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Broken Collar Bone



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 26th 04, 11:13 PM
Chuck Anderson
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Default Broken Collar Bone

I don't know why, but I never anticipated injuring myself so severely.
Last Friday I was riding too aggressively, hammering away when I pegged
the inside pedal on a tight curve (I was pedaling - du-uh) and crashed
hard. I broke my left collar bone (broke the last inch or so right off.)

And wouldn't you know, just a few days earlier I had purchased my plane
ticket to Frankfurt (depart July 5 - return July 27). Now I don't know
if I'll be able to make that trip. They way I feel today (5 days later),
arm in a sling and still feeling very very very tender and sensitive, it
seems unlikely.

I've heard it could take anything from 4 weeks to 4 months to heal. And
even if I do heal enough to ride (July 5 is still 5 ˝ weeks a way), I
don't know if I would be ready to sleep on the ground in my tent. The
Emergency Room doc said 4 - 6 weeks. Some online searches have indicated
it could be months.

The doctor said that there was nothing that should be done for the break
(other than immobilize my arm in a sling). The collar bone is the most
"mendable" bone in the body, and the two pieces of bone will find their
way back together and mend on their own. It seems odd, but all research
I've done indicated that is so.

Does anyone here have any advice or experience to relate? Should I hold
out hope for a cycling camping trip in July? (My Lufthansa ticket *is*
restricted, but they said I can get a full refund with a medical
certificate.) Any therapy I should consider?

Amazing how much can change in a fraction of a second. Wish I had a do-over.

(I am seeing an orthopedic doctor on Friday, so hopefully he can tell me
more.)

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************
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  #2  
Old May 26th 04, 11:47 PM
Denver C. Fox
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Default Broken Collar Bone

Amazing how much can change in a fraction of a second. Wish I had a do-over.

So sorry to heear of your accident.

I do hope all goes well and you can make your trip!

Never broken anything except my big toe, so my experience is of little help.

Good luck and best wishes.


http://members.aol.com/foxcondorsrvtns
(Colorado rental condo)

http://members.aol.com/dnvrfox
(Family Web Page)

  #3  
Old May 27th 04, 01:25 AM
Beverly
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Default Broken Collar Bone

Sorry I don't have any advice. I've never had a broken bone.
My youngest daughter did break a collar bone when she was a teenager and I
don't remember it keeping her from too many activities. Hopefully you'll
have the same experience.

Hope it heals soon and you can do the trip.

Beverly


"Chuck Anderson" wrote in message
news:%D8tc.116868$536.21977098@attbi_s03...
I don't know why, but I never anticipated injuring myself so severely.
Last Friday I was riding too aggressively, hammering away when I pegged
the inside pedal on a tight curve (I was pedaling - du-uh) and crashed
hard. I broke my left collar bone (broke the last inch or so right off.)

And wouldn't you know, just a few days earlier I had purchased my plane
ticket to Frankfurt (depart July 5 - return July 27). Now I don't know
if I'll be able to make that trip. They way I feel today (5 days later),
arm in a sling and still feeling very very very tender and sensitive, it
seems unlikely.

I've heard it could take anything from 4 weeks to 4 months to heal. And
even if I do heal enough to ride (July 5 is still 5 ˝ weeks a way), I
don't know if I would be ready to sleep on the ground in my tent. The
Emergency Room doc said 4 - 6 weeks. Some online searches have indicated
it could be months.

The doctor said that there was nothing that should be done for the break
(other than immobilize my arm in a sling). The collar bone is the most
"mendable" bone in the body, and the two pieces of bone will find their
way back together and mend on their own. It seems odd, but all research
I've done indicated that is so.

Does anyone here have any advice or experience to relate? Should I hold
out hope for a cycling camping trip in July? (My Lufthansa ticket *is*
restricted, but they said I can get a full refund with a medical
certificate.) Any therapy I should consider?

Amazing how much can change in a fraction of a second. Wish I had a

do-over.

(I am seeing an orthopedic doctor on Friday, so hopefully he can tell me
more.)

--
*****************************
Chuck Anderson • Boulder, CO
http://www.CycleTourist.com
Integrity is obvious.
The lack of it is common.
*****************************



  #4  
Old May 27th 04, 01:56 AM
Bob
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone

2.5 years and my collar bone is healed about 50%. For most of that time, it
had only healed 20%. My non-union is fairly rare, but it was the last 1" of
bone, just like yours. From what I understand, collar bone non-unions are
less rare when you get out near the end like that. I had to use two
different electro-stimulation units to help bone growth.

' hope your recovery goes better than mine.

-Bob


  #5  
Old May 27th 04, 02:26 AM
Mark Boyd
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone

On Wed, 26 May 2004, Chuck Anderson wrote:

I don't know why, but I never anticipated injuring myself so severely.
Last Friday I was riding too aggressively, hammering away when I pegged
the inside pedal on a tight curve (I was pedaling - du-uh) and crashed
hard. I broke my left collar bone (broke the last inch or so right off.)

And wouldn't you know, just a few days earlier I had purchased my plane
ticket to Frankfurt (depart July 5 - return July 27). Now I don't know
if I'll be able to make that trip. They way I feel today (5 days later),
arm in a sling and still feeling very very very tender and sensitive, it
seems unlikely.

I've heard it could take anything from 4 weeks to 4 months to heal. And
even if I do heal enough to ride (July 5 is still 5 =BD weeks a way), I
don't know if I would be ready to sleep on the ground in my tent. The
Emergency Room doc said 4 - 6 weeks. Some online searches have indicated
it could be months.

The doctor said that there was nothing that should be done for the break
(other than immobilize my arm in a sling). The collar bone is the most
"mendable" bone in the body, and the two pieces of bone will find their
way back together and mend on their own. It seems odd, but all research
I've done indicated that is so.


You should have a figure 8 brace that pulls your shoulders back, With out
that, the collarbone will heal short and your shoulder will be pulled
forward.

Does anyone here have any advice or experience to relate? Should I hold
out hope for a cycling camping trip in July? (My Lufthansa ticket *is*
restricted, but they said I can get a full refund with a medical
certificate.) Any therapy I should consider?


Go ahead and do your tour!

I broke my left collarbone - in two places about 2" apart - eight year ago
next week - on Memorial Day - on the first day of my first cross country
ride. I was in Oregon, and planned to ride back to North Carolina. The Dr
said wear this figure eight brace and in three or four months you'll be
fine. I said 'What a way to waste a summer!"

I broke my collarbone on Monday. On Wednesday I rigged my bike so I could
shift the front derailleur with my right hand - thumb shifter - and use
the front brake with my right hand. I also took off my aerobars - no way I
could use them!- and raised the handlebars level with the seat. It was
painful working on my bike, but I managed. On Friday I continued my trip
across the country. There were several painful moments on the ride, but I
think I probably hurt much less than I would have if I abandoned my trip.
I camped several times in the first few weeks. I was a challenge putting
up my tent, but sleeping was OK. I had to sleep on my back all summer and
for several months into the fall. Other than that, I was able to use my
left arm fairly normally after I finished my tour grin.

See http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/touring.../crossusa.html for the ride
report.

=09Mark http://www.cs.unca.edu/~boyd/bicycling.html

PS Tomorrow I fly to Portland and Saturday through Monday I'll be visiting
the folks who helped me when I broke my collarbone. This will be the
fourth time I've been in Dallas Oregon by bicycle. Well, the first time I
arrived in an ambulance, but I left, four days later, on my bicycle.
  #6  
Old May 27th 04, 04:14 AM
Mike Latondresse
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone

Chuck Anderson wrote in
news:%D8tc.116868$536.21977098@attbi_s03:

Does anyone here have any advice or experience to relate? Should I
hold out hope for a cycling camping trip in July? (My Lufthansa
ticket *is* restricted, but they said I can get a full refund with
a medical certificate.) Any therapy I should consider?

I found that I could ride gingerly after about 4 weeks and progress was
swift from there on....you have roughly 5 1/2, tough decision.
  #7  
Old May 27th 04, 08:44 AM
Michael MacClancy
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone

On Wed, 26 May 2004 22:13:16 GMT, Chuck Anderson wrote:

I don't know why, but I never anticipated injuring myself so severely.
Last Friday I was riding too aggressively, hammering away when I pegged
the inside pedal on a tight curve (I was pedaling - du-uh) and crashed
hard. I broke my left collar bone (broke the last inch or so right off.)

And wouldn't you know, just a few days earlier I had purchased my plane
ticket to Frankfurt (depart July 5 - return July 27). Now I don't know
if I'll be able to make that trip. They way I feel today (5 days later),
arm in a sling and still feeling very very very tender and sensitive, it
seems unlikely.

I've heard it could take anything from 4 weeks to 4 months to heal. And
even if I do heal enough to ride (July 5 is still 5 ˝ weeks a way), I
don't know if I would be ready to sleep on the ground in my tent. The
Emergency Room doc said 4 - 6 weeks. Some online searches have indicated
it could be months.

The doctor said that there was nothing that should be done for the break
(other than immobilize my arm in a sling). The collar bone is the most
"mendable" bone in the body, and the two pieces of bone will find their
way back together and mend on their own. It seems odd, but all research
I've done indicated that is so.

Does anyone here have any advice or experience to relate? Should I hold
out hope for a cycling camping trip in July? (My Lufthansa ticket *is*
restricted, but they said I can get a full refund with a medical
certificate.) Any therapy I should consider?

Amazing how much can change in a fraction of a second. Wish I had a do-over.

(I am seeing an orthopedic doctor on Friday, so hopefully he can tell me
more.)


Sorry to hear about my accident. My wife came off her bike and broke her
left collarbone last August, probably even closer to the end than you. She
had surgery to put a plate into it. (Search on google for clavicle hook
plate.) She was running (slowly) within 7 days and we went on holiday
after 3 weeks. We were cycling on steep alpine roads and tracks and she
was fine apart from a slight miscomfort after long descents. She's a bit
younger than you and the surgery may not be an option for you but it does
suggest that the injury need not stop your holiday.

The orthopaedic specialist will undoubtedly be able to consider all your
options.
--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk
  #8  
Old May 27th 04, 08:33 PM
James Cassatt
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone

I have broken two of them, one on each side. The first healed rather
quickly, 6 weeks, the other took forever, 6 mos. Once the soft tissue
damage heals, within a week, you should feel much more comfortable.
As sugggested, get a figure 8 strap, the sooner the better. You will
feel much more comfortable. As far as riding, the doctor warned me
against it saying if I crash I could make matters much worse.
However, he did say that riding itself would do nothing. Good luck

Jim

Chuck Anderson wrote in message news:%D8tc.116868$536.21977098@attbi_s03...
I don't know why, but I never anticipated injuring myself so severely.
Last Friday I was riding too aggressively, hammering away when I pegged
the inside pedal on a tight curve (I was pedaling - du-uh) and crashed
hard. I broke my left collar bone (broke the last inch or so right off.)

And wouldn't you know, just a few days earlier I had purchased my plane
ticket to Frankfurt (depart July 5 - return July 27). Now I don't know
if I'll be able to make that trip. They way I feel today (5 days later),
arm in a sling and still feeling very very very tender and sensitive, it
seems unlikely.

I've heard it could take anything from 4 weeks to 4 months to heal. And
even if I do heal enough to ride (July 5 is still 5 ˝ weeks a way), I
don't know if I would be ready to sleep on the ground in my tent. The
Emergency Room doc said 4 - 6 weeks. Some online searches have indicated
it could be months.

The doctor said that there was nothing that should be done for the break
(other than immobilize my arm in a sling). The collar bone is the most
"mendable" bone in the body, and the two pieces of bone will find their
way back together and mend on their own. It seems odd, but all research
I've done indicated that is so.

Does anyone here have any advice or experience to relate? Should I hold
out hope for a cycling camping trip in July? (My Lufthansa ticket *is*
restricted, but they said I can get a full refund with a medical
certificate.) Any therapy I should consider?

Amazing how much can change in a fraction of a second. Wish I had a do-over.

(I am seeing an orthopedic doctor on Friday, so hopefully he can tell me
more.)

  #9  
Old May 27th 04, 08:49 PM
Janet
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone


Watching someone
take a body slam in a movie or TV show makes me cringe inside out - - -
owwwwww!


I know what you mean. I sprained an ACL a couple of years ago skiing and
now it's fine - except that it hurts when I'm watching a football game
and someone twists their knee....

Anyway, can't give you specific advice for the collerbone, but I found
for my knee that it helped to have a good sports-medicine orthopedist
(mine had previous experience with professional baseball and football
teams). If you need physical therapy, find a PT that is into
sports-medicine.

Hope you heal fast and can get back on the bike soon.

Janet

  #10  
Old May 27th 04, 09:38 PM
Sunastar
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Posts: n/a
Default Broken Collar Bone

Chuck,

Ask your doc if calcium supplements will help. Probably couldn't hurt.
From what I've read, there is NO benefit from calcium supplements being
made from oyster shell, egg shell or even emotional shell.

Tom Dillon
Lakewood, CO
Z to S for email.
 




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