broken collar bone - heal time and exercises

scott_doyland wrote:
[...]

Quoted message said:

my question is, once its healed will that bump go down a bit or will it
stay that size, i dont really want it there as it looks a bit funny.

[...]

When I broke my collarbone a couple inches in from the shoulder all the
doctors I saw assured me that the bump would go down. That was 15
years ago, and it hasn't. I think that if you want a bump-free
collarbone you are going to have to make a huge fuss, and kick and
scream about how you are a collarbone model and your livelihood will be
destroyed.

On the other hand, everything works fine for me, my shoulders are the
same height, and it's never caused a problem. Maybe if you were a
professional backpacker you might have a problem with the strap riding
on top of the protruding bone knob.

Also, it's fun when someone walks up from behind and puts their hand on
your shoulder to talk to you, and then doesn't say anything because
they are too busy trying to figure out what that extra lump is.

Dave
www.davewilson.cc

Hey Scott,I blew up my collar bone a little over a year ago.Doc said it
was a very nasty break and he told me I would need surgery.I balked and
decided to let it heal itself.I returned to work after a week and
hopped back on the bike after 5 weeks.My break was on my right shoulder
and I almost immediatly begin to do small range-of-motion excercises
and this seemed to really help speed up the process.Any movement you
can do with the shoulder is good,although you do not want to cause
yourself too much pain.I would say that after about 6 weeks I was back
to 100%.

As far as the bump on your shoulder goes,I suspect that it will stay
there.I have a very large bump that is very noticeable when I wera an
undershirt.My doc told me that the bump was there to stay.If I had
chosen surgery I would have been sporting a scar.

My biggest pain in the whole ordeal was trying to sleep.I am sure you
already know what I mean!! Rolling over in the middle of the night was
was not a pleasent thing.

Broke mine playing football in college -- no operation although I was
advised to have it. Still have a bump (35 years later) but all is well
with functionability -- do a lot of upright rows and seated behind neck
press, pullups are also very worthwhile but may take longer before they
are tolerable for you to do.
Best,
Bill Black

scott_doyland said:

hi,
yesteday i broke my left collar bone a few inches in from the left
shoulder (hence the use of all lower case as i cant use 'shift' with my
left hand).

the doc just gave me a sling. at the break, the bone is sticking up
pressing a bump under my skin.

my question is, once its healed will that bump go down a bit or will it
stay that size, i dont really want it there as it looks a bit funny.

also i assume as the bones will heal where they overlap that my collar
bone will be shorter, so has anyone got recomendaions as to good
exercises to stop the muscles, ligaments, tendons from kind of
shrinking as well, ie stetches etc i can do.

i am keeping the shoulder still, but how long before i can move it a
bit (as i dont want it get stiff), ie will moving it break any bits of
bone that have started to rejoin,

i lift weights as well but think id be quite nervous once its healed to
lift as heavy as before in case it snapped again - can this happen?

thanks very much
Scott

scott_doyland said:

hi,
yesteday i broke my left collar bone a few inches in from the left
shoulder (hence the use of all lower case as i cant use 'shift' with my
left hand).

the doc just gave me a sling. at the break, the bone is sticking up
pressing a bump under my skin.

my question is, once its healed will that bump go down a bit or will it
stay that size, i dont really want it there as it looks a bit funny.

also i assume as the bones will heal where they overlap that my collar
bone will be shorter, so has anyone got recomendaions as to good
exercises to stop the muscles, ligaments, tendons from kind of
shrinking as well, ie stetches etc i can do.

i am keeping the shoulder still, but how long before i can move it a
bit (as i dont want it get stiff), ie will moving it break any bits of
bone that have started to rejoin,

i lift weights as well but think id be quite nervous once its healed to
lift as heavy as before in case it snapped again - can this happen?

thanks very much
Scott

Broke mine probably in same area (distal 1/3, outside shoulder
capsule). Orthopedist told me my swimsuit modeling days were over. The
bump may have rounded off some, but essentially it's the same. You get
used to it.
Consider yourself lucky that it broke outside the joint, luckier if
you're right-handed. I remember my body telling me very clearly when it
was ready to be moved around--it hurt. I think I was off the bike
almost 2 months, but I was probably older than you (42 at the time) and
you may heal quicker.

Good luck,
Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

scott_doyland said:

hi,
yesteday i broke my left collar bone a few inches in from the left
shoulder

<snip>

I found some of the replies in this thread helpful...

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.racing/browse_frm/thread/e1b87f727955004f

and also there is...

http://www.hanskellner.com/archives/2004/05/20/what_to_expect_from_a_broken_clavicle.html

Good luck.

Mark Fennell said:

I found some of the replies in this thread helpful...

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.bicycles.racing/browse_frm/thread/e1b87f727955004f

and also there is...

http://www.hanskellner.com/archives/2004/05/20/what_to_expect_from_a_broken_clavicle.html

Good luck.

I trust your carbon fibre upgrade was worthwhile ?

Broken collar bones suck. I have had both right and left broke. Left was
first and it was just like yours except i had seven shattered ribs, one
going into my lung, along with the collar bone. With the other stuff all
screwed up the collar bone was just a nuisance. actually, my collarbone
never really healed but just bridged with a goey cartliage substance. it
still sticks up after 5 years and always will. I don't notice it anymore
though it was a minor anoyance for a few years. it would sometimes get a
little sore after swimming 3 or 4 miles.

Don't sweat it. Just allow a few weeks and you will get active again.
soon you will not care about the bump. my left side was 3/4 inch shorter
than my right with the collar bone,and 7 ribs seperated. Later I crashed
and broke the right side, collar bone, 3 ribs, punctured lung, so now i am
about equal again but a bit more aerodynamic with the narrower shoulders.

Ken

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

Quoted message said:

hi,
yesteday i broke my left collar bone a few inches in from the left
shoulder (hence the use of all lower case as i cant use 'shift' with my
left hand).

the doc just gave me a sling. at the break, the bone is sticking up
pressing a bump under my skin.

my question is, once its healed will that bump go down a bit or will it
stay that size, i dont really want it there as it looks a bit funny.

also i assume as the bones will heal where they overlap that my collar
bone will be shorter, so has anyone got recomendaions as to good
exercises to stop the muscles, ligaments, tendons from kind of
shrinking as well, ie stetches etc i can do.

i am keeping the shoulder still, but how long before i can move it a
bit (as i dont want it get stiff), ie will moving it break any bits of
bone that have started to rejoin,

i lift weights as well but think id be quite nervous once its healed to
lift as heavy as before in case it snapped again - can this happen?

thanks very much
Scott

Ken said:

Broken collar bones suck. I have had both right and left broke. Left was
first and it was just like yours except i had seven shattered ribs, one
going into my lung, along with the collar bone. With the other stuff all
screwed up the collar bone was just a nuisance. actually, my collarbone
never really healed but just bridged with a goey cartliage substance. it
still sticks up after 5 years and always will. I don't notice it anymore
though it was a minor anoyance for a few years. it would sometimes get a
little sore after swimming 3 or 4 miles.

Don't sweat it. Just allow a few weeks and you will get active again.
soon you will not care about the bump. my left side was 3/4 inch shorter
than my right with the collar bone,and 7 ribs seperated. Later I crashed
and broke the right side, collar bone, 3 ribs, punctured lung, so now i am
about equal again but a bit more aerodynamic with the narrower shoulders.

Ken

It's 2030 and the new TdF winner has just been found upon X-ray to have the
new prohibited Titanium 'telescoping clavicular implants' which allow
dialing in a narrower profile than his competitors, thus illegally cutting
wind resistance.

The runner up is suspected of having the new Ti-Car telescoping thigh
implants, with radio controlled settings for long or short femur lengths
most advantagous for time-trialing or sprinting. The newest composite is
supposedly transparent to X-rays, but one has not been found to date.

Other competitors have been suspected to have had their foreheads
surgically altered to conform to the new Nike 'micro-bump' jerseys, thus
making them more aerodynamic.

Some fans are nostalgic for the days when they only did drugs.

nobody said:

It's 2030 and the new TdF winner has just been found upon X-ray to have the
new prohibited Titanium 'telescoping clavicular implants' which allow
dialing in a narrower profile than his competitors, thus illegally cutting
wind resistance.

The runner up is suspected of having the new Ti-Car telescoping thigh
implants, with radio controlled settings for long or short femur lengths
most advantagous for time-trialing or sprinting. The newest composite is
supposedly transparent to X-rays, but one has not been found to date.

Other competitors have been suspected to have had their foreheads
surgically altered to conform to the new Nike 'micro-bump' jerseys, thus
making them more aerodynamic.

Some fans are nostalgic for the days when they only did drugs.

This is me in my aero (non) clavicle:

http://www.dental.mu.edu/oralpath/lesions/cleidocraniadys/cleo1.jpg

Steve