AC joint fracture (collarbone) - anyone had one?

Mattcee
Mattcee Posts: 148
edited September 2016 in Training, fitness and health
I went over the bars which resulted in my collar bone being dislocated from my shoulder joint with the bone almost poking out the top of the skin - ouch!

I needed an op to put the bone back in position and it seems its not an uncommon injury for cyclists.

Has anyone else had this injury and if so, what was the recovery time before you were able to get back on a bike?

Comments

  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    I had a distal end fracture 1cm from the AC joint. No surgery needed. I was on a static bike after a couple of weeks, back on the road (and able to cope with road bumps) after about five weeks. If you have ligament damage too, then that might delay things further.
  • Mattcee
    Mattcee Posts: 148
    Thanks and yeah, should have mentioned I also had to have a tendon sewn back up and pulled my ligaments too.
  • BarleyPointer
    BarleyPointer Posts: 45
    Collar bone seems to be about 6 weeks standard.

    I have personal experience, three times :-(
  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,665
    Mattcee, I did the same as you on 16th September 2015. Had it operated on on 8th November and got back on the road on Boxing Day.
  • Mattcee
    Mattcee Posts: 148
    Gethinceri wrote:
    Mattcee, I did the same as you on 16th September 2015. Had it operated on on 8th November and got back on the road on Boxing Day.

    Thats pretty quick. Are you feeling any after effects now or is it all back to normal?
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 5,183
    If you don't have one already, now is the time to buy a turbo. Had a non-operated AC separation early this year (was a mid-grade separation). After a week I was getting stir crazy so bought a cheap Tacx. I had to sit upright to start with and bruised ribs meant I had to take it steady but by the time I was back on the road properly (6 weeks) I was stronger than before my crash.
    Initially I struggled with out of the saddle climbing. Shoulder is still a bit slack 8 months later and pops up but fine for road.
  • Mattcee
    Mattcee Posts: 148
    I have a turbo trainer and did think about using first to save any vibration and bumps.
    Cheers.
  • FatTed
    FatTed Posts: 1,205
    why do you need an operation? Usually best left alone, Still I guess your upper limb orthopaedic surgeon knows best.
  • Mad_Malx
    Mad_Malx Posts: 5,183
    Depends on severity and what you need for occupation etc.
    most consultants try to avoid operating and long term complications are more likely with op, although in bad separations recovery will be very slow without.
  • Mattcee
    Mattcee Posts: 148
    FatTed wrote:
    why do you need an operation? Usually best left alone, Still I guess your upper limb orthopaedic surgeon knows best.

    He told me it was pretty severe and needed putting back in place as it may never have healed the way it was.
    The bone was virtually breaking out the skin causing a big lump.
  • FatTed
    FatTed Posts: 1,205
    http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92337-treatment
    http://radiopaedia.org/articles/rockwoo ... int-injury

    Follow your doctor's advice is usually better than a bunch of forum posters.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    FatTed wrote:
    http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/92337-treatment
    http://radiopaedia.org/articles/rockwoo ... int-injury

    Follow your doctor's advice is usually better than a bunch of forum posters.

    Says the man providing links to two more articles on the internet :lol:

    To be fair, I think people are simply recounting their own experiences, as per the original question. I don't see any medical advice being offered.

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