Posts
22
Joined
10/23/2016
Location
NY
US
Edited Date/Time
10/20/2020 6:30am
Hey!
I am really new , sorry to make this my intro. Female age 38. I just need some help and I think this is the place to get it.
I broke my collarbone, distal, a displaced fx, riding in late July. I had emergency surgery with the plate and screws as it was pushing through the skin.
I was compliant after the surgery. At 12 weeks they said the healing was on schedule and the hardware was perfectly aligned. I could ride again on a regular bike. I was riding a light trail and missed on a section. I had a minor impact with an oustretched arm onto a rock. Id say it was about 2 feet down since the rock was tall and it was a slow speed demise , as I was trying to be extra cautious. . Really, it would have not even been a blip if it wasn't for the surgery.
Now I'm terrified that I wrecked the hardware. I've felt some extra pain since that fall, (5 days ago), but nothing major. Nothing like that blinding flash of pain you get from a fracture (don't we all know it!) All ROM the same. Can dress myself, do hair, etc.
Does anyone know...would it take a LOT to destroy the hardware? I 've had some level of pain every day since the original crash/surgery This isn't a "I can't take the pain" thing, it's a paranoia thing. Also, a little bit of shame for having done something stupid.
Any insights? Thanks so much. I look forward to being able to help others w/my experience when I am in a position to do so.
I am really new , sorry to make this my intro. Female age 38. I just need some help and I think this is the place to get it.
I broke my collarbone, distal, a displaced fx, riding in late July. I had emergency surgery with the plate and screws as it was pushing through the skin.
I was compliant after the surgery. At 12 weeks they said the healing was on schedule and the hardware was perfectly aligned. I could ride again on a regular bike. I was riding a light trail and missed on a section. I had a minor impact with an oustretched arm onto a rock. Id say it was about 2 feet down since the rock was tall and it was a slow speed demise , as I was trying to be extra cautious. . Really, it would have not even been a blip if it wasn't for the surgery.
Now I'm terrified that I wrecked the hardware. I've felt some extra pain since that fall, (5 days ago), but nothing major. Nothing like that blinding flash of pain you get from a fracture (don't we all know it!) All ROM the same. Can dress myself, do hair, etc.
Does anyone know...would it take a LOT to destroy the hardware? I 've had some level of pain every day since the original crash/surgery This isn't a "I can't take the pain" thing, it's a paranoia thing. Also, a little bit of shame for having done something stupid.
Any insights? Thanks so much. I look forward to being able to help others w/my experience when I am in a position to do so.
You guessed it, I am stressing. As a mom, I feel guilty and irresponsible for my hobby. I've already lost enough time and expense from missing work with this. An Xray, I guess that's pretty much half a day. Plus admission of being an idiot.
But thanks for your experience. i crashed hard as - uh you don't wanna know - to sustain the original injury.Shudder. What I did last week was what you might call a forceful tap. Like if a heavy door feel back on your outstreched arm, it would be about the same feeling.
how soon after your plating did you crash again btw?
I did contact my doctor's office. They said I would need an impact comparable to the original impact to re-break it at this point. I'm just kind of worried I was healing perfectly and now I messed it up and will have a deformity. Grr....i have a few good years left and enjoyed showing my shoulders in summer.
Thanks again
I knew I"d find experts here.
The Shop
I can't say it hurts much more than before. Maybe 5% more.
Ironically, I think my titanium wrist (LOL) absorbed quite a bit of the shock of the mini-fall. That was noticeably sore for a few days.
Ugh, why can't I act my age.
Aside from the initial few days of some pretty serious discomfort, it has been a breeze ever since. Started riding again 6 weeks after. I remember being a bit worried about how it would feel, but it really surprised me. I hardly notice it now, and I've taken slams and no issues. It is a little sensitive to the touch though.
PS - I can't ignore the best part of this post.....That's friggen awesome that you are a 38 yo female back on the bike shortly after a broken collar bone!
I remember, like a day before my mini-crash, thinking, "I look just like a coat hanger". I can't tell if I look more , or less like a coat hanger today.
I will try to pull the x rays and compare them to what I'm feeling now that I've forced myself to palpate it. But I have a feeling (hope) it's ok.
Maybe that's something I can pass on to future readers of this thread....if you get the surgery and you plan on being less-than-angelic, take weekly photos straight on. If I had done that I would be able to see in a second if anything had moved. thx
Great info on the collarbone. Everything I never wanted to have to know ;-)
Sooo...the plate IS pretty strong I guess. My doctor is such a scare tactic sort of guy, he's always threatening me with "hardware failure" if I disobey him. He said it's cute that I act like an 18 year old guy, but bad for my potenitial healing if I mess it up. It probably would have been better if he threw me a little bone and said I could do x and y but not z rather than be sooo cautious I ignored him. but I can't blame him for my poor judgement either.
hah, hoping this whole conversation is moot. Awesome, supportive community.
If you did cause new damage, it doesn't sound like it's significant. Further, if the clavicle is damaged, but still in place (which it sounds like it is), the doctors will most likely just immobilize the shoulder again until it heals. (I have broken my left clavicle approximately 6 times, and only visited a doctor once. It has healed a little bit wonky, but not at all in a way that affects anything I do.)
Long story short, just moderate your activity consistent with your pain tolerance for the next few days/weeks. In my opinion, your confidence appears to be more damaged than your body. Take it slow and you are sure to eventually regain the gusto that you once had. Maybe try some yoga to try and center yourself again?
I am going to say that is porbably just kind of bad luck if it was a year later. Such a common injury..I think some people posted here they have had he same FX multiple times.
I hope you're better now. I realize this kind of shit does happen. if that is an example of "hardware failuer", I don't think I have it.
Pit Row
If your plate was damaged or broken, you would know it. Breaking my first plate was almost as painful as breaking the bone.
For my self, I'm on constant antibiotics (3 different ones) and a bone graft, it seems to be healing this time around. But I'm cautiously optimistic at this point.
I'm actually putting riding on hold for a few years after this. I am just hoping I got away with that one mis step and don't have to go back to square one with a reinstall on the hardware.
If so..I repent. I am a mom and I just can't be this irresponsible and a strain on my family.
OK..I suck at this but I am going to try to upload some pix. Dont know if I can do them all in one post or if I have to do multiple. I think the extra "meat" you see on the "good side" is the remnant of a deltoid.
You can see the "coat hanger " action in the plated side. LOL
Taken today 13 weeks past surgery. Mini crash happened @ 12 weeks.
X ray taken at 11 weeks....mini crash happened at 12 weeks, about 5 days before the photos that are not x rays.
So, go ahead am I being totally paranoid? thx! :-)
I broke mine when I was a boy of 15, so the healing was much different than what you've experienced. However, I think doing some of the exercises that helped me might do the same for you. Of course, maybe ask your doctor before doing any of these:
-Very light-weight dumbells. Move them at arm's length from an outstretched left/right "wingspan" position, together in front of you. Imagine clapping without bending your elbows. This should be done with very light weights... 2/3/4 pounds in each hand, but many repetitions.
-Dumbell flys - from your relaxed position (weights at your sides) to the original "wingspan" position and back. Also, very light weight. you can do this same sort of motion but move the weights out in front of you also.
-Pushups are an excellent exercise for Motocross. I understand some women can't do full pushups but I knew I was good when I could do 10 of them with no pain. Go easy on these and do ladies' pushups (from your knees) at first.
Always let pain be your guide: if it hurts, don't do it! Good luck.
I was definitely told no push ups til further notice. For a while I was being badass and doing one-arms. But then I got sick of everything, gained a little weight and decided to get back in shape after the second (removal) surgery.
Damn, that was some nasty break. They probably needed extra long equipment to get in there and fish all the pieces out to put them together.
From what I've gleaned, I don't think any of us are ever going to get rid of the numbness from where they cut the nerves.
Are you getting the plate removed? I know for some that's optional but for me, well it's technically optional but the doc pretty much guaranteed i is gonna work through my skin, so I am good to go with just getting rid of it.
I guess you've only really been riding again 2 months...hope you feel good.
BTW, your surgeon did a much better job on you than mine did on me. I look like a freak when I go w/o a shirt. Looks like I have a hot dog stuffed under my skin. It doesn't hurt or inhibit movement but looks really bad. I am sure your tip over caused no damage. I was 49 yo when I had my crash and was riding in 8 weeks. I think you'll be fine.
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