How'd it go today?

Sounds like it needs a pin to hold it in place.

I knew a guy who was in a motorcycle wreck who would supposedly hit his sternum with a mallet to break it again because it would hurt when it started fusing.
 
Had a broken collarbone before. ATV rolled over and trapped me for a while. That sucked. Really really hurt. I think it was 4 or 5 weeks. Was broke badly, kinda had a piece floating around in there.
 
We went grocery shopping in the morning and I went to the bar to drink beer at my buddies appreciation party for his marina. Hammered right now. But it's Sunday so work day tomorrow LOL. Hey Wisco! Hahahahahahahahahaha Luv ya guys/gals! I should not be typing right now.
 
treesmith said:
Did yours require surgery ? Mine was a clean break.
Click to expand...
Nope, just tried to immobilize the shoulder area for a few weeks and let it do it’s thing. Pretty neat how it aligned and healed straight all on its own.
Shirts were pretty impossible, so had a little collection of bathrobes to wear, and the left arm didn’t go in a sleeve. Left arm was in a sling to help keep movement to a minimum. They had to cut my shirt off in the emergency room, and it was probably over 2 weeks before I could wear one again.
 
I’ve been wearing a loose muscle shirt or tank top every day. I’ve learned to get one on/off without much pain.

Do you recall how long it was until the bone “set”? This afternoon makes a week and mine hasn’t set yet. It’s getting better but still moves around. And how long before you could climb again?
 
Last edited:
Have you googled any info about treating fractured clavicles?

Here is the 3rd thing I read:


For about the first 4–6 weeks:
  • Avoid raising your arms above shoulder level.
  • Avoid lifting anything that weighs more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg). ...
  • Stay out of all sports and physical education.
  • Do all exercises to prevent elbow and shoulder stiffness and to help with muscle strength.
  • Go to physical therapy, if needed

For a fx to heal it has to be immobilized long enough, with the broken parts immobile so that they "knit"...the body has to start an inflammatory process that starts a chain of events that leads to "ground substances" (like collagen for a tendon injury) to start forming a bonding material to knit the 2 pieces together. Think of a moderate cut to the hand...it takes at least a week before the would even start to close up...and for the next few weeks it is possible to accidentally tear that wound apart again.

You have to keep the two broken pieces very close together so that the healing process can bridge the gap...ideally that is very small. A comminuted fx (lots of pieces) sometimes has to be surgically immobilized.

My reading says you need to be wearing a sling at first to prevent movement of the broken pieces.

I don't remember if you said you saw an orthopod but if you didn't you should. Non-union of a fx is a possibility with long-term bad effects. As active as you want to stay you probably need to let someone with a lot of experience run this rodeo. Good luck.

medlineplus.gov

Broken collarbone - aftercare: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

You have been diagnosed with a broken collarbone. Follow your health care provider's instructions on how to care for your broken bone. Use the information below as a reminder.
medlineplus.gov medlineplus.gov

healthcare.utah.edu

Let a Broken Collarbone Heal Naturally, or Not?

Today we talk about the proper treatment for a broken collarbone, whether surgical or natural.
healthcare.utah.edu healthcare.utah.edu
 
Not a clue really. I assumed you might be trying to do more than the bone wants to be done and that is why it "talks" to you as you move around and do things. If you are staying active enough that you have concerns about the bone mending then you may be doing too much. You said, "It’s getting better but still moves around." Seems to me if the bone is moving it might be disrupting the matrix of materials that are part of the healing.

The initial inflammatory process sets up the "work area" for the healing to begin. A loose network of collagen fibers "splice" the area so that proper bone matrix is laid down. The ends of that broken bone need to be like a sleeping dog...don't mess with it. Give it time to wake up and stretch on its own time. If you break up the healing matrix you do a reset for the timeline. This is taken from the article below...a timeline of the healing process. The article details the process thru day 18 and onwards.


Hematoma Formation (Days 1 to 5)

This stage begins immediately following the fracture. The blood vessels supplying the bone and periosteum are ruptured during the fracture, causing a hematoma to form around the fracture site. The hematoma clots and forms the temporary frame for subsequent healing. The injury to bone results in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and interleukins (IL-1, IL-6, IL-11, IL-23). These cytokines act to stimulate essential cellular biology at the site, attracting macrophages, monocytes, and lymphocytes. These cells act together to remove damaged, necrotic tissue and secrete cytokines like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to stimulate healing at the site.

Fibrocartilaginous Callus Formation (Days 5 to 11)

The release of VEGF leads to angiogenesis at the site, and within the hematoma, fibrin-rich granulation tissue begins to develop. Further mesenchymal stem cells are recruited to the area and begin to differentiate (driven by BMPs) to fibroblasts, chondroblasts, and osteoblasts. As a result, chondrogenesis begins to occur, laying down a collagen-rich fibrocartilaginous network spanning the fracture ends, with a surrounding hyaline cartilage sleeve. At the same time, adjacent to the periosteal layers, a layer of woven bone is laid down by the osteoprogenitor cells.


 
Thanks Gary. My problem is, I can tell when it’s in the right position, and have to somewhat try to keep it there. When I relax, it settles out of position. I have figured out how to sleep with it “in”, so I’m hoping it knits during the night one night. The 8 holds my shoulders back, which aids in alignment, but the shoulder end droops out of alignment when relaxed.
 
Jerry,
Maybe an odd question, but you never know:

Did you ever run into a Finn named Van Kinnunen, lived in a cabin outside of Ft. Bragg?
 
I think it was 3 weeks maybe more before it was feeling better, but I still wouldn’t have climbed. Once it’s kinda stabilizing itself, one little bonk would be excruciating.
From the ER, it all got referred to a local orthopedic specialist and surgeon. Saw him the day after then every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. By week 4 the pain was nothing and range of motion felt normal, but still was told no lifting, pushing, pulling etc until week 6.
 
treesmith said:
The 8 holds my shoulders back, which aids in alignment, but the shoulder end droops out of alignment when relaxed.
Click to expand...
Then you can add a wrap between the elbow and the opposite shoulder (near the neck), like an usual bandage for an injured arm. That should take care of the dropping issue when your muscles relaxe, at least in the upright position..
 
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