Fractured Scapula Advice

[Ti_on_Steel]

Hey guys. Unfortunately I crashed hard on Sunday at my local season opener race, fracturing my scapula and slightly deflating my lung. The lung is doing a lot better and should be completely healed in a few days, but it's the Scapula I'm more worried about.

They put a series of pins in my shoulder, and I'm now starting physical therapy. Does anyone here have any experience with fracturing their Scapulas? Any idea of how quickly I can get back on the bike or how it will feel to ride? Thanks

[BCS]

I fractured my scapula about seven years ago while snowboarding. I did not require any surgery. IIRC, I was out of action for about six weeks.

[Viper]

Scapula. Latin for "shoulder".
Base/foundation for shoulder/arm.
Uncommon to fractrure it.
It also built-in armor to protect the lung.
Your scapula did it's job.
It will mend.
You will learn about muscles...their origin and insertion...like your infrastpanatus, supraspanatus, serratus anterior, lattismus, trapizius and a their proper spelling I butchered since A&P Class.

Your scapula is bone.
It'll heal.
The mobility of the shoulder joint is your focus.
Good luck, you'll be fine.

:beer:

[Fixed]

it is nice to have viper back
man you have a good bedside manor
it even made me feel better
cheers :beer:

[bfd]

I fractured my scapula about seven years ago while snowboarding. I did not require any surgery. IIRC, I was out of action for about six weeks.

Same here. I fractured my scapula riding many years ago. I couldn't lift my right arm. In fact, it was totally immobile. It was kind of scary, but with time, it healed and the feeling came back. My late wife was a PT and she had me exercises with a series of "rubber band," e.g., red, green, yellow bands that increase in resistance. I was back on my bike in about 5 weeks or so. Follow your PT and do the exercises! Good Luck!

[John M]

I fractured my right scapula in a crash in 2008. I was off the bike for 8 weeks. I did not have surgery, and have pretty much completely healed, although range of motion is slightly less than my left. Swimming is good rehab for this type of shoulder injury.

Good luck and best wishes for a fast recovery.

[Viper]

it is nice to have viper back
man you have a good bedside manor
it even made me feel better
cheers :beer:

I am even be better in bed. ;)

Just returned from a 90 minute massage. Scapulas move a lot. They need to glide up/down and in/out. Would recommend deep tissue massage very early on to anyone enduring any injury. I've had five knee operations and will have another ACL recon this Fall/Winter. Last two ops I had massage on the knees/legs the day the stitches were removed. Bfd, your short post was touching, hope all is well.

[Ti_on_Steel]

Thanks! They gave me this funky chair that I strap my arm into, and it moves my arm up and down on it's own. On Monday I'll start working with a real physical therapist. Can't wait to get back on the bike though..

[Viper]

Thanks! They gave me this funky chair that I strap my arm into, and it moves my arm up and down on it's own. On Monday I'll start working with a real physical therapist. Can't wait to get back on the bike though..

The strongest structure is a triangle. The Great Pyramids. Bike frames are two triangles (headtube space separates the front triangle making it slightly weaker). Your scapula is a triangle, the alien-Cylons placed these into our genes as they knew about triangles and their limited, three angles of weakness:

http://hippie.nu/~unicorn/tut/img/basics/humananatomy/scapula.jpeg


Very cool bone looking at it sideways. You will be fine, get that shoulder MOVING. Your shoulder is a circle (wheel) with a ball and socket joint. It has to rotate in a circle. It also has to flex over your head, extend behind your back, abduct away and adduct towards.

You will progress to small circles with arm while bent over:

http://www.uwhealth.org/images/ewebeditpro/uploadimages/clip_image003(1).png

Shoulder Flexion to nose level to start...then over head:

http://0.tqn.com/d/breastcancer/1/0/F/7/-/-/shoulder-flexion.jpg

Shoulder internal/external rotation:

http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/anatomy/Image19.gif

Extension:

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/images/motion4b.jpg

Pressing, military press will be next to last. When you can do push-ups, you are golden. Also, during the beginning, mobility-stage, pretend you are a girl standing up and you need to scratch an itch under your bra strap. This is a tough one for you weeks from now fyi.

Worked in PT for seven years.
Personal Trainer for the same time.
Mike Mentzer was my trainer for four years from 1990-94':

http://straighttothebar.com/articles/22%20Mike%20Mentzer%20pic.jpg

Please find a local, legit massage therapist. Your PT will know PT, not massage. I think PT's do 3 or 6 credits for massage. They have hands of broken glass. Massage therapists are Jedis with soft tissue.

Read good books, watch cool movies, stay focused, trim, fit and be an athlete even with the injury, somehow.

Watch this movie if you need to get pumped up, be a mongoose and at 3:50 a great lesson is learned, "It was a temptation to eat the whole banana, but Rikki remembered what his mother had taught him: a full meal makes a slow mongoose and if you want all your strength and quickness ready he must keep himself thin."

And in episode two, you'll learn the other great lesson, do not forget who and what you are, "Rikki was afraid for a minute...but then he remembered that all a mongoose's business in life is to fight and kill snakes.":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CrEX4MxAzA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPXSaFqxrWs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seoKslUkDkE&feature=related

Illegitimi non carborundum.

Fixed knows Latin, I believe.

:beer:

[Fixed]

Don't let the bastards grind you down
cheers :beer:

[sc53]

No Fixed-- it's (Viper)!! Totally different guy!
it is nice to have viper back
man you have a good bedside manor
it even made me feel better
cheers :beer:

[Viper]

Don't let the bastards grind you down
cheers :beer:

Click play and watch it all:

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

Bedside manner is sharing a story...with soul.
And admitting we are all vulnerable.
Only my nephews believe I am invulnerable.
And I will be for them.
And my dog.

:beer: