Broken clavicle (collar bone)!

Well, I’ve managed to bust myself up.

I broke my left clavicle (collar bone) at the Folsom Criterium in the Masters 35+ 1/2/3 race. Start of the last lap of my second race. Some idiot clips the bars of the guy next to him, sending the guy down, directly in front of me. Curb and fence on the left and pack on the right. I was able to just avoid him but had to run over his bike. Ejected at 28mph.

I flew through the air for what felt like seconds and then hit and rolled. As I came to a stop I tucked and glanced back, expecting to be creamed by riders coming up behind. Luckily they were able to avoid.

Then I lay back and started going through the status check. Hmmm, legs, arms, shoulder… ouch, something not right up there. I reach over and feel my left shoulder and feel a bump. Uh oh, that’s not good. Just then a official comes over and asks “are you ok? Do you need help?”. I reply that “I think I’ll need help”. “Do you need an ambulance?” he asks. “Um, yes, maybe…”. He glances back down the course, “Can you walk?”. “Yes, in a second”. “Well, that would be good because the race is going to finish in a moment and it would be good to get you out of the course”. Good idea!

So, I get a hand up and walk over to the grass and lay down again. Yup, it was beginning to hurt. I never even noticed the finish of the race. As I lay there I ask if my bike is OK. Already crunched the frame once this year. Strangely enough, bike survived with only a few scratches.

After some chatting and info gathering with one of the race staff, we decide to skip an ambulance and get someone to drive me the short distance to the hospital. But first I wanted to dump my bike and gear in my truck. At the truck I decide to strip off the jersey. The guy helping me is telling me to leave it on since they will just cut it off and it’s ruined anyways and it will save me the pain. Pain? Destroying another jersey, that’s pain! As I’m peeling it off he’s looking at me like I’m crazy. Well, I get the jersey off and what looks like a lot of blood on the jersey is actually a Mocha Mocha Clif Shot that exploded on impact. Unloaded of gear and now carrying my clothes, we head over to the registration booth to enlist Will to taxi me. He’s very cool and gets me to the hospital.

I won’t go into the emergency room details but it was about 4 hours and during that time: filled out forms, waited, quick look by doctor, waited, x-rays, waited, tetnus booster shot, waited, scrapes cleaned and bandaged, waited, pee in cup, waited, final look-see, given shoulder restraint, fill exit forms, pay co-pay, done!

Broken Clavicle
Left Side Distal Clavicle Fracture

The good news is that the collar bone has a clean break, isn’t poking up, and should heal well. I went a few days later and saw Dr. Massimo Testa to have him do an examination. He’s a great doctor and understands cyclist’s needs. Along with the examination he put together a 3 week training program. I’ll be able to maintain my fitness!

A broken collar bone usually mends itself in about 6 weeks. I’ve been lucky and not had much pain. I’m wearing a figure-eight brace and a sling for the arm. The suffering now is not being able to ride and race during some great weather. Oh, and training on a stationary bike inside is torture. Good thing for DVDs.

Be careful out there.

Cheers!

p.s. I highly recommend Dr. Testa and also Dr. Eric Heiden (previously over at U.C. Davis Sports Medicine). If you are in Northern California and have a sport related injury, call them!

More “Broken Collar Bone” Articles

Don’t miss reading the information and comments in the other collar bone entries:

Broken Clavicle No More
What To Expect From A Broken Clavicle (collar bone)
Chad’s Broken Collar Bone Report

DISCLAIMER: The following content is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions should only be performed by your doctor or other licensed health care professional. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this site.

423 responses

LORNE PRINCE

May 3, 2007

38 YR OLD MALE!
SCUBA DIVING TRIP!
ME AND 9 OTHER’S CHARTED A SAIL BOAT AND 5 CREW MEMBER’S OUT OF MIAMI PORT HEADED FOR BAHAMA’S FOR 7 DAY 5 DIVING! 1st NIGHT OUT SEA’S WERE 8ft!WENT IN THE GALLEY TO GRAB A SEAT AND BLAM A HUGE WAVE HIT THE BOAT AND I CRASHED INTO A SUPPORT BEAM WITH MY COLLAR BONE INSTANTLY BIG BALLS OF SWEAT CAME UP ON MY HEAD AND PAIN BEGAN! EVERYONE WAS EITHER SEA SICK OR TRYING TO KEEP THE BOAT AFLOAT SO I JUST WENT TO MY CABIN AND TOUGH IT OUT!
THE NEXT DAY I WAS IN A ALOT OF PAIN BUT IN MY MIND I HAD EXERCISED EVERY DAY(EVERY MUSLE) FOR A YEAR AND ALSO THE MONEY I HAD SHELLED OUT I WAS GOING TO DIVE(MISTAKE)AFTER COMING UP I INFORMED THE CREW I NEEDED A DOCTOR!WENT IN A DINGY BOAT TO CAT ISLAND DOC WAS AT THE BAR WE THEN WENT WITH HIM TO THE CLINIC(NO X-RAY THERE)HE GAVE ME A SLING AND SOME PILLS AND SAID I NEDED A X-RAY! SURE ENOUGH THE PILLS DID HELP THE PAIN AND I THOUGHT I COULD CONTINUE THE TRIP(WRONG) PILLS WORE OFF! TOLD CREW I NEEDED A X-RAY THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD TAKE ME TO BIMINI NEXT DAY!
MADE IT TO THERE AND THEY HAD NO X-RAY MORE PILLS AND THAT I NEED A X-RAY! HAD TO BUY ANOTHER PLANE TICKET HOME FOR I HAD FLEW INTO MIAMI AND WAS IN BINIMI$$$$$ I KNEW I COULD NOT CONTINUE THE ONLY CHOICE I HAD! MADE IT HOME AFTER 3 CONNECTIONS AT DIFFERENT AIRPORTS( ALABAMA)WENT STRAIGHT TO ER WHERE THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A BROKEN COLLAR BONE MORE PILLS AND A BETTER SLING AND TO SEE OP! WENT TO OP MORE PILLS AND LET PAIN BE MY GIUDE!
FOR WHICH IS AGAINST EVERYTHING I HAVE TAUGHT MYSELF NO PAIN NO GAIN! ANYTHING HURT FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS!IN DAY 12 SINCE THE BREAK AND I AM FEELING MUCH BETTER AND AM NOT IN THE SLING FOR 1ST TIME BUT NOT FOR LONG FOR I AM GOING TO PROTECT IT ATLEAST 4 WEEKS LIKE THE DOC SAID!
I HAVE PRAYED AND THANK GOD FOR MY HEALING EVEN BEFORE I HAVE SEEN THE 4 WEEK X-RAY!
THANKS FOR KEEPING THIS SITE GOING IT TELLS U MORE THAN THE DOCTOR’S! AND I REALLY HAD ALOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTION’S! JUST WISH I HAD FOUND THIS SITE LIKE ON DAY 1 OF THE BREAK!
PS
WILL LET U KNOW ABOUT THE 4 WK OUT X-RAY

April 29, 2007

My son broke his collar bone on April 2/07 riding his bike. I found your link and it has been very helpful. My son’s break was considered a bad one, he had a huge bump and you could see the bone sticking up in two places. The collar bone was displaced and overlapping quite a bit. After wearing a sling for two weeks surgery was recommended as the best alternative which he had done on April 18th. He is coming along great and didn’t have to wear a sling at all after. I don’t even think he will have much of a scar. The surgeon has said he can use his arm but NO heavy lifting for at least six weeks. So he will see the surgeon again at the beginning of June to see if he has the green light to (as the Surgeon put it) go wild. He can’t wait to get back on his bike again! I’ll post again later but based on the way his should looked pre surgery to after I would recommend surgery for bad displacements.

ZAC

April 24, 2007

Hey Curtis, here is a very interesting article published on E medicine:

http://www.emedicine.com/orthoped/topic50.htm

A few key points to note from this article is

“No proven benefit of any specific technique of immobilization exists, so the choice of immobilization should depend on the comfort and functional demands of the patient”

Basically this states that as long as your shoulder is immobilized there is no proven difference between a figure 8 brace and just a sling, hopefully this helps those struggling with the figure 8.

True, although consider that a sling and figure-8 immobilize the shoulder in different ways. The figure-8 immobilizes the shoulder more than a sling and can hold the shoulder aligned. With only a sling I found my shoulder slumping forward and out of alignment. Not what I wanted when the bones started to fuse. Also, with only a sling I would sometimes reach with my bad side, move my shoulder, and generate instant pain. Wearing the figure-8 would restrain me when I made the same motion.

Btw – There are many options for shoulder restraints. Here’s a site from a quick search

http://orthobionics.net/Shoulder-supports.php

that has slings, figure-8s, and other supports.

Ill have “real” results of this in a couple of months when hopefully i can inform everyone here of effects and results ive had of just using a sling, will keep you posted.

The article also states (specifically for you Curtis)..

“Crosby et al examined a subset of clavicle fractures in which initial shortening of the fracture was greater than 2 cm. They found a high rate (15%) of nonunion in this population. Additionally, final shortening of more than 2 cm was associated with unsatisfactory results. Open reduction and internal fixation of these injuries is recommended for patients with displaced middle third clavicle fractures with greater than 2 cm of shortening”

so as far as advice goes read the whole article to put that last statement in perspective… then get another medical opinion…the fact that you’re 25 puts odds in your favour so ide guess that youde be of the 85% of over 2cm fractures that do heal naturally, but im not a doctor. As for scars.. girls love them!..ZAC, Olympian in Training

Ha! Yes, showing off scars and telling the stories is always good fun.

Hans

Curtis Lowe

April 24, 2007

Hi Everyone – Thanks to ZAC for his post, as I almost threw up reading everyones post, thinking the worst. I also have an overlap from my compound break, but mine is almost 4cm! The x-ray looks like the letter Z – with a 3cm piece rotated beyoned vertical, and with the bones on either side almost overlapping. My shoulder is visibly less broad than the other and my back feels like it’s cinched up on the right side. I was certain i would need surgery and went to my ortho (he’s seen me for about 4 seperate broken bones and 2 ACL surgery) who I trust pretty well. He looked at the x-ray for maybe a minute, chided me on my bad luck and said I’d be fine in 3 months. Gave me a fig. 8 and said to come back in a month. I asked about surgery and he said that I may be borderline since it’s almost comming out of the skin and there is overlap, but that if I was his son, he’d make me try to heal on my own first. That “if you were my Son” thing really got me.
I’ve been ablsolutely freaking out the last few days, as everytime I get up in the morning and brush my teeth – my mind tries to wrap around the crushed in shoulder and how it’s going to work with the clavicle being so much shorter…
Do you have any advice or any explaination of what my Doc. is thinking? How will it work being so much shorter? I am very active and am in good shape – I surf, swim, skateboard, am 25 and not worried about scars from surgery (not that I like going under for surgery) but I won’t be able to handle losing my swimming strength. Also, the doc said he’s done the surgery many times.
Thanks and great site you have here!
-Curtis in Florida

ann brown

April 23, 2007

i broke my left clavical on feb 22, they told me it was a 200% break, so i had surgery on feb 28, a plate and 6 screws.
i was in sling for one month and then i was back to using it with no pain, then after 7 weeks i started biking again and it started to hurt and it felt like something was grinding in the break.
i went to get new x-rays only to find that the plate is pulling out at one end and the bone has actually moved from the place it was set at time of surgery.
the doc now wants to do another surgery and put a longer plate in and also bone graft from my knee.
not sure what to do.
i was told i could go back into my sling for another month and try bone stimulator and see it this works.
any advice on which i should do? surgery again or bone stimulator?
i’m not adverse to either, just want to be out of this pain.
thanks,ann

I’ve heard that bone stimulators can help. It might be worthwhile to try that for a month before having to go through surgery again. Also, you will probably need to stay away from any activities (e.g. biking) that will move or stress the bone. Talk with your doctor and don’t hold back with the questions about what you should and should not do.

– Hans

Zac

April 19, 2007

Hi all!24 year old soon to be Olympian. i wont bore you with how i broke my collar bone, its 3 weeks since the accident(2nd collar bone break for me), middle third. I have had two brothers both break their collar bones both of which healed quickly and naturally, my youngest brother 16 didn’t use a figure8 or a sling, although i do not recommend it(he was young and healed quickly). my oldest brother did use a figure 8 and swears against it, saying the muscle wastage because of it was way too much and that the restricted circulation to his arm caused all sorts of problems from numbness to pain(the ortho at the hospital here in Australia actually removed my figure 8 one week after the accident saying it is unnecessary and that they dont use it here anymore). My first break healed fine and i was back to sport 6 weeks out.
Like the majority of you out there i am a sportsmen. I am actually training towards the Beijing Olympics, taekwondo so speedy recovery is of utmost importance. I am big on getting multiple opinions about my injuries, so far ive had 2 orthos say it will heal naturally(there is a 1.5cm overlap) and i am seeing another upper limb sport specific ortho next week. I believe healing is going excellent(always the first step….as all sportsmen should know is to visualize somethings happening and theres an increased chance it will)!!…ive been sleeping about 12 hrs a day for the last 3 weeks….i rarely go out so its immobilized as much as possible….i threw out the painkillers after a little over a week, as they apparently slow bone growth….supplements im taking include, calcium.. .glucosamine..chrondoritin. ..multi vitamin..vitamin c..fish oil.. i go outside everyday for about an hour in the sun to help vitamin d production
The distinct bump is there which wont help my modeling career(yeh i know modeling and fighting dont mix..lol) but the way i see it its just added motivation for me to hit the gym more..ie bigger pecs and traps etc the less the bone is visible..well at least until the lump decreases.
Thanks hans for this page, its a wealth of information. What some readers need to be careful of is that a good majority of the opinions here are from worst case scenarios.. ie not many quick healing stories… the thing is people who heal quickly will not as readily post as someones who a collar bone injury has affected them significantly…so for everyone reading these..stick with it!!… be patient, rest heaps and most importantly think positive!! if the majority of opinions for my specific case said get surgery then i wouldnt waste time, i would get surgery, most probably the less intrusive baltmain(wrong spelling..i know..lol)method..im not privately covered but the price of the best surgery is far less then the price of not being the best you can be..and siting wandering, if i fall will it break again easily?( especially in the case of a non union or fibrous union)..the view from a 24 year old Olympian in training…ill keep you posted..thanks again Hans

Sorry to reply late. Just got back from Japan.

Regarding the figure-8 comments… Yes, the figure-8 seems to be something some docs recommend and others don’t. I believe that a properly fit figure-8 will improve healing. It did so for me and others have found the same. Improperly worn it can cause the problems you describe. Note, this is also true of a sling or other device.

“if i fall will it break again easily (especially in the case of a non union or fibrous union)?”
I have been told that a fully healed break is actually stronger. But in the case of a non-union it’s a weak point. Think of the quote “a chain is only as strong as the weakest link”. A non-union is a weak link.

Good luck on your Olympic pursuit. Think gold! :’)

– Hans

Barry Friedman

April 14, 2007

Hello everyone… great site for those of us in the know! Painfully in the know, I should add.
I won’t recap my entire adventure with a broken right clavicle, and subsequent surgery (five days after the accident) where I had the Rockwood pin installed. For anyone who would like to read that, it is available right here http://www.anniebarryzed.com/accident .
I am wondering if anyone has experienced what I am experiencing — a secondary injury which is turning out to be much worse than the broken clavicle. My ring and middle finger have been numb since the accident. I am eight weeks pass my accident today (seven and change passed my surgery) and I’m still unable to close my fingers all the way into a fist. As of late, I am able to collapse them so my finger pads reach my Palm just above my wrist — but I have severe pain in the joints of my fingers if I tried to create a fist.
If you read my blog you will see that I have left absolutely no stone unturned in my search for help with this. Some modalities offer temporary relief — a smoother set of moving fingers although I haven’t been able to make a fist since my accident — but nothing seems to last. My fingers are very swollen, my hand is usually a variety of shapes of red, blue, purple.
All my doctors and therapists point to median nerve damage and perhaps some bruising in the brachial plexus. I would be a lot more patient with my hand issue (maybe) if I wasn’t a juggler http://www.raspyni.com .
I have the regular shoulder stiffness, and restricted mobility that I have read about on this site. After reading every comment on this post and hearing nobody else complain of hand and finger numbing, I had to ask! Has anyone experienced this?
I have been getting back in the pool the last couple weeks. No running, and my future as a mountain bike rider goes between “I can’t wait” and “not on your life”.
Barry

Your doctor’s and therapist’s suggestion that it might be a nerve problem sounds correct. I too experienced a slight numbing of the two outer fingers. That gradually went away after a few weeks. There have been a few comments about finger numbness on some of the other “broken clavicle” pages on my site (see links at the top of this page). You might also try searching the site for “numbness” to find some of the comments. Use the search form on the upper left edge of the page.

Hopefully you will be able to find a solution and recover from the problem. And I hope to get a chance to see your juggling at some point in time.

– Hans

p.s. Don’t give up riding just yet.

Robin Cook

April 3, 2007

Hi All
Very interesting site, also quite worrying (and reassuring) in parts!
Just to add my own experiences. I broke my left clavical in France 10 weeks ago. I was snowboardinf and landed on my shoulder hard. It was a clean break, but 15mm displacement. Doc fitted a figure 8 brace, and I had an xray the following day. He said he wasnt happy and I would need surgery straight away. So I went to a hospital in France, and had a plate and 4 screws fitted.
The thing was so painful, and coming back on the plane hurt like hell (pressure I think). Suffered frozen shoulder etc, then started having physio after a week, started to improve.
Xray at 4 weeks showed zero bone growth. Xray at 8 weeks still shows minimal improvement, and the awkward thing is my hospital changed xray machines mid way through, so you cant really compare the old to the new xrays now! So I’m back again in 2 weeks for a 3rd xray, will be 12 weeks then.
The good news is I have around 80% movement back (but not much strength). THe bad news is Im sure I can still feel the gap. The surgeon in france left approx. 5-7mm gap between the bones, and it appears as though its having trouble bridging the gap. I’m not in much pain (although I got an infection too!), but the doc has said if there is no improvement in 2 weeks, they will need to take a graft from my hip, shave the dead bone off my clavical and plate it all back up again. The graft is supposed to be the most painful thing ever.
I’m hoping and keeping my fingers crossed that it shows signs of healing, but im 70% certain it will need a second op.
Think I was just unlucky, I assume the gap normally bridges but in my case it hasn’t. Anyway, 2 weeks to go, I’ll continue taking the calcium tablets (for what they are worth), and see what the outcome is….
Cheers
Robin – UK

logan

March 30, 2007

Hello everyone. I broke my right collar bone for the 3rd and 1/2 time. That is right, I rebroke it when it was half way done healing on the second accident. First accident was a simple ski accident hitting ice and going straight down on my shoulder. Second was a bmx bike accident, and then I fell off a skateboard onto my shoulder and rebroke it half way thru healing. I made it like 7 years without breaking my collarbone again, but 9 weeks ago I busted it doing ski tricks again. I was just reading everyone’s posts because I am bummed. I hope mine fuses well soon cause it is healing slowely. Probably because I never wore a sling!!! In 4 weeks I begin my lumberjack job so I need a strong clavicle. Alright, thanks for allowing me to post my feelings in here. Peace, Love, Dope. Email me. 🙂

Jason D

March 19, 2007

…For anyone who’s interested in pinning process:
http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/im_pin_fixation_of_clavicle_frx

Jason D

March 15, 2007

…Sorry, the correct name is Basamania.

Jason D

March 13, 2007

Hi all,
I’m a new member of the BCC. Broke my right clavicle 4 days ago after coming off my 110cc pocketbike. I accelerated out of a corner and drifted a little too close to the tire wall where I clipped my left foot causing the front wheel to swing in towards the barrier and off I flew! It all happened so fast! Before I knew it, I was nursing a broken (R) clavicle. The X-rays show a typical mid break with a VERY noticeable protrusion close to the neck and what looks like an overlap between the 2 ends with the sholder end drooping downward to form a upsidedown ‘V’ shape.
Anyway, I’ve been told by the Dr. to sling with 10 days rest; and have also opted for a figure 8 to make sure everything heals well. There was no indication from the Dr. that I would have any trouble with it healing….mmmmm maybe just hope for the best. LOL!!
After reading almost all these entries, I have come to the conclusion that a break like this has more cons than pros. Which has seriously made me think about surgery.
I’m not sure how strong the conventional healing method would leave my collarbone, but being pretty active, I’d like to return to my gymnastics and weight training without having to worry about the bone giving way. Has anyone with the same interests had success with just letting it heal by itself and being as strong as before? Going by the results of a couple of entries, I’m strongly leaning towards the Dr Carl Basmania method of pin fixation,( http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/2001/04/collarbone420.html )( http://www.dukehealth.org/physicians/F389C81B5DCEAC8985256DFD006A9302 ) but I’m not sure if it is performed here in Australia. Also, the recovery time is very attractive to me as I do heavy work and have a small child I like to play with. It’s kills me that I can’t lift him up! 🙁
I’d rather stear clear of plates, screws and bone grafts if I can help it.
If anyone from Australia is reading this, and has knowledge of a great Orthopaedic surgeon who could possibly perform Basmania surgery, I would be most appreciated to hear from you.
I’m currently trying to source a good sports surgeon in Melbourne who might have worked on some of the Footy players with the same problem. I’m farely sure they get the best treatment available.
Thanks Hans for this great site. It’s been a real eye opener!

Gary

March 13, 2007

I broke my clavicle last October playing soccer (someone hit it with their head). The break had a 100% displacement. The doctor gave me a 95% chance of healing normally. After 3 weeks, the xrays had shown it had moved to 200% displacement with no signs of healing. The doctor then gave a 50% chance of healing normally, so I opted for surgery in November which consisted of a plate and screws. Because there was some scabbing of the bones (indicating it would never heal on its own), the doctor shaved the ends and placed them back together. Unfortunately, since then, the blood flow to the bone ends wasn’t enough and so they died back a small bit. Now in March, there is still no sign of healing on the xrays (some fibrous growth but no fusing). The doctor is prescribing a bone incitor and indicated it will be a race between the bone healing (if it can) or the plate breaking. The latter will result in a new surgery with a bone graft (and of course, starting from square zero). Although, I’m in no pain and can use the arm reasonably, the doctor has directed no activities that could result in falling or any lifting of more than very light weights. Truthfully, an annoying and depressing 5 months with what looks like quite a few more to come.

ewa

March 2, 2007

Hi it’s me again.
I didn’t want to agree to have an operation and it looks like i was right.
2.5 weeks in bed and the bones are healed. a bit of physio now and back to work after 3 weeks from the accident. yipee!
speedy recovery to all x

ken

February 27, 2007

i broke my clavicle in 3 placeses!!! my doc installed a rod through the bone frags to line them back up. the rod had a plate and nut on each end to draw the fractures together.so far so good. the op took place on mon. feb 26,07 one end of the rod sticks out of top back side of my shoulder the other end is inside by my chest.this is all done thru two little cuts and some drilling.well i will let you know how the healing prosses goes.

Scott

February 27, 2007

Hi – I broke my left clavicle 5 weeks ago in a cycling accident. I was enjoying a spring-like late Jan. Sunday on my road bike and did not notice this 3-4″ jumbo pine-cone in the road. Before I knew what had happened I was flying over my handlebars. I took the brunt of the impact with my left shoulder and also managed to break 1-2 ribs in the process. My ortho doc recommended trying to let it heal naturally, and claims there is about a 5% chance of a non-union in a separation like mine. Another cyclist friend of mine went to the same doc, who recommended immediate surgery in his case. He took 2-3 months total to recover and said it was certainly no picnic. I had a fair amount of pain for 2-3 weeks, of course the broken ribs didn’t help and those took 3-4 weeks to really heal. Doc did not recommend a figure 8 brace, just a sling and said I could ditch that in 3-4 weeks after the accident if it felt OK. I removed the sling after 4 weeks. In the past week I have been using the left arm more and more and regaining mobility in the shoulder and arm after 4 weeks of keeping everything still.
The X-Ray taken 5 weeks after the accident does not show bone forming to bridge the gap in the seperation. Doc said there was a slight hint of bone fibre growth, but nothing substantial yet. He said this is fairly typical as this growth starts to show up on X-ray anywhere from 4-8 weeks. My next appointment is in 4 more weeks, which will be 9 weeks from the incident. I do not feel any grinding or bone movement in the shoulder. I do feel some tightness in the clavicle area, and mostly I am trying to work through shoulder muscle rehab. My doc said I did not need to worry about moving the arm – he said I can be as active as possible as long as it doesn’t cause pain, just stay away from activities that could result in a fall – including cycling. He even recommended doing some light weight work in the gym, whatever I felt comfortable doing from a range of motion perspective. I guess he is one of those who does not buy into the notion of keeping things stable for as long as possible. I am starting to feel much better generally and returning to more normal use of my left arm each day – I have only been out of the sling for 11 days now.
Doc still says he gives me a 95% chance of forming a union between the bone. I sure hope he is right. I hate to even think about going back and doing surgery in 1-2 months from now and then going through another 2 month recovery process.
One thing I am struggling with – I am heading to the mountains this weekend, which will be 6 weeks from the original incident. I am an expert skiier who raced in high school and typically ski off trail expert only / off-piste sort of areas. The group I am going with are mostly intermediate skiiers. I would never consider skiing in my normal way, but I am an considering taking a few runs on the blues with them just to get some skiing in, and since I will be up there anyway. I am going more for the trip than the skiing. I am torn – half of me is thinking I am nuts to even consider such a thing, but the other half of me is saying the chances of a fall would be pretty minimal as long as I take it completely easy.

Trevor

February 26, 2007

Gosh, i broke my coller bone a year ago on a mountain board and i still feel it to this day when i do push-ups and such…not to discourage any of you who just broke it and are wondering how long before it heals:)It was a pretty bad break though…couln’t even move my arm for about a month.

John

February 23, 2007

Hi,
Just a note to encourage any new members of the BCC (broken Clavicle club) and think there is no other options other than a sling or a brace and weeks of painful recovery. I broke my left mid clavicle while attempting a 25′ jump snowboarding on Thursday 25th January 2007.
It was quite a bad fracture which was severely displaced and only 1mm from being a compound fracture. In fact immediately after the fall I felt moisture pouring down my shoulder. My daughter was with me and I was worried she would be upset with viewing a compound fracture. To my amazement after patting inside my jacket there was no blood. The emergency Dr said what I had experienced was the body’s defense mechanism kicking in and what I felt was adrenalin pouring over the fracture. The sensation was extremely weird like water trickling over your shoulder and down your arm in a shower.
After just 30 minutes I left the hospital with a copy of my x-ray a figure of eight brace and a prescription for Vicodin and a large bone tenting out my shoulder that you could hang a towel on.
Now just to let you know a bit about my background and how this would really disrupt my lifestyle. I’m a fulltime athlete-running six miles a day five times a week and train and play soccer three times a week which I done for the last twenty years. I’m married with three active teenagers and I felt totally screwed and depressed.
Until I discovered on the internet Dr Carl Basmania from Duke University and his Intramedullary Pin Fixation of the Clavicle. After a few phone calls I found a fantastic local orthopedic surgeon called Dr Eric Freedman who could perform this procedure and within eleven days of the accident I underwent surgery.
The procedure is very low invasive and requires just two small incisions and the insertion of a pin to join and secure the clavicle. The operation took less than an hour and after just over an hour in recovery my wife drove me home. I could not believe it no pain no thousand vaults surging through my shoulder it really was a miracle.
Within four days of surgery I was riding my bike and after nine days I’ve started light jogging and I’m even kicking a ball again it really is the difference between night and day not to mention the cosmetic difference the surgery has made.
Now, I’m not saying this procedure is for everyone and I know a lot of people recover with a sling or a brace. However, technology and surgery techniques have come a long way and if you are active or an athlete there should be a more successful alternative.
This is my experience and I hope it encourages any new BCC members who may feel there is no immediate hope and want to get their lifestyle back with minimum interruption.
Regards
John

ewa

February 14, 2007

thanks Mike
just been to a different ortho (private as well) and she said that my “twisted pivotal” brake is not that uncommon after all and that she sees very good chances of my collar bone healing on its own. i’m very glad i didn’t listen to the first doc as he obviously likes what he does a bit too much 😉
while the first doc said the chances of it healing on its own are 30%, the sec doc said 90%(both shoulder specialist docs!)
i should have run from there the second he asked me when i had my last meal. (he wanted to operate on me there and then!)(London Bridge Hospital)
will keep you updated with my progress if anything interesting occurs.
ps: i’m only 31 and i’m not an athlete so i can afford to lie in bed for few weeks taking it easy though. Good luck to everyone there waiting patiently for their bones to heal x

Mike O

February 13, 2007

Ewa
Im 3 months out and 59 yr old man..I have an interposed fragment in my mid 3rd fracture with ca. two cm of overriding of the proximal/distal ie “near and far” portions of the clavicle shaft…the reading I’ve done in the medical literature tends to support that you can get (almost) as good a result with plating of a non union 6 to 12 months later should you decline initial surgery, and that non union occurs withiout surgery about 15 % of the time with mid third fractures, the most common type. My ortho thought that the 8 strap for (at least four) possibly 6-8 wks at my age should suffice and lo, in my instance anyway,it appears that he was right..I’m full motion and working with 2 or 3 lb dumbells and theraband stretching with x ray of clinical union at two months…in the end, it’s your choice…good luck

ewa

February 13, 2007

hello there
very helpful comments. i broke my collar bone 2 days ago horseriding. two emergency docs saw my xrays and said sling and figure 8 will suffice. i decided to go to a specialist doc and after seeing my xrays he said the only option is operation with the use of metal plates as the bone broke at an angle and sticks out and slides off the other bone.
he says it will leave a scar 3.5 inches long plus he will knock me out completely for the operation.
i’m getting a second opinion today as the operation seems too much plus leaving such long scar and the need for knocking out puts me right off.
although there are many scenarios you have described i didn’t seem to be able to find anything about the kind of twisted unclear brake that according to my doc doesn’t heal in 70% of people as the bones tend to slide off each other.
can anyone help please with similar story to mine?
i’m worried that my doc who is a private doc might just be too keen to operate 🙁
thanks in advance

Rol

February 12, 2007

Dustin
There is a tremendous amout of different opinions from doctors and patients on this. My doctor and ortho say the sling is for patient comfort alone. Personally I’m 61 and I broke my clavicle mid shaft with a 1.5 inch displacement on Jan 7 in a bike crash also. I stopped wearing the sling in less than a week. You should follow what your doctors reccommend. I am one of the lucky ones whose doctors do not believe there is much of anything the individual can do to hurt or help the healing process. 16 days after fracture my ortho told me it was alright to start riding my bike again but suugested I stay on the roads and warned me not to fall off. (Why didn’t he tell me that before I crashed in the first place?)

Dustin

February 9, 2007

PS i broke it by overshooting a 40 footer on my banshee….too much speed = too much distance oops……anyways, caught a big rock and rolled, put all my weight on my shoulder, then as you guessed “SNAP!” its in 2

Dustin

February 9, 2007

i broke my collar bone 4 weeks ago, its starting to feel alot better, and the ugly purplish green bruise is gone off my chest ive been wearing a sling during the day, and taking ot off to sleep…i haven’t wore the sling in a week, and wondering if i should play it safe and wear it or if ill be ok without it, because it does not hurt unless i move my arm quickly..although theres a nice bumb where the breakage was

Mark D

February 7, 2007

Hi David,
I’m 29 and I’ve experienced a similar injury and treatment. I have a distal clavicle fracture just outside of the right shoulder joint – I fell of a scooter at the start of this year. The specialist took one look at my x-ray and instantly recommended surgery, but since I’m not keen on going under the knife, and time is on my side (I’m a very patient person – I will be happy as long as it heals eventually), I’ve elected to see if it can heal on its own first.
I’ve been following a general rule of “if it feels OK, i can do it, BUT, if it hurts, DONT”. It’s now been 5 weeks since the injury and it feels fine most of the time – but I’m still hesitant to put significant weight on it. I think its already returned to about 95% mobility and maybe 50% strength (but as i noted, I’m not prepared to test that!).
Since week 4, I have been able to lift my arm over my head with no problems and I can move my arm through the full range of motion. I’ve found walking laps in a swimming pool is a fantastic way of maintaining mobility for me, the water takes the weight of the arm off & is quite therapeutic!
The only pain I’ve continued to experience is in the morning immediately after waking up – initially (first 2 weeks) it was the acute pain of a broken bone, now its more of a dull ache around the end of the clavicle (probably ligaments/tendons & assorted bits), as the injured area gets accustomed to the weight of the arm each day. The pain is gone within 30 mins of waking up.
I try to keep my arm in the sling as much as possible, but that gets uncomfortable (my deltoid ends up spasming after a couple of hours). Luckily I have a desk job, and a comfy workstation, so my arm can rest on the chair, & I can operate in my job with no problems. So for me, the sling is really handy for travelling to and from work.
I have my followup with the specialist next week; I’m confident its repairing – but, if the x-rays show no bone healing, I did say to the specialist last time that I would take the surgery. However, given that my mobility is already almost back to normal, and I feel my strength is getting better as each week goes by, I now think I will wait another 6-12 weeks and see how it continues to heal before I reconsider the surgery option.
Thanks everybody for relating your experiences – its very much appreciated!

Phil

February 1, 2007

Interesting site! I broke my clavicle, 5 ribs and my shoulder blade Nov 9, 2006. At age 63, I sometimes daydream on my bike, not a good thing to do at 15 mph. When I went down, I didn’t slide, in fact the only road rash I got was about the size of a 50 cent piece. So now, some 11 weeks out, I am worried that I might have to have surgery, which I don’t really want. I am currently planning to be ready for a TRI in April. My ortho said if it was his shoulder he would continue to wait and see. He also said I could try some swimming but if it hurt too much I shouldn’t overdo. He said spinning was ok, in fact he said keeping the body in good condition was helpful in the healing process. I have pretty much full range of motion, although the x-ray does show nearly 1 inch of overlap so my right shoulder is narrower but I have often been accused of being unbalanced so I really don’t care as long as I can get back on my bike. It was quite helpful to read many of these accounts especially some of the comments on the “noise” with movement. The pain is only a problem when I push too hard and so I avoid that when I can. I was never told that ibuprofen hindered the healing. I put in 4 miles on the treadmill today and my shoulder felt pretty good. The real test will come when I get in the pool and do something besides kick my legs. My ortho also gave me a lot to think about in regards to surgical “risks”, many of which seem to have been addressed nicely in the accounts on this site.
Thanks for the information, Hans, it has certainly given me much to ponder as I “wait and see”.

David

January 25, 2007

Thanks for your advice Bill,
Yeah, I am being pretty careful about putting pressure on the right shoulder at the moment. I’m pretty sure that there is a join between the two pieces of bone, and there was clouding in the small gap between them (on the x-rays) to indicate that is the case…
I get the feeling that most of the discomfort is from a general degradation of the shoulder in general, from pretty much avoiding using it for more than two months…

Bill

January 22, 2007

Hello David, I have a distal fracture also but in two places. I am 60 and the fracture has been slow to heal. It cannot hurt to wait several more weeks; because once you left the 6-10 wk period and if it has not unioned, it very likely is not going to. This is your chance now for recovery and the join can still be fragile. I wish someone would have emphasized that with me.

Eslam

January 20, 2007

Please help.iam 21 male,first at year 2004 i was playing in the gym when i pressed a little hard on my shoulders .allthough,nothing serious happened .But,the next day i wake up i found that my clavicle bone was moved i then went to a docter 3 weeks later for some reasons .he told me that the clavicle bone was moved from it’s place and that i have 2 cho Fisrt ,have a surgery 40% for wining Secand,to leave it like that
So,plzzzz help me ,could i do any thing to recover my body
i have an X-ray for my shoulders if u wana see it …and Thxxx

Mike O

January 20, 2007

Well, my x rays exactly 8 wks post fx now show good callous-new bone formation though at 59 I’ve been told to avoid excess lifting and be moderate..started PT two weeks ago and have (almost full except adduction)..I wore the 8 brace 7 weeks-no longer-& cont 1000 mg Calcium 400U Vit D, Glucosamine/Chondroitin 750 mg one daily 1000 mg Vit C and multvits daily…and yes a copper bracelet on the affected side(anything that will even potentially help when older)..my shoulder dips but Nik(above poster)at my age whose looking at me anyway? I’m just thrilled to be getting well. You might try at least calcium and vitamin D, heh?

Nik Rosewarne

January 20, 2007

Hi,
My name’s Nik, a 33 years old male and I broke my left clavicle (the distal third) almost eight months ago now, on the 25th May 2006; after having been knocked off my bike by a petrol can flying off the back of a fire engine of all things!
In common with most people treatment consisted of a free ride in an ambulance, pain-killers (which mercifully I didn’t need) and advice to take it easy to give the break time to heal.
After four weeks or so, I no longer needed the sling and embarked on a course of hydro-therapy and physio-therapy which helped me recover full articulation and range of movement of my arm/shoulder.
Whilst recovering I came across this website and found it very encouraging and informative in what was a very low point in my life.
Although I am grateful to have unrestricted use of my arm back again, I have a bony step on the outline of my shoulder which I am particularly self-conscious about, especially when I fold my arms.
This bony step becomes more pronounced when sitting and has a squishy/gristly feel to it over the bone when standing. There is also some movement of the bone when I push down on it whilst standing in front of the mirror or when I cough.
Overall it gives me the appearance of being asymmetric and this to be honest gets me down.
If I may and if anyone has the time to answer me, I’d be grateful if I could ask two questions:-
(i) How long will it take (if ever) for my particular type of clavicle break to return to its natural shape and appearance?
(ii) My physiotherapist has mentioned that if the appearance of my clavicle is an issue for me, I could consider having the bone shaved.
Has anyone heard of this type of procedure before and what would the risks be. Naturally I wouldn’t want to jeopardise the full range of movement, lack of pain and absence of discomfort I currently have for the sake of vanity.
Best regards
Nik
United Kingdom.

Ah the bump. The tell tale sign of a broken collar bone. There are those that excel at expounding on their various injuries. The telling of the fateful day when all went wrong and their body and Earth collided. And in the case of a broken collar bone, there to back it up, is the bump.

What a wonderful visual device to astound, amaze, and add proof to the narration.

Why oh why would one want to lose their bump?

I must highly recommend that vanity be damned! Accept the bump and wield it as a weapon of discourse. Friends will gather and listen in awe. Word will spread. Soon more will arrive to hear of the dreaded day and see the bump. The excitement and wonder will become a conflagration. In the end all fear and aversion will be wiped clean and the bump will be desired.

Carry your bump with pride.

– Cheers!

Hans

David

January 18, 2007

Hi,
I’m a 26 year old male, and I had the pleasure of joining the broken-clavicle club on Nov. 8th of last year, courtesy of Judo. I want to thank everyone for posting their experiences on this board, it helped me a lot, as I live in a foreign country and communication with my orthos is possible, but not perfect.
I broke it in one of the rarer ways, (relatively painless distal-fracture; snapped the tip off the clavicle with no apparent ligament damage, and minimal displacement, conservatively treated), and I have a question about the recovery process which is hard to ask due to language difficulties (and due to the subjective nature of the question):
two months after breaking the bone, how do you feel in terms of strength/shoulder integrity?
I have almost my full range of motion again, and there’s no real pain, however the is a localized discomfort throughout the shoulder, and strength isn’t something I’ve really tested. The injury was treated conservatively (very much so for the first 3-4 weeks).
Thanks again,
David

Amy

January 15, 2007

Hi,
I broke my right collar bone three and a bit weeks ago, at the two week x – ray, my mid shaft fracture was fairly displaced and overlapping. I was told to return in a month and then surgery would be considered should it be in a similar state.
I do not know if it has healed, I still have alot of pain, some inability of arm movements, grinding noises and sensations, and i can push the tip of the bone that is sticking up in and out – any chance it could be healed.

From what you describe I would guess that it is not healed. Also, I don’t recommend pushing and moving the tip of the bone. You want the bones to remain stable so that they can form a union. Moving the bones can hinder the healing process.

Just wanted to know, how can i help it to heal any inside info???
also I want it to mend straight, not one on top of the other, as i want no shortening or loss of length or strength. I play lax, netball, horse ride and do gymnastics, hefty load really and I want the best recovery possible. (And ASAP)
I am in fact returning to the surgeon in three days due to severity in pain, and associated pain in my shoulder muscles and scapula. I wanted to know, how likely he is to perform surgery after four weeks, with moderate displacement and overlap, but strong wish from me. I have also got nonunion fractures in my scaphoid, and index finger – dont know whether this is a persuasion factor.
Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments they are so helpful.

You mention the desire to continue participating in multiple physical sports activities and without being hindered by your shoulder. Because of this I would highly recommend that you also make sure your orthopedic doctor is fully aware of this. Be very clear about what your expectations are when recovered. It would also be good getting a second opinion from another ortho doc, preferably one that specializes in sports related injuries.

– Hans

Rol

January 12, 2007

Thanks Mike. All my doc’s have reccommended the sling even with the 8. I decided to go with my personal doc’s advice and am now back in the 8 and sling.

Mike O

January 11, 2007

Rol
I dc’d the figure 8 strap exactly 7 weeks post fracture..at four wks my ortho waffled on whether to cont the 8 or go with sling (I never did both at same time) but finally rec the 8 so I did it another 3 weeks ( I had no visible new bone at four weeks) …I have grown a lump at the fracture site in recent weeks and I think the shoulders back continuously afforded by the 8 brace was key (with luck, vitamins etc etc)…I start PT today and have been doing 2 lb dumbell EX…In my internet scramblings plus advice of a 2nd ortho they both strongly advised either sling or 8 brace and the brace being better if you can tolerate it..I’m 59..the Journal of Bone and Joint surgery latest mag has a study about conservative vs operative Rx of mid third clavicle fractures that one ortho gave me and the mean time for full bony union per x ray was 28 weeks for non op treatment and 16 weeks for the plating..overall I’m satisfied for now with my odds (though wish my bones healed as if I were 20)..best…….Mike O

torbz

January 11, 2007

i broke my coller bone in a rugby match how long would you reckomend tell i go back to rugby

Rol

January 10, 2007

I suffered a mid shaft break of my left clavicle 3 days ago, 1/7/07 in a bike crash. I am 61 and as with Hans, hope to survive this with loosing as little biking fitness as possible. the orthapedist said I could ride the trainer with one hand now. Plan on starting today. (how soon did you start Hans?) even though the bone was completly displaced and overlapped an inch and a half I have been able to stay active and mobile without the severe pain that many report. 3-4 IB. per day have sufficed for me. I am wearing a sling but have encountered a disagreement between my doctors on the use and value of the figure 8 support strap. Emergency room put it on- family doctor agreed because of unusual amount of overlap. Orthapedic specialist said it did not help and removed it. Family Dr called another Orthapedic specialist who agreed it was helpful and provided another one for me to use. What experience have others had with the figure 8 strap? (I have not been wearing it since the OS removed it 24 hours after the crash)

Susie

January 10, 2007

I am so bored with my story!
I have broken my left clavicle three times and now following the latest fall playing tennis, have evened things up by breaking the right one

Mike O

January 9, 2007

Hi Carol C..re your pains, I dont’ know if your pain pattern is typical (mine was all in the mid/3d of clavicle) ..my comment is I wished I had started the high dose calcium and vitamin D right away because I’m 59 and will heal slower; my advice to you is to get on these supplements right away & be patient with the sling and/or brace…recently I’ve just wanted to chuck the thing ’cause I have a sed job tho have not done this as there are times when I’ve inadvertently moved the shoulder suddenly in response to dropping things and trying to catch it and am glad I had the stabilization in place..best Mike O

Carol C

January 8, 2007

I shattered my left clavicle on Dec 2, 2006 Four breaks
Is it normal to have shooting pains in both arms & neck & head & entire back?

Mike O’Day

January 4, 2007

What a find..thanks Hans.
I fx my left clavicle Nov 24 ’06 falling over my bannister (plastic baggie on carpet) about 6 feet onto wooden floor and have mid third fx with superior displacement of proximal portion and inferior displacment of the lateral with an interposed oblique fragment..have about 1.75-2.0 cm of override..ER Rx of sling and fig 8 (8 brace only from nx day to now) and today is exactly six weeks out..1st pod in hallway consult saw films and thought Rx could go either way and 2nd pod (official office visit) was confident that non op Rx would suffice..x rays at 4 weeks showed zip callous tho maybe a little blurring of the bone ends c/w (very) early healing..I’m 59 1/2 yrs old, non smoker with sed job..I am wearing a copper bracelet with magnets lt wrist and hematite magnet necklace draped blanket fasion over fx site under fig 8 strap..I know basic accupuncture & have been self Rxing once daily for 20 minutes at two “power locales” left upper extremity.I have virtual full range of motion and no sense of grinding any longer and doing gentle ROM exercizes. I’m taking 1000 mg Ca, 400 u Vit D, 500 mg Vit C, Glucosamine/Chondroitin 1 tab, Centrum Vitam and wife’s loving attn PRN ie putting on the 8 brace. Since she had Ro Cuff surg Rt Dec 11th, we’re literally “joined at the shoulders” tho wouldn’t recommend that for your spouses..ah, life. Thanks for sharing everybody.very honest discussions..will keep you posted..Tx again Hans

Bill

December 22, 2006

I suffered a distal break of the clavicle in a bike accident in June, and unfortunately, it has not healed. Not terribly painful but still limiting. Went in for a second opinion and the doc said distal fracture are less likely to heal properly and the options were to do nothing and wait, or undergo a simple surgical procedure to take out part of the bone. That recommendation mirrors that of the first physican. Evidently, it is a 1/2 hr out patient procedure with local anethestic but entails 6 wks in a sling and several more months of recovery. I have not read of anyone on this forum undergoing this type of intervention, unless I have missed it. Wondering if anyone has experience to share in this regard?

I suffered a distal break but I haven’t heard about this type being more difficult to heal. In fact, mine was solid in a month. I’ve also not heard removing a piece of the clavicle to allow it to heal. Maybe the piece of bone is splintered and/or free and may cause further damage? I know that others have posted comments about their operations. If you haven’t, take a look at the other clavicle pages on the site. The links are near the bottom of the article at the top of the page.

– Hans

klynnpoet

December 12, 2006

Just wanted to say thanks to all for this site- I finally feel I am not alone. I broke my right collarbone in a car accident 3 months ago and I just found out today I will be having plates and screws put in Dec 29th- UGH! I am frustrated to get back to my life- I am into martial arts and I find the inability to get exercise frustrating! My question- How long after the surgery will I be able to get back to my normal exercise routine? I currently have been walking to get back some strength but wish I could do more.

I haven’t gone through surgery so I can’t answer. Maybe someone else will be able to. Also, you might try using a stationary bike for workouts. It’s a great way to raise your heart rate while keeping the shoulder immobile. That will also help with maintaining your physical conditioning.

– Hans

Hans

November 29, 2006

Daniel – I’m glad I helped out.
I haven’t been unlucky enough to have to work through a frozen shoulder. I banged up my shoulder a year and half ago and that required lots of PT. Having a little “sedation” for those exercises would have been nice :’)

Daniel McNeil

November 29, 2006

Hans,
I wrote re my fx clavicle back in August and you gave me good advice (mainly- “take it easy!”). I saw my ortho doc last week and the x-ray revealed the bone has mostly healed – ugly, but healed. With my new found freedom I have found certain movements causes much discomfort. The ortho doc thinks rotator cuff but the pt thinks it may be “frozen shoulder” since I have more strength than would be present with a torn rc. I start pt tomorrow – it promises to be painful. I am ready for it. I saw some internet info re freeing up the frozen shoulder under sedation and wondered if you or anyone else may have had experience with that. Thanks, again, for your help! Daniel McNeil

Hans

November 14, 2006

Ken – I would recommend checking with your local bicycle coalition and see if they have a recommendation regarding dealing with the metal plate and Con Edison. Here’s the NY Bicycling Coalition web site “http://www.nybc.net/”. Lots of good information there.
As for your healing, it sounds like you are heading in the right direction but just need a little more time. The bending you feel might be from the two pieces of the clavicle moving independently. If it is the two pieces moving then I would recommend *not* performing that motion as it might hinder your ability to heal. But a doctor is going to give you the best information about that.
A CT scan may provide more information than an x-ray because it can show several types of tissue with great clarity. Although, very fine soft tissue details such as found in the shoulder and knee are better seen using an MRI. I recommend you speak with your doctor(s) regarding this and see what they recommend.

Jeff Brook

November 11, 2006

Hi, I think I last wrote on March 13, 2006, and indicated that I was given conflicting advice from the 2 surgeons I saw but that I was going to see where an active summer got me. (thanks to being in Canada and our universal health coverage since I had many trips to the doctors and xrays and a CAT Scan)
I stuck with physio through sometime in May and that paid off in getting mobility back and then staying with the exercises til end of June pretty well brought it back completely.
My judge as to whether I would tolerate its supposed “Fibrous Union” was if I could swim front crawl without a limitation in motion and if I could wind surf (and kayak and sail).
I am happy to announce that it passed these tests and I was back on the bike without a hitch too. I don’t think that it is 100% compared to the other side yet, but certainly close enough (>95%) to believe that my original surgeon was right (“live with a fibrous union”). And after all, he should be, given that he followed my case through many more visits., etc. than did the 2nd surgeon (the one that was relatively eager to operate) who could not have looked at things for more than 10 min. Now I recently pushed it hard doing outdoor work last month and had a week of significant soreness, but that is gone now.
Is there a message for others going through this, I don’t know, but at least for now I can share a happy ending and hope everyone else will eventually get to the same place and so gets some reassurance from my note. Of course it took ups and downs and hard work and time, but you’ll get there!
(and let’s hope that its no looking back for my left clavicle!)

ken snapp

November 7, 2006

Hello All,
Well I have finished reading all the previous comments. I sort of saved a little bit everyday for inspiration and advice and am a little sad that I finally got to the end. So I thought I would throw in my experience and hopefully get some advice and feedback as well.
I broke my collarbone riding to work at 6:30am in the bike lane going down 5th ave. in NYC. I hit a huge metal plate that ConEdison uses when they dig up the road. Well that 3-4 inch rise caused me to lose my balance and the plate took the tires from under me, and I landed on my shoulder with my full weight.
So ER, doctor, second opinion, now looking for a third. I had a good break with slight overlap and a couple of pieces floating around. I am a chef so work has been out of the question. When I went back for my 4 week follow-up xray, the doc said two more months as the bones have not joined, but I feel that there is callus forming.
The pain has gone away, mostly. Now I am in the 5th week. But my concern is how it is healing. My impressions are that when I move my arm I feel the bones tenting or hinging. It does not necessarily hurt but there is muscular tension. I am trying to find a doctor in network that will do a CT scan as the xrays do not necessarily show signs of healing. All this on top of meeting with lawyers to find out if I can sue the city or conedison, even though they have a “pothole law” to protect themselves. I feel that this plate being in the “bike lane” with now signs for caution, made the accident unavoidable and they should be at fault.
Please advise as to CT scans, my healing and feelings about this hinging sensation, lawsuit, and any other words of wisdom. Thanks to all for the info, this site really helped me with my coping.

Ann

November 6, 2006

Greg,
I suffered a similar injury in the beginning of September – I shattered my clavicle into 4-5 pieces and I broke my shoulderblade and cracked a rib. I had surgery less than a week after my accident, but I had a bone graft and a plate and several screws put in my clavicle. The surgery, along with several other doctor bills is still being all totalled up and going through insurance right now, so I am not all too sure how much it cost. Also, I had to see my orthopedic surgeon 3 times since the surgery and will have monthly checkups (with xrays) for the next year. The surgery expenses were over $10,000, excluding the doctor visits, etc. Thank goodness my insurance is covering a lot of it after I pay my deductible, but still it is expensive. Good luck. For me, the surgery was worth it. I know my body would not have been able to heal on its own without it.

greg

November 3, 2006

here is the nightmare that i’m going through. I was a passenger in a 2006 ford expedition traveling from north east ohio to southern california. in illinois on interstate 40 the driver lost control and rolled the truck at about 80 mph. I got a hell of a wake up call, just in time to grab the oh shit bar before impact. The truck rolled three times, at the second revolution I was ejected from the vehicle through the closed sunroof. The truck stopped rolling just before it landed on top of me. Luckily the trailer chaines stopped it at that point. if it had rolled over onto its wheels there would only have been a spot where i was. anyway the ambulance came and took me to the nearest hospital. At the hospital the doctor said that my right clavicle was fractured. but he would not fix it since it wasn’t sticking out. so off to cali. we go a few days later. once we got to southern california I was tricked into going to a hospital, was told were going to look at cars since ours was totaled. At the hospital they took more x-rays. The x-rays show that my right clavical is in three pieces. well no wonder i have a hard time moving, breathing, and so on. they gave me a figure 8 sling to go along with the arm sling that i already had. now they tell me that it should heal with minimal loss of motion. the accident was on aug. 12 2006, it is now nov. 3rd and ive had to return to ohio since I couldn’t get a job to save my life due to this injury. and have had more x-rays taken since my return. the condition has actually gotten worse. the bones have not healed, they are farther apart, and my shoulder has dropped even farther. I have gotten some more movement out of it but i still can not reach my left shoulder with my right hand. all the while i’ve been fighting with the insurance company to try to get this fixed. I have gone to several orthopedic surgens and they all agree that it will require surgery to correct it. plates,screws, and a bone graft. not to mention the months of rehab to regain mobility. I’m just wondering how much all this is going to cost since I have to wait for a settlement before I can schedule the operation? any feedback would be helpful and appreciated.

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