Broke my collar bone on sunday

sgt822

Hi all,

Sadly got wiped out by a young miscreant while descending at 30mph. Result one broken right collar bone but thankfully the bike and new helmet survived relatively unscathed (wheel to tru and not a scratch on the new bonnet)

Fracture clinic yeserday and am told its a clean fracture with only minor displacement. Am told its going to be 6 weeks recovery. Im 38, male, 6'2" and around 14 1/2 stone and do around 100-150 miles a week normally. Currently trussed up with a figure 8 shoulder brace and sling.

So im after any advice on keeping up fitness while off the roads and any idea how long until i can use a turbo? or how long til i can get back out on the roads doing some gentle volume miles?

Any experience out there you can share with me? Any tips or hints to speed recovery or limit impact on fitness would be greatly appreciated.

Just finished setting up the turbo (took hours with only 1 arm) but am i doing more harm than good getting back on just 2 days after the break?

Apologies for any typing errors but its one hand only at the moment

glasgowbhoy

Similar break last summer.

Get off the pain killers as soon as possible.

Get the arm out the brace and into a simple support sling ASAP.

keep trying to move the arm. It will feel like you are bein stabbed in the shoulder and you'll near hit the roof when you've over done it.

I was back on the turbo within a week. but only lasted about 15-20 mins to begin with as the pain was bad. Kept just jumping on daily and bulit back up.

You need more rest/ sleep than normal but the turbo will get the blood flowing and helps the healing process.

Back out on the bike on the roads within 4 weeks. Raced at week 7 .

Happy healing

sgt822

thanks buddy, that makes for good reading. how long did you last until you ditched the brace?

My sling is just a basic cotton sheet job, is it worth buying something more specialist / comfortable?

glasgowbhoy

I got one of those simple foam slings from boots once the bandage one from the hospital got manky.

You'll be surprised how quickly it heals.

shockedsoshocked

Did mine last year. Depending on your level of pain tolerance and how bad the brake is, you may be able to rest your hand on the bars, and grip with the good one. Might get a bit achey on the good arm but it's doable.

Bozman

Whether this is similar or not i don't know - I broke my clavical, stayed on the pain killers and used the turbo after about a week, i just used the one arm but i was lucky to have a screws holding it all together.

mamba80

a fig of 8 brace was always the preferred treatment method for years and is used in several other countries, for some reason it was dropped in this country but is making a come back in several hospitals. IF the fracture clinic have put you in one then you d be stupid to ignore their advice.

NSAID - Ibuprofen - style painkillers have been linked to slow bone growth.

sgt822

Thanks all. Almost 1 week on and off the painkilers for 2 days now. Still in the brace as without there is too much movement permitted and hellish pain.

Managed an hour and a half turbo session riding the tacx alpe d'huez. mostly sat upright none handed but occasionally leaning onto my left. Problem beinf leaning causes right shoulder to drop due to weight of limp arm and hence the pain kicks in.

Will have another go later today.

Thanks for all the advice.