broken clavicle...surgery or not?

[stacenut]

I had the surgery 5 weeks ago and am glad to say recovering better than previously after the initial break in March. I was able to travel to Las Vegas and keep up with everyone, tiring more quickly as I'm still taking ibuprofen 800mg for the frozen shoulder that has accompanied my injury. If I hadn't that complication to deal with, I'd say I'd be back at about 80% right now.

The scar concerned me too, however I am very pleased with it. It is about 6" long, but very thin. I don't think people even notice it when I wear a rounded collar or a standard V neck tee shirt. The thickest part of the scar lies over my shoulder, which is covered by my bra strap. Honestly, the worst part for me was getting used to the metal in my body. I am small framed and very thin on my upper body so I think I feel it more than the average person. It used to burn like a hot rod inside of me, however that has dissapeared. I have extreme numbness around the incision and into my shoulder, I don't know if that eventually will get better or not.

My recommendation is if you're having pain that is keeping you from normal activities, have the surgery. I wasn't able to lift things prior to this as my bone had never healed and was only being held together by tissue. I feel certain that eventually, I'll be nearly back to normal. I no longer feel the bone moving around when putting dishes away or especially during physical therapy. And as a plus, I didn't set off security at the airport!! LOL

Good luck with your decision!

 

[katiej]

Hi Stace

Glad the scar isn't so bad. Any chance you might send me a pic as I'm concerned about how it would look, and I can't find any pics.
Thanks

 

[kip73]

i broke my R clavicle mid shaft 4 days ago and was meant to go to surgery today. due to the wonderful uk nhs there were no beds so i have to ring again tomoro to see if i can go in.
this brilliant forum has given me so much info especially as i was having doubts but i now have loads of questions go ask before i make the big decision.

most of you seem to be lucky enough to have had a number of good consultations, i have had the grand total of 2 minutes with my ortho and he doesn't seem bothered which way i go.

for those worried about scars check out bio-oil and vitamin e oil together once the site has healed but the scar is still fresh. my mum knows about good skin and recommends this mix. vit e is too heavy on its own and bio-oil is good to use on new scars.

i would really appreciate those who have had the op keeping us up-dated as to how things go, it gives up hope!!

 

[Cyborg_Chippy]

I've got a photo on myspace but my msn messenger live, hotmail and myspace are all unaccessibly at the moment.

As to an update, I had the ORIF on right clavicle just over five weeks ago, have got about 90% of total movement back, but just can't quite get my right bicep to my right ear without assitance of the left arm. But I'm sure this will sort it self out once I start swimming again.

Althought I've not been allowed to swim as this would put to much stress on my shoulder, I'm on the turbo trainer 5 days a week, running twice a week and roding 16 miles into London and back to watch the final of the tour of Britian today. So I'm almost back to normal, just can't wait for my review this week which will hopefully give me the green light for the swimming.

 

[idjohnson]

I'm 63 years old and very active. I ride and surf, and swim around a bit. The other day I did a header over my bars, and broke my clavicle, in the middle. First broken bone. Ever. Doc said to leave it and I have for five weeks and nothing is any better. It still hurts like hell, whenever I move my arm, and I am going to see the doctor tomorrow and request surgery. Not a lot of hope here in Australia to tell a doctor what you want. but I'll try. It is very painful and I haven't had a nights sleep for weeks. And I get stuffed up with the codiene pain killers. I mean, constipated. really constipated. Not a lot of help, any suggestions on how to tell the doctor to operate???? Much health and happiness to all of you. This is a great site to discuss actually what happened and is happening. Bye for now. idjohnson

 

[matagi]

I'm 63 years old and very active. I ride and surf, and swim around a bit. The other day I did a header over my bars, and broke my clavicle, in the middle. First broken bone. Ever. Doc said to leave it and I have for five weeks and nothing is any better. It still hurts like hell, whenever I move my arm, and I am going to see the doctor tomorrow and request surgery. Not a lot of hope here in Australia to tell a doctor what you want. but I'll try. It is very painful and I haven't had a nights sleep for weeks. And I get stuffed up with the codiene pain killers. I mean, constipated. really constipated. Not a lot of help, any suggestions on how to tell the doctor to operate???? Much health and happiness to all of you. This is a great site to discuss actually what happened and is happening. Bye for now. idjohnson

Just come right out and tell him you are not happy with the outcome, you are in constant pain, you are taking large doses of narcotic analgesics and you want another opinion, preferably a surgical one. Any good doctor will listen and react appropriately. If you are not happy with his response, find another doctor (seriously) - there may even be one who specialises in sports medicine in your area who would be more receptive. If surgery is indicated, then I hope you have private insurance, otherwise you will be on the waiting list for a while.

 

[jamesrbrown7]

I am 20 years old and very active. I broke my right clavicle pretty bad about 12 days ago, the bones overlap quite a bit. I am feeling much better already, and have pretty good range of motion, but am worried about the bone making a correct union, because I would rather not have surgery. I have been reading this forum and most people that ended up getting surgery seemed to usually have had a lot of pain up until the surgery. My doctor told me that you just have to wait and see if the bone makes a correct union. I was wondering if anyone out there has felt like they were healing properly, but ended up having to have surgery a few weeks or months later. Thanks, this has been a very informative thread.

 

[HighHeartRate]

I am 20 years old and very active. I broke my right clavicle pretty bad about 12 days ago, the bones overlap quite a bit. I am feeling much better already, and have pretty good range of motion, but am worried about the bone making a correct union, because I would rather not have surgery. I have been reading this forum and most people that ended up getting surgery seemed to usually have had a lot of pain up until the surgery. My doctor told me that you just have to wait and see if the bone makes a correct union. I was wondering if anyone out there has felt like they were healing properly, but ended up having to have surgery a few weeks or months later. Thanks, this has been a very informative thread.

i broke mine nearly a year ago in 2 spots and the doctor said to let it heal naturnaly. well it took 8 weeks till i could ride again and the join is leaning ie not staight. so do you want you arm to rejoin properly or rejoing and look warped? i would get surgery next time from what i have read

 

[kip73]

update time: i had surgery on my clavicle on tues in exeter, uk. released from hospital yesterday and already the pain is soo much less. i do have numbness from just above my armpit to the neck end of the incision about 1" wide but i don't notice unless i touch it. it's a bit like the injection wearing off after the dentist. feeling may or may not come back.


what i have noticed is that my shoulders are back in line with each other which is great as before the right (broken) was much higher.

bad news is that the physio has completely restricted my movement on that side for min 6wks!! so those up and doing by 2 weeks...i envy you. i am not allowed to do any movements that engage the muscles around the clavicle until further notice. my next appointment is 2weeks for the dressing and 6 for the bone. as i read a thread that some people have done too much too soon i don't want to need more surgery so will follow instructions from them that know!! apparently if i lift my arm above my head i could bend the titanium plate that is in there!!

i know that each break is different and that's why they operate on some not others, but mine was a definate snap in 2 with little chance of union. if you want a copy of the xray i think you can mail me and i'll send it you or i'll see if i can attatch it. i only have break pics at the mo...no plates shots yet!

 

[philangel@hotma]

I just joined the broken clavicle club. How long will I be off my bike? Can I do my century in 3 weeks? When does the intense pain stop?

 

[stacenut]

You're lucky that your surgeon operated right away...my doctor waited 4 months before deciding that the surgery was necessary. From my own experience, you want to be careful about keeping your arm too immobolized. I have been battling adhesive capsulitus (frozen shoulder) since my arm came out of the sling 6 weeks after the break. Because you immobolize your arm to let the clavicle repair, your shoulder is at risk of forming scar tissue that is actually more painful than the fracture. I would talk to your doctor and ask him about doing gentle movements, example pendulum swings and table stretches. You absolutely don't want to raise your arm above your head though...that is where you can reinjure the clavicle.

I broke mine in March, had surgery July 25th, and now enduring intense physical therapy again (I had 10 weeks prior to the surgery). I was told this week that if the arm does not soon begin to show progress, I'll need another procedure done to cut away the adhesions in the shoulder. I'm doing the exercises every other hour as I'm determined to get through this without another procedure.

Best of luck, keep us posted on your recovery!

 

[Dustin07]

sorry this took so long guys, but here's a picture of my scar. Too bad I couldn't have shown this to you when it was first healed. When I was first able to take the bandages off of it it was a nice thing little thing. I was almost dispointed because I usually scar huge..


as far as the collarbone update goes. Lets see...

Broke on the 5th of July.
Surgery on the 13th of July.
Most recent x-rays on the 31st of Aug. Dr. says he can't tell if I'm healing or not because everything is alligned perfectly straight and there's no need for extra bone layment. He gave me a clean bill to do LIGHT weight lifting, biking (non-competitive, no bmx), swimming (which I did, in the mountains last weekend!) and we plan to x-ray again at the end of the month. The goal is to race in October.

 

[stacenut]

I finally am submitting a picture of my scar for any of the females out there worried about it. This is 7 weeks post surgery....it really isn't too bad.
I really believe the vitamin E has been a major contribution to the healing process!

As far as I'm concerned, this looks better than the bone sticking out...now that was creepy!

Hope I did this right..new to the digital camera

 

[Dustin07]

That's really interesting. Two breaks of the same bone. Two procedures (both basically the same) yet a completly different scar. your location and shape is a bit different. probably has to do with body type differences.


I do scar big though eh?

 

[stacenut]

That's really interesting. Two breaks of the same bone. Two procedures (both basically the same) yet a completly different scar. your location and shape is a bit different. probably has to do with body type differences.


I do scar big though eh?

Yeah, I thought so too! Mine is more curvy, probably to match my hips? Ha Ha!
Did your doctor use staples? It looks more like my cesarean scar, which was stapled. This doctor stitched under the skin, which I thought was pretty clever. I was shocked when I didn't see staples or thread when the bandage was removed.

 

[kip73]

i have been given basic movements for the arm, elbow extensions and pendulum swings. they don't seem like much but if i don't do them the elbow gets really sore.

as for the new member...it depends on your break, how it fixes, is union likely, will you need surgery, there seem to be so many factors that affect your recovery that it is too big a thing to say when it will be better. my clavicle pain stopped almost straight away after surgery only to be replaced by neck and incision pain, this is due to manipulation, healing and wearing a sling 24/7. it will ease but will take time.


best advice seems to be to do what you're told and be realistic...it could take 4-6months for you to be back to pre-break fitness. if you are honest about this now you are likely to be more philosophical about setbacks and leaps forward.

anyway the weather is cack over winter so may as well spend it getting fit for the new riding season next year!!


i do have a question tho...did anyone else get numbness down the outside of the opposite leg after the surgery? i think a nerve has been knocked in the accident and advice seems to think it will heal on it's own, i'm just curious.

 

[Dustin07]

Yeah, I thought so too! Mine is more curvy, probably to match my hips? Ha Ha!
Did your doctor use staples? It looks more like my cesarean scar, which was stapled. This doctor stitched under the skin, which I thought was pretty clever. I was shocked when I didn't see staples or thread when the bandage was removed.

LOL, yeah my hips are pretty boring staples, nope. Only one stitch as well. mostly they used a tape like thing that just held the skin together. after about days I was washing with soap in that area and taking the bandages/tape off. everything was fine and very small scar... but as you can see, it's pretty big now. it's also sensitive too. I think I read that the sensitivity in the scar can last a year. I guess that means 2 years for me since the dr. said we'll remove the plate next spring... oiy.

i do have a question tho...did anyone else get numbness down the outside of the opposite leg after the surgery? i think a nerve has been knocked in the accident and advice seems to think it will heal on it's own, i'm just curious.

The only numbness I had was in the shoulder where the surgery was done. and I still have some.

 

[skurtik]

I broke my clavicle when I fell off my bike after a car made a left turn into a driveway and didn't see me in the bike lane. I had numerous fractures, but the clavicle break was the worst. I had 3 surgeons look at my x-rays and said I had to have surgery because it was an open/compound fracture and the bones were widely displaced. They had planned to use a pin or plate to put the bones together, but during surgery they found the bone end near my shoulder was in fragments and there was nothing they could do other than to tie the bone down and wait for tissue/bone growth to stabilize the fragments and hold the bone together. I have to wait for at least 4 weeks before I can use my arm at all (it is in a sling and I am to take it out occassionally to avoid frozen shoulder/elbow). I was wondering if anyone else has had this kind of clavicle break and repair, how successful it was, and how soon they were able to exercise and then get back on their bikes. Any suggestions for faster recovery are appreciated (since I am waiting for bone growth, I am taking in lots of calcium).

 

[Dustin07]

I broke my clavicle when I fell off my bike after a car made a left turn into a driveway and didn't see me in the bike lane. I had numerous fractures, but the clavicle break was the worst. I had 3 surgeons look at my x-rays and said I had to have surgery because it was an open/compound fracture and the bones were widely displaced. They had planned to use a pin or plate to put the bones together, but during surgery they found the bone end near my shoulder was in fragments and there was nothing they could do other than to tie the bone down and wait for tissue/bone growth to stabilize the fragments and hold the bone together. I have to wait for at least 4 weeks before I can use my arm at all (it is in a sling and I am to take it out occassionally to avoid frozen shoulder/elbow). I was wondering if anyone else has had this kind of clavicle break and repair, how successful it was, and how soon they were able to exercise and then get back on their bikes. Any suggestions for faster recovery are appreciated (since I am waiting for bone growth, I am taking in lots of calcium).

HI Skurtik, I'm sure the calcium doesn't hurt... but the extra doses are probably just wishfull thinking, I did the same thing extra juice, milk, etc. anywhere I could get it, LOL.

Yeah, do take care of that elbow. don't let it freeze up. And when you do start getting full movement again, my recommendation would be to go with VERY light weight and start moving the tendons slowly. I started hitting the weights after about 6 weeks. While the weight was very very low, I still had excructiating pain running from my tricep all the way down to my wrist. It went away after one dip in the hot tub though.

best of luck!

 

[katiej]

Thanks for the pics of the scars folks.
I broke my collar bone 3 months ago and was given a sling and told to rest, which I did for 6 weeks. The bone was sticking out as it hadn't healed end to end. The NHS gave me a green light and said I wouldn't affect it by what activities I did so it was effectively healed.
I went private yesterday and was told there was movement and that after 3 months the chance of it joining properly was slim although it was trying! He thinks he will need to plate it which having just got used to the bump scares me as I'll have to get used to a scar. We have agreed to give it another month (just in case - probably to give me peace of mind that it is really required).