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At the tender age of 50 & bit, I've broken my collar bone, on my dominate side. So not only am I in discomfort, I've discover how useless I am, with my left hand. I assume/hope I will get better as I use my lefty more, but in the meantime, any tips/gadgets worth getting, to help me through this joyous period?
Be thankful that CTRL-ALT-DEL has gone. After three months I became very mouse proficient with my non-dom hand.
Similar; following injury, I decided to learn how to use a left handed mouse on my work computer and now do so always. It's helpful in a few ways and the dexterity of that hand overall has improved significantly.
Still use a right hand mouse for the home pc.
The best thing about brushing your teeth with the wrong hand is that it feels like someone else is doing it for you
This is a euphemism, right?
Now you're mostly armless!
Ah yes, been there twice now and still recovering.
You will get used to using the weaker arm. It's a bit embarrassing having food cut up for you, but get used to asking for help, people really don't mind.
Using a spoon is easier than a fork. Put bottles, jars etc inbetween your legs and use the weak hand (with a rubber glove if necessary to unscrew/open lids. Driving will be easier in a few weeks if you have a gear stick and handbrake (always a silver lining).
I used my chin a lot, my legs a lot and a rubber glove a lot (hahaha).
Buy a pair of slip on shoes or boots. Also use a shoe horn.
Lie your toothbrush down down paste on and take time brushing teeth.
I was a bit lucky as I've always used a mouse with the left hand and some tools, so had some underlying strength.
Good luck.
Scissors are crap left handed, even sharp ones!
Cheers all, my typing /mouse skillz aren't too terrible, well no more than normal, but I'll be buying an electric tooth brush shortly. Been eyeing up some slip on boots, so this might be the prompt to buy them, as going out in crocks is a line I dislike crossing.
+1 to everything Bunnyhop has said get some lace Anchors you'll never bother tie shoes again
Buttering your toast lift your knee up to counter level to stop the bread sliding off.
Buy pre cut frozen veg, grated cheese for cooking
Good luck
A slight hijack if that’s ok.
I also broke my collar bone in May and have just been signed off at the hospital and onto the strengthening phase of recovery. Having already missed a trip to the Alps as a result I am determined to make the most of a trip to the Pyrenees in a couple of weeks. I thought about getting some lightweight body armour just to protect it a bit but I’m strugging to find anything that actually protects the collarbone and not just the shoulder. I also don’t want to turn into a stormtrooper and be able to pedal. Has any one got any recommendations or product to avoid that might be worth a look.
Thanks
Timely thread, bust mine in may too, tender age of 54. It’s almost split “along” the bone, dominant side. Not yet knitted together. Bit concerned it never will but the specialist won’t consider surgery as I have reasonable movement and little pain. Bit frustrating as I’m a self employed technician.
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Can't post gifs no more ?
I found when I had a cast on my dominant hand wiping my arse was hard, signing when I paid by card was a scribble.
Guy at work broken both wrists, God knows how he wipes his arse..... (His wife. Is getting some serious brownie points)
Fortunately when I broke my collar bone I had just enough use of my right (dominant arm/hand) that I could still skin up and I had always preferred using my left when masturbating..... One of the benefits of growing up with the internet and using a mouse with the right hand.
Too much information?
Cheers ppl, but no, noped noop, I will not use one of those abominations. I presented my inlaws with a decent sharp carving knife after they asked to carve with one of those one christmas. I would rather tear bites out it (bread/meat) first 😉
The electric toothbrush has been a revelation, as the stranger previously cleaning my teeth, had no idea what they were doing (I'm tactfully ignoring the connotations)
I too am interested in Chrismac's comment about "I’m strugging to find anything that actually protects the collarbone and not just the shoulder." As I've been offered a job in a month or so's time, where they will allow me to wfh while I can't drive, but will no doubt pull a hissy fit when I start riding again
I can't see how any sort of protection would help for the way most collarbones are broken when cycling, it's not through direct impact it's via force transmitted through it from a different body part that is impacting. If it's just something covering it whilst its still healing (just in case there is a direct impact, or someone wants to poke it...) then most shoulder protection body armour would do that
It is to avoid a direct impact as both the consultant and physio said that was the biggest risk. They all have shoulder protection which should hopefully reduce the transmitted force into the collarbone but not actually protect it.
I was signed off as fixed yesterday, my treatment was just sling and leave it alone, and I am please to say the bone did reposition itself back into a straight line so I dont have a bump or a dropped shoulder which was great news. It just needs to get a bit stronger and to rehab the muscle strength and mobility.
As for frustrations whilst incapacitated. For the first 3 weeks I could dry myself after a shower as I didn’t have the mobility to use my bad arm to dry my good arm and trying to dry my back was a nonstarter. Shoelaces were impossible as I couldnt even reach my shoe with my bad arm sat down, let alone tie them.
It’s a bugger. I just fractured my clavicle on the right side. In a sling now going for the x ray and diagnosis tomorrow. Just to complicate life I have a dressing and stitches on my left thumb from an operation last week. Not been to the toilet yet. The basics of life just got super complicated ?
argeeFull Member
Wet wipes are a godsend with a knackered collarbone
Indeed, but please do not put them down the loo. The rules from the water companies are: Pee, Poo and Paper only. Even the supposedly eco wipes (compostable type are not plastic free).
Good luck everyone. My break was a shoulder and dislocation on the dominant side, which is going to take about a year to mend (I'm 7 months in and still haven't ridden an mtb). Lots of physio exercises and sleepless nights.
One other tip, get/borrow one of those neck pillows (a big V shaped thing), then you can sleep sitting up.
That sounds awful Bunnyhob, best of luck with your recovery
Partner is an Nurse (ex-nhs) so has sorted my pillows, one at the bottom horizontal, two vertical, & another on top horizontal, then I've added a rolled pair of jeans to stop my arm slipping round... I've slept like a baby
Not been to the toilet yet.
Partner was very concerned the painkillers would block me up, just be aware, that's not much fun, so use a laxative early to stop any more issues arising. Thankfully (or not) I've not been in much pain, so not used them much, but my partners co-worker a rehabilitation specialist has glanced at my x-ray & thinks I will need surgery... The Doctor I saw was telling me they don't do surgery in 99% of cases, as soon as I walked into the room & must have repeated that about 6 times, so I'm facing an uphill battle. Worse still I have a potential job offer, but it is reliant on me being fit to work from home (they are aware of my situation) soon rather than later
If you're being seen at Russels Hall hospital you really need to keep pushing them for an op.
They ****ed me around for months and kept telling me to leave it another four weeks and it'll start to heal on its own...
After four months the two ends of the bone were further away than they were when i broke it.
I had to kick up a real fuss and also asked for a referral to the hospital in Wolves before they agreed to operate on me.
Really messed me up not being able to use my arm for so long and took two years of physio the get it working properly again.
Best of luck mate hope you get it sorted quicker than I did.
Some before and after pics of mine.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/50214088918/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/50458271723/in/dateposted/
That's horrendous Stu, I've ended up with Worcester Hospital, I think due to going to Kiddy outpatient dept, as I fell off in the Wyre. So I was kinda counting my blessing, as Russell hall doesn't have the best rep.. I'll know more Tuesday with my next appointment
Hmmm interesting read. Wondering if I’ll be going same way as now 10 weeks in and being told “ it will heal by itself “. Opened up after first x ray to this and it’s still like this!
The basics of life just got super complicated ?
Arse over the side of the bath and shower in hand.
Thanks for posting the x ray pics guys. That makes it clear I can make mine a lot worse if I’m not careful. My fracture is just a bump in the bone classed as a minor displacement. If I am careful it should heal quickly. It could be far worse.
My left hand dexterity will jut have to improve. Got the stitches removed from my left thumb today and have plenty of gloves to keep the wound clean. Looks like the issue with the thumb is gout. I’m now thinking of reducing my consumption of red wine, port and venison burgers.
They don't like operating, i had the same, fractured into 3 pieces, told to give it until 3 months to see if it knitted, it didn't, was noted a couple of years ago that it's still a non-union and mal-union, so still not good, but reality is, i'm in my 40s so just leaving it as is, or getting it fixed if i break it again.
First turbo session since the fracture on Wednesday. Bit of a novelty for me as it’s probably two years since I’ve been on one. No doubt it will get old quickly. I’m hoping to maintain a bit of fitness so I can be in reasonable shape when I can ride outdoors again.
Left hand is on a rapid learning curve. I can now dry myself after a shower.