Zero issues when mine was taken out. In and out in a few hours. On the bike the next day. Just had to be careful not to sweat too much during intervals. Standard wound care post op.
The type and number of metal bits used to fix an fx'd clavicle is going to vary from person to person, depending on the health of that person and the nature of the fracture. My fx'd clavicle could not be repaired--although the doctor said it needed repair--because of the risk of causing permanent nerve damage/paralysis as a result of other injuries in my torso. I did, however, have a plate and five screws removed from my right radius (bone in forearm). For a few weeks after the metal removal, I was only allowed to light lifting. The doctor wanted the screw holes to start filling with new bone. There was only pain for the first couple of days after the metal was taken out. I also had a screw removed from my right tibia. The day after the removal, I was allowed to bear some weight on my right foot. Surgery to remove the bits doesn't take long at all. When the plate and five screws were removed from my right radius, I believe I was in surgery for about 30 minutes. Note that this was just my experience, but my experience is unique to me as yours will be to you. I merely wanted to give an example of an experience that might be similar to what you might go through.
First you might want to consider finding another bone doc if for no other reason than to get a second opinion.. If a doctor refuses to show an x-ray or any result of a diagnostic test or image, that doctor is not performing his or her due diligence. You have a right to see all of your medical records, x-rays of clavicles included. I've never encountered an orthopod that has acted in that way. All of the orthopedic surgeons I've seen (the first was in 1973, when I was nine) have showed me (and where relevant my parents) the x-rays, MRI images, and CT images to help explain his (they've all been males) reasoning for his treatment plan, no matter whether that plan is invasive or noninvasive. I wouldn't trust such a doctor, but I suppose others may feel differently. Given your pregnancy, it's likely wise to carefully consider the surgery. I'd suggest you ask your OB-GYN for a referral to an orthopedist or that your OB-GYN talk to the orthopod in question. With all that said, it's no surprise that you still experience significant pain. After all, you did mention that you're only a couple of weeks post injury. Surgery for a lot of people is a scary thing. Certainly, all surgery carries risk, both in terms of how you ultimately heal and function and in any untoward effects of surgery. What needs to be remember is that surgery has advanced just as the rest of medicine has. As such, surgery today typically results in less post-surgical pain, fewer unwanted effects from the anesthesia, and less time "out of action." It's also true that people tend to fear what they don't know. We humans also tend to err in evaluation the risk of something. The perceived risk is quite often greater than the actual risk. No matter what, tread carefully when asking medical questions online. It's for you and your doctors to decide if surgery is the best treatment plan. Also, surgery of a given type isn't a "one size fits all" thing. What's right for you is heavily dependent on your injury, your medical history, and complicating factors. Good doctors, or rather responsible doctors, evaluate whether a given treatment should be done on those factors and others. The injuries you read about in this forum may have no relevance to your situation at all, so you should not expect at all for a treatment modality done on forum member X to have the same results (both in healing, comfort, and surgical side effects) for you. Good luck, both with your clavicle and your incoming baby.beaniebo said:
