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Cutting a long story short(er). A talent deficit a fortnight ago on my part resulted in a head first impact to my head/shoulder. My helmet did the biz, and although written off, no damage to my swede other than a shiner and a graze next to my eye. The shoulder was a different story - taking a hefty knock on the top/back/side. This impact crushed the end of my collarbone against the sternum and crumbled it into at least three bits and partially popping the sternoclavicular joint outwards (anterior).
So....
I have researched it and it is a relatively rare place to break a collarbone (5-10% of all fractures). I have good mobility - assisted is pretty much 100%, not so good under its own power (probably about 70%). I started doing assisted range of motion and light theraband after a week and have not had any adverse reaction. My idea is to ward off frozen shoulder and be as good as I can when the bone has fused. I have a fracture clinic appointment on 1st Nov (29 days after the break). I'm going to try to push for an xray to see how well it had fused, but I'm thinking 6 weeks before I ride properly off road. Probably with the shoulder strapped up. I'm doing some jogging whilst wearing a sling to keep some fitness going. Jeez, running is shit, though! In actual fact, other than not riding, it is lack of quality sleep that is the worst thing.
My main concern is I want the bone to be healed before I ride. Although the location of my fracture is rare-ish and not incredibly painful, I know that a posterior dislocation of the S-C joint is very naughty given the nerve group and blood vessels behind there.
So, putting it out to the floor....
Has anyone else on STW had experience of this particular type of clavicle fracture? How long until you rode? What physio did you do? Any tips at all, please?
Ta.
Were you not offered a physio referral? If so, that's the person to ask re getting back on the bike
No, just a fracture clinic appointment. Physio referrals take so long nowadays that the point is totally lost.
You'll get a quick one as it's a fracture. You may be referred after the fracture clinic, it's certainly worth asking for one.
Cheers, I will try. The fracture clinic appointment is phone, though(!)
I could probably ride now pain and movement-wise, but I don't want to risk anything if it isn't healed. I know 5-6 weeks is as good as it can get, I just don't want to spend any more time than necessary off of the bike. Not being too dramatic about it, but it is important for my mental wellbeing. Not silly important, but fairly important.
I have been working from home fine for ages, but I do need to put in some appearances in person soon too.
12 weeks for the bone to have its full strength back as basic starting point. at 6 weeks it will not be properly healed and another impact could rebreak it easily. with a complex break with ligament damage then timescales are longer
Tj has it, plus caveats re the union of the bone fragments going as optimally as can be- otherwise it'll be longer. And one of the things that will make it longer is overloading the joint- so listen to the advice you get and don't try to rush the process!
I can't speak for other trusts but our fracture clinics are phone calls too, it's a covid thing but also likely to stay as you will have had the scan already,there's nothing to be gained by seeing you face to face and it's more efficient.
I know you folks are right. Deep down I know you are right.
Am I allowed to petulantly dislike you for five minutes until I get my adult head back on?
🤷♂️