broken collar bone

n1cko1

Had the misfortune of a spill this morning and have a fractured collar bone. I'll take a few days off work as it is very sore but does anybody have any advice as to rehab/when to get back on etc?

mikeeye

Sorry to hear that.

I broke mine (comminuted fracture; four pieces) last September. It's still not healed. Unless it has healed by the end of what we're laughingly calling a summer, then I'll be having it plated. So my timescales are probably well towards the worst end of what you can expect.

I was able to ride my turbo a couple of weeks after the accident with my arm in a sling and just sitting up - i.e. not using the handle bars at all. Once the sling came off (approx 6 weeks), I was able to hold the handlebars. It was around that time that the consultant gave me permission to drive again. It was about 4.5 months before I rode on the road again. That was largely based on the comment from my consultant that any fall would likely put me back to square one. Since it's not healed in the meantime there was probably little point in worrying.

I'm sure there will be people along soon with much more rapid recovery schedules.

Good luck with your recovery.

napoleond

I got mine plated straight away having demanded to see the consultant. The initial doctor just said grin and bear it. The consultant said within 2 mins it needed operating on...

Cleat Eastwood

I dont know if its the same for mere mortals but I'm always amazed how quickly the pros are back on the bike - i suppose they have 24/7 medical care though. best of luck chap. keep smiling.

mikeeye

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

I dont know if its the same for mere mortals but I'm always amazed how quickly the pros are back on the bike - i suppose they have 24/7 medical care though.

I think it boils down to how seriously the consultant views the consequences of a potentially slower recovery. My job does not depend on my bike riding, though my sanity does

In my case, the doctor in A&E who first saw my x-rays said "ooo - looks nasty, that will need to be plated" (or words to that effect). He went off to see an orthopaedic surgeon and came back with "You're fine - it'll heal on its own in about 6 weeks". Seemed odd at the time, but in my concussed state I accepted it.

Two weeks later my consultant at the fracture clinic stressed the point that leaving it alone is the approach taken in the vast majority of cases. He also pointed out that are potential negative consequences to the operation, such as nerve damage and bone necrosis. My initial concern was that that might be an NHS cost reduction thing, but it seems to be the same the world over. He was pretty adamant that leaving it alone was the best thing in my case since he considered the bone pieces to be lined up well.

If he'd been right, I'd be sitting here now thinking I'm glad I've not got a lump of metal in my shoulder. But as it is, I'm most likely going to have the lump of metal plus a bone graft from my pelvis. And another winter limited to the turbo.