clavicle

John Shelton said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a wealth
of knowledge here. So here we go:

Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me to go away for a while.

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching but not very well
matched up.

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info. Know any horror stories?
Urban myths? Witches brews?

clavicles cannot be set to match up. The bones will knit to a certain degree but it's not like
setting a broken arm. You'll be deformed to a certain degree, for life. Usually it's just a
little bump.

Penny

Quoted message said:

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info. Know any horror stories?
Urban myths? Witches brews?

I'm no doctor, but i've heard that the clavicle isn't all that important. I knew a guy who broke a
gap from his and opted out of surgery. He could pinch your finger between the two halves, it was
really freaky. He...well his shoulder...seemed normal enough.

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John Shelton said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a
wealth of knowledge here. So here we go:

Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me to go away for a while.

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching but not very well
matched up.

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info. Know any horror stories?
Urban myths? Witches brews?

clavicles cannot be set to match up. The bones will knit to a certain

degree

Quoted message said:

but it's not like setting a broken arm. You'll be deformed to a certain degree, for life. Usually
it's just a little bump.

Penny

Jim broke his collarbone twice, same one. He has a cool bump on his shoulder where the bone sticks
out and he has shoulder pain when the weather gets bad and damp. That's about all you have to worry
about in terms of the physical aspect. Make sure you give it time to heal properly.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

Oh, I gotta wait for the pulled hamstring, broken ribs, smashed thumb and road rash too. After I get
a new helmet EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE I SMASHED, I will go try that one again.

Depends how old and active you are and plan on being but if I had to do it again, I'd seriously
consider having it plated to be like it was.

Broke mine at 23 years old in a motorcycle accident and let it heal 'normally' without surgery and
now wish I would have had it plated. I have the usual bump from it overlapping, visually its no big
deal to me.

I'm now 36 and consider myself pretty active due to my job and recreation. 3 days out of the week I
wake up in the morning with a ache-y shoulder due to the clavicle break cause I sleep on my
side(can't sleep on my back and sleeping on stomach hurts my back big time).

Also there are several weight lifting moves which I really notice strength and motion 'out of
whack'. Everyday things are less noticably annoying but every so often, esp at work, I'm reminded my
left side is not like my right.

These side effects are not THAT bad really, very easily I live with them but I wonder how I'd be if
it was proper shaped. Everyone is different but had I know then what I know now, I'd have it plated.

John Shelton said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a wealth
of knowledge here. So here we go:

Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me to go away for a while.

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching but not very well
matched up.

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info. Know any horror stories?
Urban myths? Witches brews?

I will keep that in mind. Actually, the other shoulder was already different
from a chronic separation. I'm going to look like I am made from spare
parts. : )

Any clue when I can go back to the bench press?

John Shelton said:

I will keep that in mind. Actually, the other shoulder was already different from a chronic
separation. I'm going to look like I am made from spare parts. : )

Like NDH?

Quoted message said:

Any clue when I can go back to the bench press?

sixish weeks

See a physical therapist (terrorist) once the bone is reasonably healed. The sling is going to limit
movement (duh!) and you'll stiffen up. The PT will help loosen things up and give you some simple
exercises to strengthen your shoulder and increase flexibility. Probably not unlike when you
separated your shoulder.

Cheers, Shawn

Thanks. One of these days I am just going to have to grow up. But even with the wreck, it was a kick-
ass ride. The header was so huge that when I stopped groaning, I started laughing.

John Shelton said:

Thanks. One of these days I am just going to have to grow up. But even with the wreck, it was a
kick-ass ride. The header was so huge that when I stopped groaning, I started laughing.

Growing up is overated. So I've heard, I'm only 40.

Shawn

John Shelton said:

Thanks. One of these days I am just going to have to grow up. But even with the wreck, it was a
kick-ass ride. The header was so huge that when I stopped groaning, I started laughing.

I think that it's injuries like this that make us realise that when your mother warned you to be
more careful that there might actually be a grain of truth to it. Sometimes there are injuries
and consequences that can't 'just' be fixed by a Doctor and made like new again. Welcome to
'growing up'. ;-)

BTW, I haven't broken my collarbone but I separated it from the shoulder. I have a bump and still
have weakness and trouble, sometimes pain, when lifting things over 30kg. I find it awkward and
painful to carry things like buckets of water for longer than a few minutes at a time. My partner
also hates the sound of the end moving and 'popping' around in my shoulder especially as I lie in
bed. I've just gotten used to the constant noise and weird feeling. I'm actually on a public
health waiting list to get a specialist to look at it so that should happen sometime within the
next two years...
--
Westie (Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

I'm only 58.

If I didn't have broken bones, bullet wounds, and scars, I wouldn't have anything to talk about.

"Shawn Curry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John Shelton said:

Thanks. One of these days I am just going to have to grow up. But even

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the wreck, it was a kick-ass ride. The header was so huge that when I stopped groaning, I
started laughing.

Growing up is overated. So I've heard, I'm only 40.

Shawn

I broke my clavicle at the end of June, and here's my experience:

I spent one month in a sling. At first I didn't think I broke the bone but, four hours later it was
pretty obvious I was assymmetrical. When I saw the x-ray it looked like I should be screaming in
pain and writhing on the floor, but it really was just kind of, well, broken. The Vicadin turned me
into an idiot so I just used Alleve after that. I put slicks on my mountain bike and started
commuting again after six weeks.

I have a giant knot of bone where the two ends occluded. It's very strong but makes wearing a heavy
backpack uncomfortable. Fortunately I use a messenger bag slung from the opposite shoulder. I still
feel a little pain in the knot of bone. Most importantly, I did some serious nerve damage that
wasn't apparent until a month after the accident. I still can't do some things, and I have to
exercise daily. The therapist said that nerve damage can easily take a year to dissappear. All of
the doctors and therapists said that the shape of the bone is unimportant to a degree - what's
important is that you regain full range of motion.

In my opinion, I would have preferred the doctor gave me some Vicadin and reset the bone. Both
doctors said resetting was feasible, but considering that almost everyone regains full motion
anyway, resetting is compartively difficult and painful. In addition, one doctor was concerned that
I might have "soft tissue interpostition" which means that muscle tissue grows between the fractured
bones before they have a chance to join. This prevents the bones from ever closing, and a prosthetic
metal plate is required. I feel that setting the bone would have made it heal faster, and I'd have
less problems carrying things.

However, they're all right in the sense that you're not going to be too deformed and the chances of
regaining mobility are extremely good, unless you are an underwear model or competition bodybuilder!

Did that help?

Incidentally, you will get very good at typing one-handed

-Collin

"John Shelton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a wealth
of knowledge here. So here we go:

Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me

to

Quoted message said:

go away for a while.

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching

but

Quoted message said:

not very well matched up.

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info.

Know

Quoted message said:

any horror stories? Urban myths? Witches brews?

"Penny S" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

John Shelton said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a
wealth of knowledge here. So here we go:

Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me to go away for a while.

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching but not very well
matched up.

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info. Know any horror stories?
Urban myths? Witches brews?

clavicles cannot be set to match up. The bones will knit to a certain degree but it's not like
setting a broken arm. You'll be deformed to a certain degree, for life. Usually it's just a
little bump.

Penny

I concur. My left collabone was broken into 5 pieces. It healed up like a jumbled mess. I went to
two doctors and both said there was nothing to do. If it grew together too wierdly, they could break
it again and hope it settled better. Now I 'm about an inch or more shorter across on the broken
side, it works as a weather vane now and then, and is a souvenir to remind me to slow down.

paladin

One of things things my doctor said when I asked him how soon I could get back on the bike was "You
know, things just don't heal as fast as they did when we were teenagers" - WTF! I'm only 34! Does
that mean I'm supposed to start jumping with fright at those young whipper snappers evey time they
make a darting move on the trial 'cause they're too dumb to drive their bikes straight?

I'm getting really tired of everyone living in fear in this nation. I don't mean to sound so
political, but since I've been commuting extensively and mountain biking recreationally, the fear
and horror others express when they hear I commute in the cold and snow seems so ludicrous in light
of all the other things that could happen to people.

A relative or your self become fatally ill is a tragedy. Fatal car accidents are tragedies. People
dying in wars are tragedies. Getting exercise while enjoying brisk winter air is NOT A TRAGEDY.

"Shawn Curry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John Shelton said:

Thanks. One of these days I am just going to have to grow up. But even

with

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the wreck, it was a kick-ass ride. The header was so huge that when I stopped groaning, I
started laughing.

Growing up is overated. So I've heard, I'm only 40.

Shawn

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 18:28:30 -0600, Destroy <[email hidden]>
blathered:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a wealth
of knowledge here. Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me to go
away for a while. In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching but not
very well matched up. I am asking for personal information, not medical.

Quoted message said:

Depends how old and active you are and plan on being but if I had to do it again, I'd seriously
consider having it plated to be like it was.

only the collarbone...you were LUCKY etc.

i broke my right wrist/fore-arm two weeks ago and, based on my experiences, i'd say get a 2nd
opinion if you're not happy. the first doctor who saw me in A&E tried to tell me it wasn't
broken, despite the big dent and the 10 degree bend...yeah yeah, right mate, just tell me where
the x-ray room is.

after being temporarily patched up and flying back to the uk with instructions to get it patched up,
the first two doctors i saw told me no further work was required. it was only when i insisted on
speaking with the head orthopaedic consultant that he agreed i needed it pinned & plated if i wasn't
to get arthritis etc as i get older.

i'm 36 and intend cycling & climbing for a long time yet - you need to make sure it's done right
first time round, to avoid complications later.

Pete
----
btinternet.com~peteajonesOpen ↗

John Shelton said:

Broke my collarbone on a jump.

Impressive. Most people break theirs on landing :p

Quoted message said:

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching but not very well
matched up.

I shouldn't worry about it. Last time I broke mine the two parts got pushed right back leaving a
gaping hole where the clavicle should be. Healed up pretty well though.

Quoted message said:

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

How do you quantify deformed? Worst you'll end up with is a slight dent or lump.

Quoted message said:

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info. Know any horror stories?
Urban myths? Witches brews?

Well, to add to the already extensive list here, I've broken mine a couple of times and dislocated
it (always the right) a few times - once from both ends at the same time.

It's a bit of a mess, all told, and the two ends of the clavicle overlap, but it doesn't really
cause me any problems. The only slight problem is that it aches a bit when I'm exercising heavily
and it's cold.

--
a.m-b FAQ: j-harris.netambfaq.htmOpen ↗

b.bmx FAQ: t-online.debmx faq.htmOpen ↗

bomba said:

John Shelton said:

Broke my collarbone on a jump.

Impressive. Most people break theirs on landing :p

<snip; or should that be snap>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

How do you quantify deformed?

"The Bells, Mr Harris, the bells......"
--
Westie (Replace 'invalid' with 'yahoo' when replying.)

Quoted message said:

How do you quantify deformed? Worst you'll end up with is a slight dent or lump.

Joaquin Phoenix?

"John Shelton" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This is, of course, not EXACTLY what the news group is for but my guess is that there is a wealth
of knowledge here. So here we go:

Broke my collarbone on a jump. Doctors X-ray and put on a sling. Tell me

to

Quoted message said:

go away for a while.

In the X-ray and from feel, I can tell that the two pieces are touching

but

Quoted message said:

not very well matched up.

I am asking for personal information, not medical. I won't sue you for malpractice. I know what
the safest answer is....go sit in a hospital for days and be sent away in a sling.

I just don't want to end up TOO deformed.

So, what would you suggest knowing just these little smidgeons of info.

Know

Quoted message said:

any horror stories? Urban myths? Witches brews?

When I broke my collar bone, I hit it at just the right angle so that it shattered/fragmented. I now
have a huge lump there but the doctors told me that it would be much stronger than new. I now that
you can have them go in and file away some of the bone but this, I believe, takes several operations
and can get expensive.

Dave