Ouch, My shoulder feels strange!
Discussion
Last Saturday what should have been a pleasant G&T ride turned into a trip to A&E. I was chatting to a friend having just ridden up a hill in the New Forest and as I turned off the road onto a gravel track the front wheel slipped out and I went down hard.
I had a nasty gravel rash on my arm and a sharp pain in my hip as well as an odd sensation coming from my left shoulder. After an ambulance ride and a long wait in A&E, an X-ray confirmed that my collarbone was in pieces.
My GP has told me it will need plating; it feels very uncomfortable and I am still waiting to see the fracture clinic - the appointment is next Wednesday, which will be 11 days after my crash! I assume that they won't operate then and I will probably have to wait for an appointment for the op.
I was wondering if anyone can advise on what to expect when I finally go to see the fracture clinic / orthopaedic surgeon? How long should I expect to wait for an operation?
Any advise on recovery will be greatly appreciated. I am keen to maintain some level of fitness and would like to start using the turbo trainer (even for some light spinning)b soon.
I had a nasty gravel rash on my arm and a sharp pain in my hip as well as an odd sensation coming from my left shoulder. After an ambulance ride and a long wait in A&E, an X-ray confirmed that my collarbone was in pieces.
My GP has told me it will need plating; it feels very uncomfortable and I am still waiting to see the fracture clinic - the appointment is next Wednesday, which will be 11 days after my crash! I assume that they won't operate then and I will probably have to wait for an appointment for the op.
I was wondering if anyone can advise on what to expect when I finally go to see the fracture clinic / orthopaedic surgeon? How long should I expect to wait for an operation?
Any advise on recovery will be greatly appreciated. I am keen to maintain some level of fitness and would like to start using the turbo trainer (even for some light spinning)b soon.
I did similar 4 weeks ago.
Was in and out of a&e within the hour (on Sunday afternoon), booked into fracture clinic on the Tuesday, at the clinic the doctor said it was too far apart to heal naturally and needed the op. Went through usual risks etc. Not sure if its the same for all but he told me that I probably wouldn't get back the same movement in my arm, and also would have a numb area around the wound from surgery.
Had to then wait for someone else (surgeon I think) who took some further details and said op would be in the same week, i'd get a call in the evening and it would be the following morning dependant on A&E admissions that needed surgery. Got the call the day after and was operated on Thursday AM.
3 weeks down the line can just about get my arm to 90 degress (straight out in front of me), surgeon has advised not to go past 90 degrees till 6 weeks post op. He also confirmed I can driver again, but only local. I have come a long way in terms of mobility in the last week though, first couple of weeks arm was pretty much confined to the sling all the time.
edit to add before and after photos
Was in and out of a&e within the hour (on Sunday afternoon), booked into fracture clinic on the Tuesday, at the clinic the doctor said it was too far apart to heal naturally and needed the op. Went through usual risks etc. Not sure if its the same for all but he told me that I probably wouldn't get back the same movement in my arm, and also would have a numb area around the wound from surgery.
Had to then wait for someone else (surgeon I think) who took some further details and said op would be in the same week, i'd get a call in the evening and it would be the following morning dependant on A&E admissions that needed surgery. Got the call the day after and was operated on Thursday AM.
3 weeks down the line can just about get my arm to 90 degress (straight out in front of me), surgeon has advised not to go past 90 degrees till 6 weeks post op. He also confirmed I can driver again, but only local. I have come a long way in terms of mobility in the last week though, first couple of weeks arm was pretty much confined to the sling all the time.
edit to add before and after photos
Edited by tdi99 on Saturday 1st September 15:22
Ouch!
Been there a couple of decades ago. Sadly mine didn't break - odd statement I know, but mine displaced and is now arthritic and generally a bit rubbish, and I think that a break would have been better, so look on the bright side, inasmuch as you can
...and yes, it was from a "watch this" moment!
Been there a couple of decades ago. Sadly mine didn't break - odd statement I know, but mine displaced and is now arthritic and generally a bit rubbish, and I think that a break would have been better, so look on the bright side, inasmuch as you can
...and yes, it was from a "watch this" moment!
Broke my scapula in two places and a rib nearly three weeks ago. Went up Steyning Bostal, saw some youths at the bottom and then some eggs and melons were over the downhill side of the road on the steep part before the junction. I think these two things psyched me out, as I came down my positioning for the right hander was wrong, braked a little too hard, locked the back wheel, panic sets in, in the gutter with both wheels, and shoulder brushing hedge, eventually something stops the front wheel dead and I go down hard on my left shoulder. Hurts like hell, feel winded, but I know there is a car somewhere behind me so I have to get up and off the road.
Rolled the 5 minutes home and sit down for a bit. Pain in my arm when I move it, otherwise all seems ok. Take a couple of nurofen, drive to work, things not getting easier, decide to go to doctor. She thinks it isn't broken but wants an x-ray to be sure. X ray shows the breaks but it takes a top level radiologist to show the doctors.
Told they wouldn't operate but seeing the fracture clinic on Tuesday.
Slowly improving, getting more articulation in the joint. I want to ride Velosouth, which is 3 weeks away and will be 6 weeks after the injury. Makes me feel like an old man, having to do everything really slowly. Taking your pants down is hard with one hand, and really frustrating pulling them back up again!
Went to Italy two days after I had the crash, had plans to ride the Blockhaus with friends who were in the area and the Gotthard on the way home, but that all had to go out the window. The bigger picture for me is it is my 5th crash in 3 years, I don't think I am reckless or a risk taker but clearly am not doing somethings right.
Rolled the 5 minutes home and sit down for a bit. Pain in my arm when I move it, otherwise all seems ok. Take a couple of nurofen, drive to work, things not getting easier, decide to go to doctor. She thinks it isn't broken but wants an x-ray to be sure. X ray shows the breaks but it takes a top level radiologist to show the doctors.
Told they wouldn't operate but seeing the fracture clinic on Tuesday.
Slowly improving, getting more articulation in the joint. I want to ride Velosouth, which is 3 weeks away and will be 6 weeks after the injury. Makes me feel like an old man, having to do everything really slowly. Taking your pants down is hard with one hand, and really frustrating pulling them back up again!
Went to Italy two days after I had the crash, had plans to ride the Blockhaus with friends who were in the area and the Gotthard on the way home, but that all had to go out the window. The bigger picture for me is it is my 5th crash in 3 years, I don't think I am reckless or a risk taker but clearly am not doing somethings right.
Thanks for the replies, sounds like in some parts of the county the hospitals are way more efficient. I finally saw a (private) consultant on Monday, 9 days after the crash - I now have to wait until next Thursday for an operation to pin it.
The other option is to MTFU and accept that there may be some loss of movement in my left arm.
The other option is to MTFU and accept that there may be some loss of movement in my left arm.
I think you have to take the long term view with these things. Yes, a few weeks off is annoying at the time, but if it means being better for the rest of your life, you have to go with it.
I had my check up yesterday, all seems to be going well. I should be "more or less back to normal in a few weeks" which is beautifully vague! May still do Velosouth, and at least I won't have to live up to my outrageous boasting of smashing all my mates
I probably should have asked why the pain feels like it is in my bicep when I have a broken scapula and rib...
I had my check up yesterday, all seems to be going well. I should be "more or less back to normal in a few weeks" which is beautifully vague! May still do Velosouth, and at least I won't have to live up to my outrageous boasting of smashing all my mates
I probably should have asked why the pain feels like it is in my bicep when I have a broken scapula and rib...Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff