Any of you guys here ever suffer from broken collar bones? My question is how long were you sidelined before going back into the water? I don't want my arm to fall off or something.
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You could try ask the doctor, perhaps.
Sweet hardware. That should mean recovery of 3 instead of 6 weeks..??
Yes, mine was broken by a snowboarder in July 2013, operated on August. I was back to kiting end December. The plate will stay in. The peripheral muscles were the biggest problem once the sling came off. Sometimes the shoulder hurts a little but not enough to stop me. You'll be fine and will get used to it but wait until you get clearance from the surgeon. It needs to be healed properly or you'll break it again, as well as the plate. Good luck! Kathy H
I forgot to mention Ed517 that I'm probably a lot older than you. If you are below 30 years of age it won't take so long for your bones to heal. Young guys seems to get back on track after 6 - 8 weeks.
Wise to seek surgeon's view, that said....
1. Internal fixation improves stability and healing in 6-8 weeks, earlier although stable it can be traumatic
2. Bigger problem is usually tissue damage, brushing and inflammation in area, healing time dependent on age and exercise
3. Anti-imflamatories help....
4. Risk of repeat fracture high in weak phase, after 6-8 weeks, risk reduced, unlikely to refracture
5. If you have crepitus, grating of the bones, wait eight weeks plus till after it stops
6. Good test is managing arms over your head, full range of movement and strength, for swim, self rescue etc...
Always best to take advice from the doc who supervising your care and treatment, as they have responsibility and know all your health factors
Generally surgery should best be within two weeks of trauma, otherwise start clock ticking at surgery date not injury date... Unusual to do surgery later than that unless needed to stabilise slow healing fracture or it keeps moving, and lump in collar region a problem... Avoid surgery if possible, risk infection and skin and flesh is thin over affected area....
Did mine in my early 40s and it was 13 weeks before I was fully up to scratch again and 10 weeks before I was back in the water paddling around -- but back then (mid 90s) they wouldn't pin it so it took longer to heal. That's a nasty looking break mate. Make sure you get loads of physio when you can start to move it again, else you'll be stuck not being able to get the motion back.
Thanks for the comments boys, it's only been two weeks but I already have pretty much all my motion back in my shoulder/arm I've been really surprised at how well its healed, hence the question of when to kite, cause as I'm sitting here now I feel good to go.
Oh, and yes..MX bike..one year since shattering my foot and this happened, so frustrating.
