Anybody had a broken collar bone that wouldn't knit?

[Globalti]

Yes the consultant I've been seeing is a specialist in shoulder trauma and I've been seeing him through BUPA. As I explained upthread I agree generally with him that surgery should be avoided if Nature can heal but after 11 weeks of pain in I'm starting to feel the benefits of surgery (return to fitness and psychological wellbeing) are outweighing the risks.

 

[vickster]

I'd personally go back and have another conversation, especially regarding the recovery and any future risks if you were to fall again etc. All assuming you can take an extended time off work. I'd think if you had it done now, you'd probably need to be off for a month if you need two arms to do your job effectively

 

[Globalti]

Just seen the consultant and he's going to plate it.

 

[vickster]

Just seen the consultant and he's going to plate it.

Good luck!
When’s it being done?
I’d be prepared for lots of post op pain based on my experiences of less major elbow and shoulder surgery!

 

[Globalti]

It can't be much worse than the broken ribs and frozen shoulder I've had since the accident. Today the consultant seemed more concerned about the shoulder than the bone, he was talking about doing an arthroscopy and leaving the bone for longer!

Should be in the next week or two anyway.

 

[vickster]

It can't be much worse than the broken ribs and frozen shoulder I've had since the accident. Today the consultant seemed more concerned about the shoulder than the bone, he was talking about doing an arthroscopy and leaving the bone for longer!

Should be in the next week or two anyway.

My first op led to a frozen shoulder. Resolved eventually with surgery, lots of physio and a steroid injection. Lost a fair bit of ROM though that I’ll never get back

You need a lot of physio within days of capsular release while presumably a plated clavicle needs weeks in a sling to heal?

Rather you than me! At least Christmas is coming and you can rest and rehab

 

[Globalti]

I've managed to get back to about 35% movement with physio and exercises but have stopped doing them since the X ray last Friday so it's freezing up again.

 

[ColinJ]

Good luck with the op, and the post-op recovery!

 

[raleighnut]

Good luck from me too.

 

[Globalti]

Well the original surgeon couldn't do the op before Christmas so I found someone else and he did it yesterday. He said the ends would never have joined as they were mixed up with muscle and stuff. Am at home now trying not to move too much. Phew! Just keeping fingers crossed that the bone will wake up and get joined.

 

[ColinJ]

Well the original surgeon couldn't do the op before Christmas so I found someone else and he did it yesterday. He said the ends would never have joined as they were mixed up with muscle and stuff. Am at home now trying not to move too much. Phew! Just keeping fingers crossed that the bone will wake up and get joined.

Couldn't they see that on any scans or x-rays that you had taken weeks ago?

Anyway, let's hope you now recover quickly!

 

[Globalti]

By week 6 I was sure it wasn't mending so I asked my GP for an x-ray but he turned it down and I messaged the consultant but either he didn't get the message or he ignored it. That would have been the ideal time to plate it. Now the bone has gone to sleep so we have to hope the surgeon has managed to wake it up.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Keep up the physio exercises. It was numb atound scars for limg time but full range of movement and feeling came back.

 

[Globalti]

Well I've also got a frozen shoulder. The original consultant wanted to sort that arthroscopically before plating the collar bone, which seemed a bit bonkers to me and the second consultant thought was mad as well.

 

[DCBassman]

Looks like it, but don't decry peripheral 'chat' - often more interesting than the thread subject. Are all your 3 crossed rear wheels laced the same way?

Well I've also got a frozen shoulder. The original consultant wanted to sort that arthroscopically before plating the collar bone, which seemed a bit bonkers to me and the second consultant thought was mad as well.

Yup, that's nuts. Collar bones always come first, all else being equal, even for such things as arthritis work. THEN you do the shoulder joint...