Broken shoulder

[Hitchington]

Last Sunday i took a tumble down a steep muddy bank and I have fractured the top of my humerus. It is a non_displaced fracture, the muscle is holding it in place, and I have to return to hospital next week and the fracture specialist will decide if I need surgery or not. So for the next few months no cycling for me. Boo!

My question is has anyone here gone through a similar experience? How long was recovery? I currently have my arm isolated in a sling and am planning to go back to work tomorrow ( with reduced office based duties) is this a good idea?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Drago]

Had a similar injury with my elbow. Rebuilt with Meccano. 9 years on its still a little problematic.

 

[Venod]

My question is has anyone here gone through a similar experience? How long was recovery?

Mine has been a problem but the good news for you is my surgeon/shoulder specialist says he is very dissapointed with my outcome and is somewhat baffled by my muscle loss leading to limited movement, I did pick up an infection that lead to the removal of the pin that was inserted and three more ops to clean it out and 13 nights in hospital.

He did say mine was a straight forward repair and most people are OK after such an op, so if you need one I would be very optimistic if I was you, I think I was just unlucky.

Despite all the problems I was back on the bike within four months, albeit with limited shoulder movement, with no complications I would have been back quicker.

 

[Hitchington]

Thanks for the replies. Im pissed off with myself for being such a klutz (the tumble was perfectly avoidable) and just a few weeks after buying a new bike too!

Oh well, I am now accepting and committed to a longish recovery if that's what's needed.

 

[theclaud]

GWS Hitch.

 

[vickster]

Make sure you get a shoulder specialist, do you have private HC? Might be worth seeing a London based expert regardless of fracture clinic

 

[Hitchington]

Make sure you get a shoulder specialist, do you have private HC? Might be worth seeing a London based expert regardless of fracture clinic

My treatment is at Kings College on Demark Hill. No to private, I have faith in the NHS.

Couldn't afford private anyway.

 

[vickster]

My treatment is at Kings College on Demark Hill. No to private, I have faith in the NHS.

Couldn't afford private anyway.

Fair do, you might have had it through work

GWS

 

[Hitchington]

GWS

Thanks

 

[Hitchington]

You can be treated on the NHS in a private hospital. Worth thinking about, given the waiting lists for electives at Kings.

I wouldn't know how to go about this.

 

[Sharky]

My treatment is at Kings College on Demark Hill. No to private, I have faith in the NHS.

Couldn't afford private anyway.

That's where I was taken (by helicopter) after my prang (inc broken collarbone)! Looked after me well for a few nights, then longer term treatment from Darenth Hosp (Dartford).

Only advice - take your time and start off on the turbo to regain confidence etc.

 

[TVC]

In my big collision I snapped the humerus just below the ball (dislocated it also, but that was put back in).

They took loads of pictures and threatened that they might have to pin it whilst it healed, but fortunately it was stable enough to be left in just a sling. As I recall I was told to keep it immobile for 4 weeks then after that I was sent for physio and given light exercises to strengthen the muscles that had been rested. After 8 weeks I felt the break was completely healed, but I wasn't allowed back to work until 12 weeks because of the damage caused by the dislocation.

@Hitchington with regard to going back to work, I would follow the advice of your doctor and certainly wait until they have decided if there is an operation needed.... but I'm not basing this on any medical knowledge on my part.

 

[Wobblers]

Sorry to hear this, Hitchington.

A friend of mine did something similar: he had lots of metalwork for a couple of months, but hasn't had any trouble with it since. Two months in a sling or cast seems typical for a fracture, but you'll need some months of physio afterwards to regain the strength and mobility in your shoulder. Make sure you get to see a physio, as they'll likely have just as much effect on your recovery as the surgeon. And do the exercises they give religiously!

Heal well!

 

[mcshroom]

I broke my humerus in half in a crash and they pinned it back together with an IM nail down the middle of the bone. I was off the bike for 12 weeks and need physio, mainly because of the damage that they had to do to my shoulder to insert the nail in the bone. I still have some minor problems with the arm if I try and stretch too much but I've got 95+% of the mobility back and some of the other issues would probably be fixed with some strength work to fully recover the bicep muscle (also cut open as part of the surgery).

I started back on a turbo a few weeks before I could take the arm out of it's sling, and needed a step ladder to get on and off the bike!

I hope yours heals a bit quicker, especially if you find you don't need surgery. GWS

 

[Will Spin]

Broke shoulder in a crash, dislocated ball joint and broken humerus. I had to have it pinned together and my arm strapped to my side for 6 weeks while it mended. A soon as possible after the operation I got the local gym to make me a programme so I could keep strength in my legs and upper body without using the arm...this was almost a life saver as it kept me sane! As soon as the sling came off and the doctor was OK I got myself a good physiotherapist (worth paying for if you can't get a decent one from the NHS) and we worked on getting muscle to build up again and restoring movement. It was just under 3 months before I could get back on the bike.