't broken, but shoulder needed decompressing - scuffing on bones all smoothed out in operation (took two years to get it done), but the underlying tissue damage has caused considerable pain. Only just now getting a reasonable night's sleep, although I can't sleep on the damaged shoulder.

It was 4 weeks before I was out again on the road bike, but did sneek in a turbo session and a 'road' ride on the MTB (cushy tyres). It was 7 weeks before I was commuting again on the fixed though.

fossyant

jsands294 wrote:

Went straight to the A&E after the crash. Clean break through my collar bone and fracture through my shoulder blade. Not sure why I can do so much with it myself, but happy all the same about it

Right, just be careful with the break - you don't want it not healing and then 'moving'. :shock:

slowondefy2

You've 'done well' to break your shoulder blade (scapula) - they're pretty rare fractures, I think?

I'm surprised you've not been given more complete advice, or that you weren't even put in a sling by A&E? I think you should go talk to your doctor about it.

bobgfish

Don't get back on your bike to early.

I didn't break anything but ripped all tendons etc in shoulder and the collar bone was no longer sitting in the right place. After 3 weeks (and two off work becuase of pain)I thought I was good to go. Wrong. The 3km ride to work was killing and I was exhausted when I turned up. Had to have another week off and then it was still agony. Still hurt 3 months later and now six months later when I'm fatigued it still aches.

A guy at work crashed broke his shoulder blade and in comparison he was good to go in about 4 weeks without pain.

Each of us is different and you need to listen to your body. If it's painfull don't do it. The reason they don't give you a sling is that they like you to keep things moving. The limbs are then used and not stuck in one place for a long time. I believe active recovery can help shorten healing times. What helped me was special strecthy tape which helped relive the pressure on the shoulder. A good physio should be able to tape you up once a week.

Take it easy and don't be too in to much of a hurry to get back on the bike. Stick with the home trainer when you feel a bit better at maybe 2-3 weeks. If you can ride on that without discomfort then it may be time for a proper ride.

Good luck

cyco2

jsands294 wrote:

My shoulder is very sore but I have been working at it and have full range of movement back already after 7 days, just have a little trouble with lifting anything.

This doesn't make sense. I would have thought that any movement of a broke bone is highly disruptive to the healing process. New bone material has to bridge the gap and 'cement' the join. So, movement would smear the material and the process has to begin again. It should be kept still all the time.
I have 'T shirts' for a broken collar bone and it's now in two parts and one shoulder is shorter than the other. Not entirely my fault, just lack of good advice.

woodsman

Usually after the initial treatment of a fracture, you would be given an appointment to see a doctor in the fracture clinic- usually 7-10days after the incident. This would be a good time to get some do's and dont's and advice on healing times. Other advice would be to see a sports physio. This would be something that you would have to pay for privately, but in my experience they provide an excellent service with loads of knowledge and good rehab programmes.

jsands294

Thats the odd thing though. The hospital I went to, worst in Northern Ireland but it was my mates dad who brought us in, even though I asked to be brought to the much better one.

I was just x-rayed, got my finger cleaned and glued(torn skin), sling set up(badly), some painkillers and sent on my way again. No review was asked for as they thought the break was clean enough and didn't notice the fracture in my scapula.
My mum is a nurse in the better hospital and double checked my x-rays and found the broken scapula too so she got me a sling which immbolizes the arm and better painkillers.

The pain is intense sometimes, but no real trouble sleeping. I find it odd too I can do so much with the amount of time that has gone by.

Thanks for all the advice. Ill keep off the bike just in case, but hope I can get a lend of the turbo I need for the moment.

slowondefy2

If I was in your position I'd be seriously unhappy. A fracture of the scapula was missed at the first hospital, and it was up to your mum to find it?! :shock: All credit to your mum, of course. Which micky-mouse hospital did you go to initially so I can avoid it at all costs?

You definitely need an appointment with the fracture clinic at the hospital you trust, and if things are as you suggest, I'd be making a complaint of clinical negligence. Mismanaged shoulder injuries can turn into long term problems, and from what you've said you've been seriously let down so far.

Most likely, 8 weeks rest and a sling will be fine for you, because that's how the vast majority of these work out but it's not something I'd be happy leaving to chance.