• This topic has 24 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 14 years ago by Del.
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  • Collar Bone Fractures!
  • whitemapex
    Free Member

    well basically my collar bone snapped in two right down the middle and there is a significant lump. But i also get this very painful sharp pain from the bone that is sticking up into my skin. i think that the bone is just very sharp and cutting my skin on the inside. Will this eventually heal itself or do i need surgery to remove this sharp bone?

    TandemJeremy
    Free Member

    It needs to be professionally assessed and treated. collar and cuff or figure of 8 support, pin and plate if this does not work / is not the right thing for the break you have

    sharki
    Free Member

    Same here, i think the rough bits have rounded of as new bone is produced, the pain is only a continued dull ache now after two weeks.

    Can only go by the docs advice, which for me was wear this and i’ll see you in 6 weeks.

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    simonfbarnes
    Free Member

    collar and cuff or figure of 8 support,

    the doc I saw said these were a waste of time after the first few days 🙂

    I still have a lump 9 years later, but it was always rounded. Another rider I knew had a sharp spike of bone which required surgery 🙁

    NikNak7890
    Free Member

    Having lived with a non-union clavicle fracture for 10 months before I had to have surgery to fix it, one over-riding rule is to treat it VERY carefully for the first at least 4 weeks. I was told to wear a triangular sling for the first 2 weeks, then leave it out but don’t do anything weight bearing with it.
    Also, ensure that you try, using your other hand to support the weak side, to keep your range of motion; but don’t lift the arm above 90 degrees without supporting it.
    Ordinarily it will heal naturally in roughly 12 weeks, if there is a serious doubt of it healing properly after then, you have every right to demand a 2nd opinion.

    Lionheart
    Free Member

    Had a bad double break, first doc said just a sling, week later another put me quickly in a fancy new version of the figure 8, (in Europe they can not believe we don’t always do it) – any way not soon enough so now have 1.75 inch overlap and .5 inch drop – told afterwards pin and plate would have been best. Now 18 months later hurts when resting, paddling, waking up and eating! But don’t notice when peddling, though after DH can hurt, but sure thats because I am hanging on too tight. good luck and keep pushing the docs

    TandemJeremy
    Free Member

    There seems to be no great consensus in the medical world on how to treat collar bone fractures. I like figure of eight bandage for 6 weeks at least. However I have seen many things done including (in the soviet union) a shoulder spica cast – basically a upper torso and upper arm plaster cast with the upper arm sticking out sideways.

    If you think your treatment is not right go back – even ask for second opinion and google for treatment options for it.

    shoulder spica

    sharki
    Free Member

    I just want mine plated now, and for them to stop **** about and wasting my time, in 4 weeks they’ll xray it, dither, tell me to wait another month, re x ray. book me in for surgery in what a months time, re break it, grind bits away, pin and plate it, bone graft, wait another 6 weeks………

    Ever the optimist me.

    simonfbarnes
    Free Member

    shoulder spica

    AARGH! I had very little pain from my break, until, that is, I was running across the road 2 weeks later, swinging my arm, and it parted again 🙁 So yeah, take it easy, and don’t ride too soon like I did and fall off and bash it up again 🙁

    Regarding plates, the consultant told me they prefer not to mess around in there as there’s a lot going on in that region, and also the plate is liable to break…(this was in 1999)

    jimbobrighton
    Free Member

    get a second opinion anyway, and if you get offered an operation to fix it, then take it straightaway. Advantages of getting it pinned are that you won’t get a lump which is uncomfortable on clothing, especially if it is a sharp point, rucksack straps won’t annoy you, and it is more likely to heal quickly.

    I had a proper NHS nightmare with mine, took bang ona year to fix, entirely due to dithering and getting lost in the system.

    The operation is pretty painful (I had a hook plate which is a little more involved, hooking under your shoulder blade, but you shouldn’t have this type if you have a break that is roughly in the middle) for about two weeks, and then it gets gradually better.

    However encouraging it may be, don’t believe internet testimonials saying they heal by themselves in 3-6 weeks. depends on the individual, but if you get an op quickly, you’re still looking at a minimum of 12 weeks before you’re fully fixed.

    Basically, make a nuisance of yourself, get a second opinion, and don’t assume that consultants are always right, cos they’re not, as I found out to my cost.

    hope that helps.

    stratobiker
    Free Member

    Right, as a veteran of a couple of collar bone fractures, and a bloke who’s sister is a ward sister who’s done her fair share in A&E…….

    Amazingly collar bones heal well. Even when badly fractured, and the ends aren’t even close.

    Here’s mine end of last June…

    There’s three bits.

    Spent most of July on the turbo. Note figure of 8 bandage so bleedin’ tight I can hardly feed myself…

    Back in training proper by mid August.
    Back to full on racing mid September.

    But, but, but, and this is the important bit.
    For the first two weeks I did nothing. Absolutely nothing but rest.
    The crucial time is around 10 days after the break. At this time you get what is known as a fibrous union. After that it’s just a case of hardening off.

    If you have a step in in. No matter, it’s stronger than original once it’s fully healed.

    So, OP. Unlikely that the bone is cutting the skin on the inside.
    Unlikely that you’ll need surgery.
    Just need to give it time.

    Niknak, you must have been very unlucky.
    Sharki, show some patience with your self inflicted injury dude 😉

    Given a choice, I’d go for natural healing that ends up with a step rather than surgical intervention and it’s associated risks.

    My 2p worth
    SB 🙂

    Matt-P
    Free Member

    Sorry to hear about it. No fracture experience but a very painful Grade 3 disclocation from a fall at Penmachno so I can sympathise. Hope yours gets better quick

    macmclaren
    Free Member

    Broke my collarbone 2 days ago in a stupid kitesurfing accident.

    my predicament is i have just left the marines after 12 years and was about to start a job doing rope-access and NDT on the rigs.

    now i have to wait for a good while till i can take a job.Its funny how for so long i was covered in work so i had no worries financially if i smashed myself up. Now i have no cover it really opened my eyes.

    Ah well, the misses will be doing some extra shifts methinks 😀

    jimmy
    Full Member

    done mine three times. last one is obvious, the other two are the big lump to the right of the new break ie it should be straight.

    It has healed naturally each time without a figure of 8 but I’d use one if I did it again.

    WackoAK
    Free Member

    whitemapex – sounds exactly like what I done to mine.

    After a few weeks the consultant talked about having to “chisel” a bit of the bone off as it was sticking out however they reckon it looks a bit better now. Mine was done just over 6 weeks ago – it’s still sticking out a bit and I can feel a sharpish point. I’ve got a final consultation at the end of the month where they are going to xray it again. I suspect that they should have pinned it in the first instance.

    shands
    Free Member

    I have broken my collar bone 6 times on 5 different occasions. It bloody hurts. None of this fancy figure 8 malrkey for me, oh no, the good nhs did give me a triangle bandage and some pain killers and off you go. Told if I break it again its pin and plate. So I got banned from playing rugby till I was old enough to decide that I wanted to go back to playing.
    Apart from a lump it doesn’t seem to bad. Does ache in the cold weather some times. Rest it and dont do anything stupid. Broke mine the second time playing rugby when I was about 12. Mother told me not to play rugby when I went back to school. So I played American football instead, broke it again when me and the biggest kid in the school want the ball at the same time. Oh well. Best of luck with it!

    moremudplease
    Free Member

    a&e told me I had soft tissue injury,rest for two days then work it so it didn,t turn into a frozen shoulder,after carrying some heavy wights at work and off road riding for a couple of weeks pain was unbearable,gp sussed out the problem right away but said it was 50/50 as to whether rebreaking it and fixing it up properly would work anty better,6 years on still hurts need to put pain killing gel on after hard hurls and lifting a bike over gates etc aint no fun

    macmclaren
    Free Member

    stratobiker – can u give me a rough timeframe of how your shoulder/collarbone felt after2,4 and 6 weeks mate. i asked the specialist a load of questions but all i really got back was just rest and u will be ok in 6 weeks, now im fine with that but going by others experience id like to know work and play wise what ill be able to do in the coming months. i know also that everyone is different but im just asking for your experience of your own injury, Many thanks. Mac

    sharki
    Free Member

    macmclaren,i’m the same position, coming up to third week now and i’m sceptical of whether at’ll heal without issues.

    As a builder and one that does alot of plastering, it’s important i retain the full use of the shoulder.

    I’m really bored of the uncertain waiting but can only do jus that…roll on the 8th may, then i will find out if it’s bothered do knit together, then deal with whatever the out come is.

    As frustrating as it is, we chose to do this and need to be prepared to suffer because of it.

    knarlyoldgit
    Free Member

    Ist one i broke i did the MM as part of a 4 man team 4 weeks later. 2nd again did not take long to get back on the bike. Now broke lhs again 7 months ago. NHS dally for 6 months but it’s not bonding so waiting for some plating, which they are not keen to do as there is a lot happening in that area and the op only has a 85% sucess rate. When they get in there they may need to take a bit of bone off th hip to bridge the gap!.
    Having been with others to french A & E twice they do seem more deligent in the figure of 8 bonding to tie it together. Suggested to my A & E and they just snorted – we don’t do it that way in the UK! – agh the joys of a learning culture.

    macmclaren
    Free Member

    knarly did the breaks all happen in the same area ie rebreak of the original injury??

    im just resting, eating well with plenty of milk for calcium and laying off the drink.

    i have some work in 3 weeks i really need to take as im now self-employed.

    TandemJeremy
    Free Member

    Sharki – you did a good job on that looking at the x ray.

    All medicine has different opinions on what is best – and different countries have different ideas as well, the french like to take their medicines up the botty rather than swallowing them. There is often no one right answer.

    sharki
    Free Member

    If a jobs worth doing…………………….

    deuchars
    Free Member

    Ok I’m a vet but have an interest in orthopaedics + broken both of mine.
    OP-depends how recently you broke it-if v recent,it’s still healing-REST
    If it’s longer-standing ie several wks you may have a malunion,ie healed but not correct shape.In that case some sort of revision surgery might help but going back into an old half-healed # never pleasant and in an ideal world (ie you’re Lance + getting the best of treatment) the decision to go conservative and leave alone or plate or pin it is best made at the time.

    Del
    Full Member

    as some idea of what happened with me when i did mine, upto about 4 weeks i just looked after it, there was a steady improvement in the amount of pain. around week 4 or 5 i was getting more confident with it, was in the bath, just moved a little, and felt for a second like someone was stabbing me through the collar with a knitting needle. didn’t hurt that much when i broke it. **** horrible. made me dizzy, looking back on it i think i went into mild shock, thought i was going to puke, considered calling down to the GF just so she knew what had happened to me before i hit the deck – thought i was going to faint.
    that little incident scared the crap out of me. fortunately i had a physio appointment a few days later, and the physio turned out to be one of the girls from our weekly night ride, who really took the time to reassure me, love her.
    if you’re a few weeks into it, and you’re feeling worried about it, just get down the hospital again. worth it just to see someone who might have some idea of what’s going on with it all, for some reassurance.
    3 million years of evolution at work here chaps. the human body is pretty good at fixing itself. there are some real horror stories out there, and i do feel incredibly lucky that mine healed with just a lump, and a bit of shoulder clickiness, but most people do go back together by themselves, otherwise operations/plates etc. would be a lot more commonplace.

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