Collarbone healing tips?..

[Pastashop]

Was having a great ride, unseasonably warm, feeling good. Close to 50 mi. Then, ten minutes from home went down unexpectedly. Suspect a car hooked me. Anyhow, hurt like the dickens, but rode home, checked in and:



ibuprofen is counterindicated... arm in a sling... gonna take it easy as possible. Any other suggestions?

[msl819]

I am three weeks out with a broken collarbone. Mine was in two pieces, full break. Pain pills and rest are your friend. I did not sling mine after about 3-4 days. Having someone to help get clothes on and off will be a huge help. Be easy and heal up. I’ll be off the bike for at least 2 more weeks.

[shovelhd]

Get a surgical opinion ASAP.

[ivanooze]

i didn't break mines, i did however separate my A.C. joint, did nothing for 2 weeks, then got on the trainer one handed and just did some spinning.

-in retrospect that probably wasn't a good idea since you want all of your body to focus on recovering instead of continuing to ride.

[Kontact]

Bone broth or collagen supplement. Naproxen.

One of the hardest parts of healing something like this is finding a position to sleep in. Be prepared to switch pillows and make other accommodations.

[GonaSovereign]

My advice: cut off your arm.

(...and now you value legit advice more than the internet-style kind.)

:-)

If you have an xray, you've been near medical people. They will answer your question better than we can.

[2metalhips]

Take it easy, ride the trainer, you can't rush the healing. I have a matching set.

[cderalow]

Originally Posted by shovelhd

Get a surgical opinion ASAP.

This.

I had a similar break almost 10 years ago and while it looked similar on X-ray an mri revealed the true story.

While it looked simply broken mine was actually shattered in a very similar location to yours.

I made the mistaken of listening to a regular orthopedic doctor rather than one that specializes in surgery initially.

Three weeks of it not improving at all sent me to a surgical specialist and I had surgery two days later.

It was so badly shattered it took two surgeons 6 hours to reassemble it and fix it together with a titanium plate and almost 12 screws.


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[pdxharth]

I’m two weeks out from a bad break, myself, plus ribs. As you mentioned, NSAIDS are contraindicated. Tylenol hasn’t done much for me on its own, however. I’m mostly off the opiates, but took one last night before bed because it was throbbing a bit. That was helpful. Sleep is important.

I second or third the advice to see a surgeon. Now that I’m an expert (not), I would guess they won’t operate because it looks intact so it should heal well on it’s own. But, as noted above, it isn’t always what it appears.

A recliner helped me a lot. I’m still sleeping in it nightly, unfortunately. The broken ribs keep me from lying flat.

As the pain subsides, focus on good posture when standing. I was hunched over for a while and now my back hurts quickly when I stand for a few minutes.

Don’t push or pull anything with that arm, even as you regain use of it. It can be tempting...

Ice pack. Sling, at least for a couple days. Move little. Stay home from work.

Good luck. Stay patient. Heal well.

[regularguy412]

IMO you will REALLLLLLLY NEEEEEEEED some good pain killers.

First couple of weeks were H-E-Double Hockey Sticks. Mine was in 3 pieces. Spent 8 weeks in a figure 8 sling and sleeping half upright in the recliner. I have the 'bayonet' repair... that is, one end kinda grew in on top of the other end. Everything works OK, but that shoulder is a bit 'looser' than the other and it gets tired quicker when doing weight training. I was on the trainer by the end of the 2nd week. The extra blood flow helps the healing.

MIke in AR

[Hank Scorpio]

Hard to tell from just the one image but it looks non-displaced. I think some docs would plate that depending on your level of activity and age.

[Pastashop]

Thanks all for the advice and commiseration!

Made it through the first night -- uncomfortable, that's for sure! I actually busted the same bone in a race back around Y2K; it healed on its own, albeit with a slight crook at the tip. This break is more toward the middle than the last. I'm just now remembering the combo of pain and discomfort and hassle the aftermath was...

I'd prefer to avoid surgery if it's not absolutely necessary. Just wondering if anyone has recommendations for foods / supplements to help healing. Definitely the advice on encouraging blood circulation makes sense.

Thx again, folks!

[oldpotatoe]

Suspect a car hooked me.

So, you hit your head also? Take care, listen to the docs, yes, way uncomfortable(I broke mine in high school)...but look for signs of concussion too...

[msl819]

My bone is healing well, albeit with a lump. That said what I wasn’t prepared for was the muscular issues. They seem to be healing much slower. I was/am bruised down the front of my chest. My bone is still a little achy but most of what I would call bad pain at week 3 is muscular. As for food/supplements. Rest has seemed to be the best medicine for me. I haven’t altered my diet nor was I advised to do so. Other can give advise here.

[fignon's barber]

Originally Posted by oldpotatoe

So, you hit your head also? Take care, listen to the docs, yes, way uncomfortable(I broke mine in high school)...but look for signs of concussion too...

This was the first thing that stood out to me.