broken clavicle...surgery or not?
- Thread starter James Thomas
- Start date
Clavicle non union advice..please help! thx
broke my clavicle on march 26th, distal third fracture, it never healed
(non-union) and actually have an appointment for surgery in 3 weeks.. dr thinks he might have to use a hook plate because of the small piece,. so if i get it installed it will have to come out later.. 2 surgeries! Although i kind of like the idea of not having anything in there down the road..
Thing is, I'm not really feeling like I want to go through with the surgery.. I know it can be straight forward but still something that I would like to avoid..regardless of how good it can go . there is always a chance it can not go well..
So here is the thing.. I do have some pain but not excruciating.. I have good range of motion.. I have been off the bike for 4 months because of this whole process.. I'm thinking of canceling the surgery and trying to just do some strength training and see if I can learn to live with this... I feel like the pain I have might be better to live with than a chance of a bad surgery..
So here are my questions..
1) does anyone on here have a non-union that has not opted for surgery and continued to ride?
2) does anyone think that with some time and some dedication to training I can live with non union without consequences down the road?
Any insight is appreciated.. especially from people with non unions!..
broke my clavicle on march 26th, distal third fracture, it never healed
(non-union) and actually have an appointment for surgery in 3 weeks.. dr thinks he might have to use a hook plate because of the small piece,. so if i get it installed it will have to come out later.. 2 surgeries! Although i kind of like the idea of not having anything in there down the road..
Thing is, I'm not really feeling like I want to go through with the surgery.. I know it can be straight forward but still something that I would like to avoid..regardless of how good it can go . there is always a chance it can not go well..
So here is the thing.. I do have some pain but not excruciating.. I have good range of motion.. I have been off the bike for 4 months because of this whole process.. I'm thinking of canceling the surgery and trying to just do some strength training and see if I can learn to live with this... I feel like the pain I have might be better to live with than a chance of a bad surgery..
So here are my questions..
1) does anyone on here have a non-union that has not opted for surgery and continued to ride?
2) does anyone think that with some time and some dedication to training I can live with non union without consequences down the road?
Any insight is appreciated.. especially from people with non unions!..
moderman,
go have the surgery and everything will be fine as before,
if you don't your life will be degraded. I know persons who didn't and they are not the same as before.
I had the surgery about 3 weeks ago and I feel nice, the two parts seems to have already created the soft-union which will be converted to hard-union (the actual bone) in 6-12 weeks.
I also can't wait to have the second operation to have the plate/screws removed but this will take place in 7 months.
If you had the surgery back in March now you would have been perfect.
Let your Dr. use a normal plate/screws, like mine see my xrays above, it will hold the two parts steadier and healing will be better.
Don't waste your time. Go for it!
go have the surgery and everything will be fine as before,
if you don't your life will be degraded. I know persons who didn't and they are not the same as before.
I had the surgery about 3 weeks ago and I feel nice, the two parts seems to have already created the soft-union which will be converted to hard-union (the actual bone) in 6-12 weeks.
I also can't wait to have the second operation to have the plate/screws removed but this will take place in 7 months.
If you had the surgery back in March now you would have been perfect.
Let your Dr. use a normal plate/screws, like mine see my xrays above, it will hold the two parts steadier and healing will be better.
Don't waste your time. Go for it!
Hi guys
I broken left clavicle on the 15Th of July. It's been almost three weeks after my mountain bike accident going DH. My doctor gave me the option to get the surgery or let it heal by itself. This is the first I ever broken a bone and so I made the decision to not get the surgery. Now I've talked to my family and we all agreed for me to get the surgery. I have an appointment with my doctor in about a week, meaning I won't get the surgery a month after the accident. I can feel the bone is starting to heal and it overlap about 20mm.
Are there anything I should worry about getting the surgery a month later after I broke it?
thank you
I broken left clavicle on the 15Th of July. It's been almost three weeks after my mountain bike accident going DH. My doctor gave me the option to get the surgery or let it heal by itself. This is the first I ever broken a bone and so I made the decision to not get the surgery. Now I've talked to my family and we all agreed for me to get the surgery. I have an appointment with my doctor in about a week, meaning I won't get the surgery a month after the accident. I can feel the bone is starting to heal and it overlap about 20mm.
Are there anything I should worry about getting the surgery a month later after I broke it?
thank you
There is nothing to worry. Your Dr. will place the two parts in the correct place and your healing process will be accelerated.
Your decision to get the surgery is absolutely correct and you will realize this if you see someone who didn't.
Persons who don't have the surgery have asymmetrical trunk, one shoulder is shorter than the other because the broken collar bone length due to the overlap is shorter than before.
I broke my cb 2nd of july and the day after I got the surgery. Now 4+ weeks post-op I feel strong, no pain. My Dr. told me to wait 8 weeks before I get active again, so 4 more weeks to go!
ezcompany...
I just had the surgery a month after the break and all went VERY well. You will most likely be a bit more sore than if you did it right away because some of your muscles have already adjusted but nothing to worry about. 2 weeks later I am at 75% and getting stronger every day...ask if the doc can maybe put the stitches on the inside of the skin because it helps with the scar...
Good luck!!
I just had the surgery a month after the break and all went VERY well. You will most likely be a bit more sore than if you did it right away because some of your muscles have already adjusted but nothing to worry about. 2 weeks later I am at 75% and getting stronger every day...ask if the doc can maybe put the stitches on the inside of the skin because it helps with the scar...
Good luck!!
a broken CB is not that bad. I am very active in sports and I had much more serious injuries in the past that kept my inactive for a good couple of years in one case.
CB is just a bone similar to any bone apart from the fact that it needs surgery to get back to its proper place. It is the surgery that complicates things a little.
srth,
nice to hear that you are doing fine. In a couple of weeks you will be even better but you need to be careful until the union will be complete in about 6-8 weeks time post-op.
great,
dizziness will go away today or tomorrow.
You will feel sore for several weeks, it comes from the scar and the stitches and not from the two pieces of bone since they are fixed and can't move against each other.
I am in my 6th week and still feel the scar a little sore.
After the 3rd week you will feel stronger because the bone will start forming the hard union.
I joined the club a few weeks ago. As the result of a pace-line newbie ahead of my group (he slowed suddenly without warning or peeling off) a few miles short of the halfway mark in the Seattle to Portland bicycle classic, my front wheel caught my teammates rear wheel in the ensuing evasive maneuvering. As we were traveling on the shoulder of a level highway road at 26mph, my fall was rather hard. I went down on my right side striking my head, shoulder and hip, followed by several pavement strikes as I bounced, rolled and flipped my way across the highway to the ditch in the opposing side. My bike was trashed as it cartwheeled from the front wheel to the seat several times, taco-ing the front fork and tweaking the seat stays.
Laying there in the ditch, I wiggled my extremities to see what was still working and then sat up. Instantly, I knew something was wrong with my shoulder. It felt like I had separated it (easily recognized from a previous separation/labrum tear). After a few hours, I made my way to the aid station and was looked over by a volunteer doctor who felt that I had a minor AC separation but was back in place. At the hotel that evening, I removed my jersey and undershirt to see a substantial deformity that I (hopefully) attributed to inflammation.
Three days later, I decided that I should get an x-ray and it was discovered that I had broken the end off the clav and was referred to an ortho surgeon for a 2nd opinion. There, a team of docs consulted my x-ray and noted that I had additional injuries - two grade III ruptures of the coracoclavicular ligaments - the ones that hold the clavicle bone to the coracoid process, and the broken end of the clav was a few inches away from the main clavicle shaft - surgery was required.
I had my surgery 11 days ago and the pain is greatly diminishing with each day, though day 2 was by far the worst pain I have felt in my life. The doctors inserted a new plate design (the first of its kind) rather than the traditional hook plate which allowed for both repairs to be done together and would preclude the future removal of the hook plate (the hook portion is inserted into the AC joint and makes contact with the labrum causing pain and requiring removal).
Here are my x-rays:
Pre-op:
Post-op:
And my poor vintage Allez:
Laying there in the ditch, I wiggled my extremities to see what was still working and then sat up. Instantly, I knew something was wrong with my shoulder. It felt like I had separated it (easily recognized from a previous separation/labrum tear). After a few hours, I made my way to the aid station and was looked over by a volunteer doctor who felt that I had a minor AC separation but was back in place. At the hotel that evening, I removed my jersey and undershirt to see a substantial deformity that I (hopefully) attributed to inflammation.
Three days later, I decided that I should get an x-ray and it was discovered that I had broken the end off the clav and was referred to an ortho surgeon for a 2nd opinion. There, a team of docs consulted my x-ray and noted that I had additional injuries - two grade III ruptures of the coracoclavicular ligaments - the ones that hold the clavicle bone to the coracoid process, and the broken end of the clav was a few inches away from the main clavicle shaft - surgery was required.
I had my surgery 11 days ago and the pain is greatly diminishing with each day, though day 2 was by far the worst pain I have felt in my life. The doctors inserted a new plate design (the first of its kind) rather than the traditional hook plate which allowed for both repairs to be done together and would preclude the future removal of the hook plate (the hook portion is inserted into the AC joint and makes contact with the labrum causing pain and requiring removal).
Here are my x-rays:
Pre-op:
Post-op:
And my poor vintage Allez:
67 rally,
your injury seems to be a little more serious than a usual collar bone fracture.
Your fracture is a little closer to the acromion and this is the reason the coracoclavicular ligament was also injured.
I would not worry about your collar bone fracture because the bone is fixed and it will be fine in 6-10 weeks.
What did your Doctor say about the Coracoclavicular ligament rapture?
How long it will take?
As far as I know it is the Acromioclavicular ligament which is more important but in your case it seems to be fine?
your injury seems to be a little more serious than a usual collar bone fracture.
Your fracture is a little closer to the acromion and this is the reason the coracoclavicular ligament was also injured.
I would not worry about your collar bone fracture because the bone is fixed and it will be fine in 6-10 weeks.
What did your Doctor say about the Coracoclavicular ligament rapture?
How long it will take?
As far as I know it is the Acromioclavicular ligament which is more important but in your case it seems to be fine?
Crazy! I had the same break and same surgery 11 days ago, the 27th!.. I'm still having quite a bit of pain.. And some weird sensitive skin issues arounf the incision.. Getting better for sure but not quite as easy as I thought it would be.. I have heard that these distal breaks and plates are more painful.. Only difference for me was that I broke mine 4 months ago and tried to let it heal naturally but it never did.. Anyway, I read o here about people getting the plate and riding in 2-3 weeks!!? Wtf.. No way that would be possible for me.. It's been 2 weeks and I think at this rate I will not ride for 8-10 at earliest.. How long did yur docs tell you to leave the sling on? I have kaiser and the info has befall over the map.. Surgeon said to only wear if it helps pain.. Last dr at follow up said 6 weeks in sling.. Anyway.. I'm just using at work and when go out...67Rally said:I joined the club a few weeks ago. As the result of a pace-line newbie ahead of my group (he slowed suddenly without warning or peeling off) a few miles short of the halfway mark in the Seattle to Portland bicycle classic, my front wheel caught my teammates rear wheel in the ensuing evasive maneuvering. As we were traveling on the shoulder of a level highway road at 26mph, my fall was rather hard. I went down on my right side striking my head, shoulder and hip, followed by several pavement strikes as I bounced, rolled and flipped my way across the highway to the ditch in the opposing side. My bike was trashed as it cartwheeled from the front wheel to the seat several times, taco-ing the front fork and tweaking the seat stays. Laying there in the ditch, I wiggled my extremities to see what was still working and then sat up. Instantly, I knew something was wrong with my shoulder. It felt like I had separated it (easily recognized from a previous separation/labrum tear). After a few hours, I made my way to the aid station and was looked over by a volunteer doctor who felt that I had a minor AC separation but was back in place. At the hotel that evening, I removed my jersey and undershirt to see a substantial deformity that I (hopefully) attributed to inflammation. Three days later, I decided that I should get an x-ray and it was discovered that I had broken the end off the clav and was referred to an ortho surgeon for a 2nd opinion. There, a team of docs consulted my x-ray and noted that I had additional injuries - two grade III ruptures of the coracoclavicular ligaments - the ones that hold the clavicle bone to the coracoid process, and the broken end of the clav was a few inches away from the main clavicle shaft - surgery was required. I had my surgery 11 days ago and the pain is greatly diminishing with each day, though day 2 was by far the worst pain I have felt in my life. The doctors inserted a new plate design (the first of its kind) rather than the traditional hook plate which allowed for both repairs to be done together and would preclude the future removal of the hook plate (the hook portion is inserted into the AC joint and makes contact with the labrum causing pain and requiring removal). Here are my x-rays: Pre-op:
*****,
Thanks bro, the dizziness is about gone.
67rally,
Sorry to hear about your accident, and welcome to the club. lol
Moderman,
I just got my surgery days after yours, and it took 3 weeks for me to get the surgery after i broke mine.
I'm getting stronger day by day. My doctor told me to do some small circles and curls with my arm just to get the blood going and get it strong a bit.
Sleeping sucks! I've been sleeping with my back against a wall with lots of pillows sitting up right. How are you guys sleeping after the surgery?
The stress of not doing anything all day and day to day has been horrible for me mentally. :/ I don't know how you guys dealt with it.
Thanks bro, the dizziness is about gone.
67rally,
Sorry to hear about your accident, and welcome to the club. lol
Moderman,
I just got my surgery days after yours, and it took 3 weeks for me to get the surgery after i broke mine.
I'm getting stronger day by day. My doctor told me to do some small circles and curls with my arm just to get the blood going and get it strong a bit.
Sleeping sucks! I've been sleeping with my back against a wall with lots of pillows sitting up right. How are you guys sleeping after the surgery?
The stress of not doing anything all day and day to day has been horrible for me mentally. :/ I don't know how you guys dealt with it.
the first two weeks are somehow difficult.
I started feeling some strength by the end of the 3rd week. This is reasonable because then the Hard Callus starts to form.
Read this to learn about the healing process of a broken bone (http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/bone_fracture/4_soft_callus_formation.php).
Hard Callus starts between the 2nd and 3rd week and lasts until the 6th or 12th week.
In the collar Bone case it will last around 10 weeks (give or take).
I used the sling until the 3rd week but not all the time, I used it at night just in case I make an unintentional wrong move while sleeping, as a precaution.
When the Hard callus started to form I felt strong enough and I did not need the sling. It is good to use the sling when you are out just to let people know that you are injured and that you need attention.
I think nobody said that he was back riding in 2-3 weeks and if he did it was too risky and he must be very lucky he did not harm himself again. You can do it but the bone is not strong enough to withstand external weight.
Yesterday I had a new xray (6 weeks post-op) and it showed clear that the two bones have created a union, the hard callus is visible in the xray because it is a substance like bone but as I said above it needs some weeks more to become as hard as a bone.
I started feeling some strength by the end of the 3rd week. This is reasonable because then the Hard Callus starts to form.
Read this to learn about the healing process of a broken bone (http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/bone_fracture/4_soft_callus_formation.php).
Hard Callus starts between the 2nd and 3rd week and lasts until the 6th or 12th week.
In the collar Bone case it will last around 10 weeks (give or take).
I used the sling until the 3rd week but not all the time, I used it at night just in case I make an unintentional wrong move while sleeping, as a precaution.
When the Hard callus started to form I felt strong enough and I did not need the sling. It is good to use the sling when you are out just to let people know that you are injured and that you need attention.
I think nobody said that he was back riding in 2-3 weeks and if he did it was too risky and he must be very lucky he did not harm himself again. You can do it but the bone is not strong enough to withstand external weight.
Yesterday I had a new xray (6 weeks post-op) and it showed clear that the two bones have created a union, the hard callus is visible in the xray because it is a substance like bone but as I said above it needs some weeks more to become as hard as a bone.
Yeah it's tough to rest so much.. I've been off the bike since march.. So by the time this thing is sorted it will be the better part of a year!! Hard to belive.. Tried to help clean the house yesterday and over did it... My shoulder was killing me last night.. A good reminder to take it easy.. Your plate looks pretty standard...why did they say it was the first of its kind? Just remeber the distal repairs are the toughest.. Most pain for what I hear to take your time..I'll try and follow my own advice.... Btw, I have read menu times people talking about starting to train weeks after..3 or 4.. No way for me.. 6seems optimistic ..
ezcompany said:
Thats very good to hear *****! You're almost there! And I read the link you posted, the hard callus starting to come on my left hand being that I've been on a sling for more than 3 weeks now.
Today I'm 6 days post op and I can feel the soft tissues coming in. Some pain subsided and it's a bit easier to move around.
I've picked up a book to read while I get some sun out in my backyard. Tomorrow I'll start doing light walking around the house.
Thanks again *****, you've been lots of help!
I'll keep you guys posted
Today I'm 6 days post op and I can feel the soft tissues coming in. Some pain subsided and it's a bit easier to move around.
I've picked up a book to read while I get some sun out in my backyard. Tomorrow I'll start doing light walking around the house.
Thanks again *****, you've been lots of help!
I'll keep you guys posted
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