just want a moan really as the misses/family are not bikers and dont understand, riding buddies pop around to say ‘oreet’ but its not the same.

broke it last week, very painfull still, cant eat,sleep,drive etc and the pain killers have turned me into a zombie. need to go back in 4 weeks so as they can ‘assess the damage’ bit worried that could mean i may need an op’ to pin it as its a ‘deformed break’ and its getting me down not knowing what this means for my riding in the future

i ride almost every night and im really missing it already and im struggling to find something to fill the gap.
both bikes cleaned with a toothbrush, cleared shed out, cleaned the house, walked around the shops in town etc

saving playstation and beer for weekend treats 😉

ive read quite a few of the old STW posts on broken collar bones but i’d like to know your personal experiance after 12 weeks off the bike (docs advise).

how did you try to keep you fitness level up ? (i will be taking long country walks and maybe a spinning class when im up to it)

did you stay off the bike for the full recomoneded time ? (im thinking a bit of gentle canal path riding might be possible in a week or 3)

if you had to have it pinned how long did it take to heal and is this the better option IE stronger than the bone knitting itself?

did it affect the way you ride after you recovered, did you loose your ‘bottle’ for fear of breaking it again ?

my biggest worry is not knowing if this is going to happen everytime i have a fall meaning i have to hold back on stuff i know i can manage.

off for a nap now, pain killers have kicked in.

did you get dihydrocodeine? it helps you sleep, its great, mmmm. mine was a clean break so I’m lucky but can no longer carry rucksacks, get quite the same arm movement, and cold weather is really painful.

When I did mine, I was soooo bored after a couple of weeks I just started doing stuff with it – got sent for surgery 3 weeks after I got back on the bike! Then got sent home before the op!

My advice – give it a couple of weeks, then just start doing a little and stop when it starts to hurt.

When I got back on the bike it took a few weeks to feel really confident again – but at least I was riding!

Good luck

ps. turbo trainer??

Broken arm here, so not quite going what you’re going through, but it still sucks.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/recently-watched-films-youve-really-liked

Is helping.

healing vibes to any fallen! 🙂

Jeez, it’s just a bust collar bone. I was off the bike for about 3 months, healed and got back on. Let it heal and deal with it..

Defo go and see Brian Simpson at the Physio Clinic in Ipswitch. Not only does the treatment work (for me at least) but he is a fountain of knowledge regards expectations and reassurances.

Get fitted for a cross brace, first job is to get the bones as aligned as possible so they can start knitting. Painfull as a kick in the man bits but worth it in the long run.

Do your exercises to make sure the joint doesn’t lock, wall finger climbs and hanging circles.

Apply as much Comfrey bone cream on as you can take, smells like an oil slick but again, age old remedy.

I was out (read propped up on a couch) for first few days, then two weeks doing nothing, then on the indoor trainer with my arm supported for three weeks, then on light rides for the next three. No problems since bar the occasional twinge when benching / deadlifting.

Mine was a medial break, 1 inch separation, done last Autumn. No shards so fairly straightforward.

If you do have to go to surgery, ask about the dual-trak screws, or similar. Less invasive, no secondary surgery and no surface abrasion issues.

I tried running soon after I had a hooked plate put in but it was more trouble than it was worth – got loads of those sore/tender spots in the shoulder muscles from artificially holding the arm in place. The muscles were pretty hammered after the op to put the plate in.

So for a while it was just walking to work (50 mins each way) and swinging my arms (no sling) whilst concentrating on keeping my bad shoulder at the same height as the good one, rather than drooping through lack of muscular support.

I also did the basic physio thing of letting the arm hang down and rotating it with my other hand.

Eventually the muscles were strong enough that I could then start running without problems.

be a little careful with the Comfrey – google for side effects…

Only applies if ingested … topical application is fine !

I feel your pain, i broke mine on sunday.

The doctor at the hospital was bloody useless, he didn’t tell me anything other than ‘yes you broke your collarbone and it will take 4-6 weeks’ i had to ask to see the x-ray. the only good thing was they gave me some decent pain killers, so i have been sleeping ok.

i am in the dark as to whether it will heal well so have decided to go and see the private physio i saw when i dislocated my shoulder.

it has only been 4 days and i am bored out of my mind!

the most annoying thing is i was riding a dh track with 25ft tables, 5 foot drops and rock gardens and i smash myself to bits on the kiddies line 🙁

i have decided that i will always ride downhill and anything slightly risky with body armour. it just isn’t worth the pain or time off……..

After speaking to the SO’s surgical friends, think the NHS attitude is that you can function just fine without a joined collarbone (or even a collarbone at all) so for them its all about pain management hence the paper bag full of pills, and the good as useless sling.

Defo get along to see the physio, pulsed magnetic field and laser therapy work well on these breaks, and the closer they can align the bones the quicker the callous / hyaline cartilage formation, and hence the healing process.

Obviously all the above is if the break isn’t to messy (ie loads of floating bits / shards etc) as can only speak from the experience of a reasonably clean break.

Co-incidentally I’m just back from the physio and about to go out for a bimble on road bike. Broke mine about 8 weeks ago – ribs hurt more than the collar bone/shoulder but now mainly pain free. Was off the pain killers after about 3/4 weeks. Physio has got much of the movement back already, and now working on strength (which should also address remaining pain/discomfort). As for exercise, I just walked for first few weeks (which helped rib/lungs a lot) and started gentle road bike at six weeks. Gentle rides of no more than an hour. Have been told to stay off MTB until 12 weeks, mainly due to risk of coming off again as until about then still fairly easy to break it again and go back to square one. All things considered feel much better now, and good to get out on any sort of a bike. Just be patient and all will be well.

Broke mine in the Velodrome 13th Jan. One of the A and E docs was a keen road/time-trial rider who’d broken both and had them plated so he stayed around after his shift because he was interested in the verdict on mine. Mine was broken in two places and the detached bit had spun around so it was poking up into the skin a bit, and it had also rotated on its axis as well (as the surgeon found out).

I had surgery a week after breaking it – big long plate, 10 screws. Felt much better after that. Was off bike completely for 5 weeks, then on turbo trainer (whilst wearing a sling) for 3 weeks, then gentle road riding. End of April did the 100 mile route of the Cotswold Spring Classic, and got a gold standard time (though it was a fairly lenient standard).

For the 8 weeks or so I had training I followed the Time Crunched Cyclist plan (Chris Carmichael book) so lots of interval work.

EDIT: As said above, my ribs hurt more than the collarbone break. And here’s an “after” pic.

Tell them you are a climber and they will be more inclined to operate as a deformed collar bone restricts upward mobility. Getting it pinned as it will be better in the long run especially as a deformed break can take quite a long time to grow back together. I did mine about 9 weeks ago now, took 3 to get the op, was back on a bike 5 weeks after pinning, riding easy XC a few days later. Easy weights so try and regain a bit of strength at the same time. It sucks, but should’nt take 3 months with the op and a bit of commitment. The medical time-scales are understandably conservative

Think of Danny Pedrosa, 8th at the last Moto GP 6 weeks after a double collar bone op. My physio works with the trauma specialist for British Superbikes and some of those guys ride the week after a broken collarbone. Hardcore, but shows what can be done.

Apparently Pineapple juice helps the healing process, try calcium supplements as well. Airfix models and turbotrainer kept me sane (sort of)

Yours sounds worse than mine, as mine was held in place by ligaments and shizz so it was located quite well for getting healed up.

That said, I bust mine at the dunkeld SDA about a month ago.

After 16 days I was back riding (very tentatively) to work. After 3 weeks I had full range of movement back.

Feel your pain though, not getting out riding totally sucks. Healing vibes etc.

I’ve broken mine twice (same one)

The first time it was really painful and took ages to heal despite being a clean break very close to the breast bone but that was over 20 years ago.

Most recent one was 2 years ago and broke it in 3 places. After a week they decided to pin it. Best thing they ever did. Back driving after a week & back on the bike after 8 weeks. Its now stronger than before and I’ve got used to the “feeling” of it being there. Took a while to get confidence back but then i had only been riding for a year so wasn’t massively confident before hand. Important thing was to understand why i had come off & broken it & not make the same mistake twice (always look before you launch).

As for things to do while off. See if you can borrow a turbo trainer, don’t eat junk & lay off the beers (learn from my mistakes).

Think thats it other than to say i hope it heals quickly for you & that the days don’t drag too much.

I broke mine 2 years ago, I’m debating if beej’s break is more impressive, but I’ve got some similar-looking before/after shots.

Certainly it took a while 2-3 months before I was back on the mountain bike, and even longer before I felt strong again. But I was out riding the road bike (slowly, taking care not to fall off) perhaps 3-4 weeks after the op. Your mileage may vary.

2 years on and it’s fine – it doesn’t stop me doing anything but the metalwork is quite prominent and is a bit sore when I wear a heavy rucksack. At the moment, not enough to have another operation to remove the metal – but it’s an option in the future if it bothers me. I don’t think you can really “choose” to have it plated unless the decision is borderline. Straightforward non-displaced fractures don’t need operations – they heal well, whereas mine looked like Beej’s and the ends of the bone were never going to meet (they were separated by fascia which had been punctured by the sharp end of the bone). Also it’s worth bearing in mind that the operation isn’t without its risks (pneumothorax, subclavian vein damage).

Yep, I really feel for you, I was there last summer, I had a severely displaced clavicle, so had plate and hook which they took out after six months. Watch the drugs though, can be addictive, and ease off the anti-inflams like nurofen, apparently not good for bone union. If you can stretch to it then go private, no waiting for xrays or surgery if you need it, if you’re that into your biking then it’s money worth spending. As far as how long for recovery it’s will take as long as it takes, don’t rush back on the bike if it hurts, and get pyshio. Collarbones heal really well so I’m sure confidence will come back as the memory of the accident fades, mine is starting to, maybe go back to the scene of the crime, just to understand what went wrong.

Go and see the guys mightymarmite mentions they are amazing. I’ve broken mine 3 times in total now. Firstly the right one about 10 years ago, did nothing with it and it was broken in to 3 bits. Healed and I was back mtbing 6weeks to the day after doing it.
Last year I broke the left one in to 3 pieces again, they offered an op I went for the conservative approach and saw Brian a week after I did it. As soon as I left his place I had good movement, could drive, took no more pain killers and with both hands working it was much better. I was back on a turbo trainer 2 weeks after I did it, road was 3 weeks, mtb 5, pain free riding (pulling up on the bars was a little sore).
And then finally the left one again this year. This was a minor break through last years growth with little displacement. I did it monday eveening, fracture clinic tuesday and Brian wednesday lunchtime. The benefits were slightly less instant this time but I was on the turbo trainer happily 4 days after the break, road bike 2 weeks, mtb 4 weeks pain free.
On both of the last 2 occasions the consultant at my final check has mentioned how good the healing was.
If you have any questions email me tomorrow before I go on holiday!

Six weeks ago for me. Sat still for the first 2 as that’s when the new bone is forming but the complete re growth takes much longer. A few gentle and a few interval turbo sessions. Back on mtb after 5 weeks but just doing simple and fire roady stuff as I can’t afford to come off.
Was getting ready to ‘up the ante’ but x ray today suggests it’s not quite there yet 😥 so need to be careful a while longer.

SBZ from on here was really helpful! He told me to keep my arm mobile by taking it out of the sling and doind a few hand ard simple arm exercises so the arm didn’t seize up.Sling discarded and pain killers stopped after day 2 but everyone is different. If I hadn’t done this I think recovery would have been much longer so ask your physio about this. Good luck! (I’m not doing it again)

Hi, really feel for you mate.

One of our team riders broke his collarbone (again) in a race last weekend, a couple of days ago I received an email from a fellow rider who had heard of his plight, hope it helps.

‘I’ve busted my collarbones five times – problem being an old trackie!. Thought you might fancy a bit of help, if you want to be back racing sooner than you’ve been told. Get hold of some ‘branch-chain amino acids’, from your local health-food store and take max doses each day, with redoxon vitamin C. You’ll get an army of little soldiers mending your busted bone in no time.’

Worth a try?

Take it easy fella

Chris
Coventry Cycle Centre

oh you cant eat or do much and the painkillers are making you feel like a zombie but you can still drink and play on ur ps3 😀 sounds like me ;p

Have a look at this thread too it might help thta you aren’t the only one!

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/who-else-is-injured-and-cannot-ride

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about NHS and Dr’s recently. Mr MC fell off his bike on 29th May at CyB and broke his olecranon (bony corner of elbow) which disappeared up into his tricep tearing the tendons. Drive to A&E who say yup broken need ultrasound. Return to local area striaght to A&E following day “Mmmm we need to discuss this come back in a week we’ll put it in plaster”, return a week later “mmmm you need an ultrasound” go to make appointment earliest one we can get is ANOTHER 10 days away!!! Return to Consultant 3 weeks AFTER injury who basically says “Oh bugger you need surgery there is a 4 week window and we are at week 3, tomorrow we will operate”!!! So typical NHS! We were told post op it would be in plaster, it wasn’t they now say get movement into it! Wow thta’s a sudden change in opinion. we are told 6-12 weeks recovery but what is recovery? That’s the question I keep asking myself. No suggestions as to when he might be able to drive, when he might be able to go to work. Nothing. His first appointment with physio is 4 weeks after op with consultant appointment another week after that! Mr MC has now been off work for 5 weeks it’s now TdF that is keeping him sane (prior to that Wimbledon) and some good podcasts.

All I can say is you won’t get a lot of answers to the questions that you have, you MUST be patient (it’s hard but there isn’t much else you can do). And borrow a turbo trainer off a mate, Mr MC can sit in garage upright with no pressure on arm spinning away.

Good luck and don’t get worked up!

Man, I know how you feel – I bust mine a couple of summers ago on a relatively small dirt jump. Nosed in too early, clipped the front wheel, over the bars and bam. Luckily it was towards the end of summer, so didn’t feel I was missing a huge amount over the wet autumn months.

how did you try to keep you fitness level up ? (i will be taking long country walks and maybe a spinning class when im up to it)

Didn’t really do much, just focused on recovery, but I did have a full operation to pin and plate. However I was a bit silly, I had the op a week before moving house, so with all the pain killers, I didn’t notice the pain and was moving boxes etc.

I confessed this to the doc who was livid with me – he told me that the screws are very easy to pull out under even a moderate load. And considering I’d had my arm out the sling after only a couple of days was very lucky I didn’t do more damage.

did you stay off the bike for the full recommended time ? (im thinking a bit of gentle canal path riding might be possible in a week or 3)

Yep, stay off the bike – especially if you have an operation. As mentioned above, even light exercise and pressure on the bone can rip the screws out. Meaning a further operation, and more damage.

if you had to have it pinned how long did it take to heal and is this the better option IE stronger than the bone knitting itself?

Took weeks, about 8 in total I think. I don’t think it made my bone stronger, but it stopped it setting in an abnormal shape and limiting movement. The doctor didn’t actually want to do the operation, however I requested he did it – I could see the angle it was sitting at, and didn’t want it to affect my riding later on. My missus is a radiographer too, so it wasn’t an uninformed decision to get the operation.

One thing I will say for having the operation, is the nerve damage. For months after I had severe numbness around the top of my arm and shoulder. This is due to them having to cut through nerves to get to the bone. Over time feeling has come back, however the older you are the longer it takes for your nerves to recover.

did it affect the way you ride after you recovered, did you loose your ‘bottle’ for fear of breaking it again ?

I’m still nervous of dirt jumping, however I’ve done it again since – one day I’ll get back to doing it. However I feel I ride harder, and faster than I ever have done, I just don’t think about my shoulder now.

If you are contemplating surgery, and can cover the cost really recommend you see a consultant about the Dual-trak screw treatment. Rather than opening the shoulder and plating the outside of the bone, an small incision is made at the head of the shoulder, and another over the site of the break. The bone is then taped and a screw threaded through the length of the bone. Two friends have had this procedure done (admittedly neither in the UK) and have had outstanding results.

No plate discomfort, no secondary surgery to remove hardware and a very very strong bone. The main warning given was the increased risk of a distal break as opposed to a medial.

Having done my right collar bone twice- the second much worse that the first- I can sympathise with you!
The first time was in the UK and I had just a basic sling over the shoulder- this was uncomfortable and quite restrictive, but I healed well, in about six weeks I was back on the bike. I had been using a turbo trainer after week 2 and whilst SOOOOO boring at least it gave me a goal every other day and my basic fitness was maintained. It did take me about 6-8months to get my head round it though in terms of , for the want of a better word, courage on the trails.

The second was in France, the doctor I saw there ( who was a trauma specialist- he spends the winter months sorting skiing injuries, the summer sorting biking injuries) was insistent that even though it was quite displaced, it was not a good idea to plate it if it could be avoided because of the complex nerve and muscle groupings towards the outer end where it had broken- plating can lead to numbness and restricted movement apparently . This was confirmed when I returned to the UK. The revelation was the use of a figure of 8 support- this was much more comfortable and did help I believe to eventually get a knit of the bones after 12 weeks. Again I was on the turbo from about 2 weeks
In both cases I had excellent physio- as stated above, keeping the arm active as much as possible makes a huge difference with the recovery. I kept going with that for 3-4 months on both occasions
That was two years ago and I still have some discomfort but I am back up to my ( admittedly slowish) pace

It’s good to see all this advice, but like I said, it’s bust, these things can happen on a mountain bike. Let it heal properly, then get back on the bike as usual. No point rushing it and busting it again. It’s just a collar bone and just a bike. You’ll be back to normal soon enough.

Cant give you mending advice, but sending sympathy – bust my kneecap in December. Only got back on the bike in the last month! Took up eating and beer in the meantime – dont recommend that course of action! Getting back on the bike a stone heavier and unfit is not so fun!

my piccies 😀

the consultant let me keep the hooked plate as a souvenir, although it was against health and safety! He had to warn me that the screws were sharp 🙄