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?

finlayson99

No advice sorry just much sympathy.

Good luck

godders1

Having done the same myself several years ago you have my sympathy.

I don't know your job circumstances but "a few days" isn't enough time off work to recover. Mine was green stick but it was the best part of two weeks before the pain subsided to bearable levels and before I could sleep in a bed etc. I think I had 3-4 weeks off work. It'll be 2-3 months before it properly heals and I wouldn't risk getting back on the bike before then.

It should be in a sling too to keep it stable.

Have you not been to the docs/A&E?

n1cko1

Been put in sling but have to wait a week to go back to fracture clinic to see how it is healing

Calpol

Sympathy here also mate. I broke my arm (radial head) on Sunday. Dr says 2 weeks until I should start moving it too much, He described sling as pain relief but also said I could drive etc after 2 weeks if i felt like it. My break isnt too bad but sleeping is a bit of a prob. Thinking of getting a turbo trainer in the meantime.

navrig

Calpol wrote:

Sympathy here also mate. I broke my arm (radial head) on Sunday. Dr says 2 weeks until I should start moving it too much, He described sling as pain relief but also said I could drive etc after 2 weeks if i felt like it. My break isnt too bad but sleeping is a bit of a prob. Thinking of getting a turbo trainer in the meantime.

I did my radial head back in March. Saw A&E and then my local hospital. The "specialist" told me to limit use of the sling to when sore or tired otherwise use the arm as much as possible but avoid lifting anything for 2 weeks. If after 6 weeks I was not back to normal I had to go back otherwise I was discharged - that was 5 days after I came off the MTB.

Climbed back on the bike 6 weeks later.

Calpol

Ugggh 6 weeks!! I have been taking sling off a bit today. We had a trip to Glentress planned on the 26th. That looks like it might be wishful thinking now!!!

navrig

Calpol wrote:

Ugggh 6 weeks!! I have been taking sling off a bit today. We had a trip to Glentress planned on the 26th. That looks like it might be wishful thinking now!!!

Glentress 3 weeks after fracturing or breaking the radial head? Hmmmm!

I certainly was not fit for that - any signifcant pulling on the arm was still pretty sore at 3 weeks. At that stage I was still protecting the elbow area from knocking against things and people. Pronation of the hand had improved significantly by then. Changing gear on my road bikes would have been a challenge - Tiagra and 105. Changing gear on my MTB would have been very sore (SRAM with thumb push for up and down).

I doubt I could have driven at 2 weeks either - pulling the wheel would have put tension in the arm and effectivuely pulled the break apart. I waited at least a month - not great especially as I lost 8 weeks driving in Jan 2010 due to a broken thumb,

I probably could have started cycling again at about 5 weeks after the break rather than 6 weeks after the advice from the "specialist".

Calpol

Navrig wrote:

Calpol wrote:

Ugggh 6 weeks!! I have been taking sling off a bit today. We had a trip to Glentress planned on the 26th. That looks like it might be wishful thinking now!!!

Glentress 3 weeks after fracturing or breaking the radial head? Hmmmm!

I certainly was not fit for that - any signifcant pulling on the arm was still pretty sore at 3 weeks. At that stage I was still protecting the elbow area from knocking against things and people. Pronation of the hand had improved significantly by then. Changing gear on my road bikes would have been a challenge - Tiagra and 105. Changing gear on my MTB would have been very sore (SRAM with thumb push for up and down).

I doubt I could have driven at 2 weeks either - pulling the wheel would have put tension in the arm and effectivuely pulled the break apart. I waited at least a month - not great especially as I lost 8 weeks driving in Jan 2010 due to a broken thumb,

I probably could have started cycling again at about 5 weeks after the break rather than 6 weeks after the advice from the "specialist".

Thanks for posting. I know your are right! but this is such bad timing for me as I was also training for a charity ride in September. 250 miles in 3 days was to be a major challenge as it was! Prob best to not try and rush this as it will mean longer out if I push it too hard.

richk

Broke my collar bone early June 2011. Was treated with "conservative management" - thats NHS speak for do nothing... Wasnt physically able to ride at all until mid December & then only for a couple of miles. Didnt start riding regularly until Jan 2012. I'm still having physio for it now though riding is generally OK.

Some people are a (lot) faster than that - a certain Mr Wiggins did his 3 weeks after me & was riding again rather sooner, though his treatment was rather more pro-active.