Really worried gal here!!!!

tiger01

hello all......... sorry to say im not a bike rider but i do own one thats currently very dusty tut tut, truth is i broke my collar bone yesterday, in a showjumping fall. horse landed on me. im a bit worrried so decided to look around and spotted you clever people with loads of advice!!!! charmer aint i. "its very hard to type one handed " so sorry for any mistakes or nonsence........that might be the codene actually!!!!


anyway i'l stop blabbing now. heres a pic of my x ray took via camera phone, doc says up to me wait or sugery........... what do you think SERIOUSLY,,,,gulp.



Also is it normal to have no pain really only twinges with movement... its not even acheing and the swollen skin surrounding my lump is numb? this is my main concern..

gerolsteiner

usually collar bones aren't that painful when broken.

tiger01

but im feeling no pain, just an ache in my sholder which eases when ajust my sling. what about the numbness! everyone i have read posts from in forums appear to be in agony and heres me just unable to move a limb numb with a couple of twinges it concerns me.......... got an appointment at fracture clinic tommorrrow see what doc says but im grateful for all advice

WarrenG

You mentioned being on codeine. Maybe that's why you don't feel much pain yet. Those twinges are useful signals to you to not move.

As you'll probably hear tomorrow, surgery is useful to hold the bones in place so they can heal in alignment. If your fracture is already well-aligned then surgery may not be needed. Sometimes surgery will fasten the broken parts so well that the sling may not be required.

A key issue for any fracture involving a joint is how well you will be able to restore full range of motion (ROM), and how long that will take. This can be pretty painful and difficult if the joint is immobilized for a month. Be sure to ask about your options in terms of the restoration of ROM and how sooon you could begin ROM rehab.

If you're a smoker you need to stop because smoking will slow the bone healing. If you can do some exercise like riding a stationary bike in your house or at a gym the increased blood flow won't hurt and will probably help the physical healing, and mentally too. Vitamin C, magnesium, and calcium are useful too.

Google on "bone healing" to learn more about the process.

2zanzibar

I'm not sure what you're worrying about: getting back on the horse? being disfigured? not healing quickly?
When I broke mine (bike crash) it was extremely painfull, and took a good 8 weeks before I got my ROM back, but it was at least 3 months before the pain dissapeared. Also, I've got this rather hideous lump protruding out which perversely I'm sort of proud of; though I am a bloke and was not an aesthetic masterpiece to begin with

I think if surgery prevents having that lump then perhaps go for it. As for healing time, I'm not sure if surgery will speed it up and plus you can run the risk of infection.
If you're not too bothered about these things then just let it heal.
Good luck with it!