Recovery time?

[Gary E]

I was left hooked almost 3 weeks ago, hit the curb and landed on my shoulder.

Initially the doctor thought I had ligament damage and so told me to keep the arm moving to aid healing and keep a full range of movement.

It now turns out that the original xray was read incorrectly and I've had a broken collarbone the whole time (which probably explains why the exercises were so bloody painful).

Apparently the constant movement has been preventing the bone from knitting back together and so I'm now in a sling (3 weeks late!)

Has anyone else suffered similar damage and what recovery time can I expect?

The doctor says the incorrect actions will add about 4 weeks and I shouldn't expect to be riding again for 3-4 months

Not one to argue with medical advice, but considering they screwed up, I was hoping for better news maybe from people who've actually been where I am now?

 

[vernon]

Recovery time is entirely dependent upon the nature and extent of the injury.

The more optimistic recovery times posted by others will not necessarily have any bearing on your own recovery time.

I'd try seeking a second opinion from someone with medical qualifications who has access to your x-rays.

 

[Gary E]

Yeah, don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for a definitive medical answer (I realise there are too many variables).

Too be honest I feel so bloody miserable having just been told that I won't be riding for so long, I was just hoping for some good news stories I guess

Got a brand new bike that I haven't even ridden yet too. Had loads of planned rides. I've spent the last 6 months dieting and exercising (lost 5 stone) and I was hoping to do my first imperial ton and even thought a ride to my mums in Nottingham (140 miles) was achievable.

Sod it, I'm gonna hang myself

 

[vernon]

You can have some false dawns if you seek re-assurance from fast recoveries.

Here's a chunk of text from Livestrong.com

Make of it what you will.

Diagnosis

According to Dr. Dominic Briscomb, it's possible to diagnose 95 percent of all collarbone breaks by feel. Following a crash, a cyclist will typically have trouble lifting her arm. They can also experience intense shoulder pain. Symptoms vary, as it's possible to fracture the collarbone in one of three places. If you suspect that your collarbone is injured, seek medical help immediately, as an X-ray may be necessary to diagnose the injury.
Nonsurgical Treatment

If your collarbone has a simple break, you will probably have the option to let the bone heal for up to eight weeks. This is the safest route, although the recovery time is long. You will wear a splint or a figure-eight splint that will mobilize the shoulder as the bone knits back together. Another X-ray is typically required after six weeks to ensure the bone is healing properly.
Surgical Treatment

A shattered collarbone or one broken in several pieces often requires surgery. A metal plate is inserted to protect the neuromuscular bundle (the nerves and blood vessels that run beneath it) from being injured. Also, the collarbone tends to heal shorter in length than it was before the injury. This can increase rotator cuff problems later on. Surgery helps it heal properly. Most professional riders opt for surgery because the recovery time is typically four weeks, as opposed to eight.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/464735-collarbone-fractures-bike-riding/#ixzz1s0iQhpLI​

 

[Gary E]

Thanks Vernon, up to 8 weeks, sounds a lot better.

I honestly realise the dangers of unsolicited advice and also of self-diagnosis. I just wanted some idea of what a best-case could be as everyone I've spoken to so far has (understandably) erred on the side of caution.

As I sit here typing this it 's a lovely sunny day outside, damn this cycling urge!!!!

 

[Gary E]

On the plus side - apparently, according to the hospital, this is quite a common injury for cyclists.

It's my first sports injury - I feel like a proper cyclist now

 

[Noodley]

A similar thing happened to me a few years ago, x-ray did not show the break and I was told to carry on an move it to keep things mobile etc...anyway it was bloody sore, but thinking it was just bruised and sore I started cycling again after a few days. It was sore as hell. It was not until much later when seeing the doc about something else that he said "when did you break your collar bone?" after seeing the strange lump where it had heeled. I can't move my arm properly now and it still hurts when I do longer rides or on bumpy surfaces, but I am hard as nails me! <he says whimpering>
So, do what you are told and rest it!

 

[Gary E]

Trust me, I don't plan on doing anything to jeopardise my recovery.

Keen as I am to get back on my bike, I don't want to do it with the consequences that you suffered Noodley.

Thanks for the advise, I'll try to keep it in mind when the urge gets strong

 

[TVC]

Doctors are quite good at missing injuries, when I got hit I was correctly diagnosed with a break to my arm just below the head of the humerus. For 10 days I walked round in a sling before going to my first check up at the fracture clinic. It was at this point that they also noticed I had a posterial dislocation of the shoulder. They missed a dislocated shoulder FFS! Anyway, very embarrassed, they immediately admitted me for an operation to reduce it and perhaps pin the bone.

I was not impressed.

Hope yours heals soon Gary, but I wouldn't plan anything physical for the next three months to be safe.

 

[Gary E]

I just hope that the 5 - 10 seconds that the driver of the car gained by overtaking me were put to good use.

I don't wish him any harm at all, honest

 

[ASC1951]

Gary, I came off my bike in Mallorca last spring and broke my collarbone in two places; or rather in one and a half, since the second piece was blown off the side at the shoulder end, not two breaks all the way through. The NHS advised against surgery on the ground that the risks outweighed the advantage (I'm twice the age of a professional cyclist, after all) so I just wore a sling for three weeks. My first exercise was gentle lengths - breast stroke only - after four weeks. Six weeks after the break I was back up to 2500m front crawl, but found my first bike ride very uncomfortable. I wasn't back to cycling 50k+ for about ten weeks.

It takes 3 - 4 months for the bone to re-grow fully. What you get first is a cartilege scaffold which is still semi-transparent on x-ray, but is a reasonably firm connection so long as you don't go daft. After all, the collarbone is for stability of the shoulder joint rather than being load-bearing.

I would say that your doctor is right about the extra three weeks and the time for full recovery. But that doesn't stop you doing all exercise, especially something like swimming where you are supported.

The advice from my physio/osteopath was that I should use the arm so long as it didn't hurt - one reason why I stopped using the sling as soon as it was comfortable. Like most people, I have made a full recovery with no impaired movement whatsoever.

 

[TVC]

I just hope that the 5 - 10 seconds that the driver of the car gained by overtaking me were put to good use.

I don't wish him any harm at all, honest

I trust you are claiming against his insurance

 

[Gary E]

Gary, I came off my bike in Mallorca last spring and broke my collarbone in two places; or rather in one and a half, since the second piece was blown off the side at the shoulder end, not two breaks all the way through. The NHS advised against surgery on the ground that the risks outweighed the advantage (I'm twice the age of a professional cyclist, after all) so I just wore a sling for three weeks. My first exercise was gentle lengths - breast stroke only - after four weeks. Six weeks after the break I was back up to 2500m front crawl, but found my first bike ride very uncomfortable. I wasn't back to cycling 50k+ for about ten weeks.

It takes 3 - 4 months for the bone to re-grow fully. What you get first is a cartilege scaffold which is still semi-transparent on x-ray, but is a reasonably firm connection so long as you don't go daft. After all, the collarbone is for stability of the shoulder joint rather than being load-bearing.

I would say that your doctor is right about the extra three weeks and the time for full recovery. But that doesn't stop you doing all exercise, especially something like swimming where you are supported.

The advice from my physio/osteopath was that I should use the arm so long as it didn't hurt - one reason why I stopped using the sling as soon as it was comfortable. Like most people, I have made a full recovery with no impaired movement whatsoever.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, you explained it better than my doctor, glad you made a full recovery.

 

[Gary E]

I trust you are claiming against his insurance

He didn't stop and I didn't get his number - so no.

I'm not a great fan of American-style claim culture but it would've been nice if he'd at least have stopped. He could have given me a lift home and saved me getting back on the bike and riding the last 3 miles.

Funniest bit was when my girlfriend who was out on the ride with me caught up. She'd dropped quite a way behind at that point of the ride and so didn't see the accident. By the time she caught up with me I'd picked myself up out of the nettles and had just picked my bike up (fortunately just scratched on the left pedal and hand grip - think I'd managed to break it's fall with my body fortunately). She assumed I'd just stopped to let her catch up and rode passed with a cheery "come on nearly there" I got back on the bike (lifted my left hand onto the bar with my right) and it took me about half a mile just to catch up and tell her what had happened

 

[TVC]

It's not so much about you getting the money (although the £19k I got came in handy) it's more to do with the fact that if he had stopped the Police would not take action, so by claiming you bugger up his no claims, which might make him think twice next time he gets impatient.