Clavicle Error - Broken Collarbone

so, four xrays today...orthopaedic surgeon called for two more after the original two showed what appeared to be four screws pulled out of the bone...confirmed by the second set of xrays.
somehow in the past four weeks since surgery, I have managed to do something that has pulled the screws from the bone...how the fuck this happened I don't know, considering my last four weeks have consisted of being semi catatonic on the couch in a codeine daze.
so, three more weeks of "assessing the situation" before deciding to operate again.

Unfair.

That is so totally shit. What can there be to assess!?

Sorry to hear ^

In other "when plates go bad" news, Alex Dowsett seems remarkably cheerful that his started 'poking through the skin': https://instagram.com/p/BEyqBeTp3DL/

the x-rays showed new bone growth in the space where the plate had lifted, and seeing as I seem to be healing well and movement returning, the surgeon thinks that leaving the plate in there till the end of the month may help the healing process more than operating now to re-install

I just want to get back to work AND be able to ride again

wow sorry to hear about everyone's collarbone issues. my break took ages to heal and i've only just got back on the bike after 5 months off. put a stone and a half on as well in the process.
my break didn't heal as well as most. according to the scan it was only 25% healed after 3 months. by that stage it should be well healed. so i am using exogen ultra sound treatment each night for 20minutes to try and encourage the bone growth. i can't feel anything when it is in use but apparently it is working.
anyway i'm back on the bike now and getting my strength back. all in all it was a really bad experience and i feel for everyone going through the same. some people are just better at healing than others. that's something i just had to deal with after hearing my mate get back on the bike after 6 weeks!
just don't get frustrated and in the long run you'll be alright.

makes me squeamish about my plate. my doctor recommended removal in the future if i wanted it.

Ahhh well that all sounds a bit messy! What crap luck though, sorry to hear it.

The frustration was the worst part for me too. I think I got off lucky as I found the pain very manageable, but I'm sure I wore my friends'/family's patience pretty thin as I was such a grumpy little shit for the first month.

Been taking the sling off more and more frequently for the last week or so and was only really feeling muscular pain but that's now subsiding. Hoping for good news from the doc on Thursday as I'm flying to Japan on Sunday :/

Just had discussion with a consultant re results of MRI of collarbone following RTA in June 14. "You have a non unified fracture of collarbone which is badly aligned and I am referring you to a specialist".

So I have been walking around with a fractured collar bone for nearly 2 years! I have seen two orthopaedic consultants during this time both of whom put my symptoms and damage shown on X-rays down to age related wear and tear! I have had a noticeable bony protusion on my collarbone since a few weeks after the accident and neither could explain this or showed any interest in further investigations for this.

My advice - argue your case for an MRI or CT scan as these are much better than X-Rays. I knew something was not right but initially accepted the Consultant's opinion as they are the experts, but I knew something was not right and kept asking my GP to refer me for an MRI or Ultrasound and eventually succeeded.

Oh shit. Hope you get it sorted.

after 7 weeks off the bike, I hit the rollers for 20 mins today...not terribly enjoyable, still a lot of discomfort, but still felt good to be riding (albeit stationary) outside in the sun

small steps

Glad to hear that :) Onwards & upwards!

4 weeks after I had my metal work out and I feel great, all my aches have gone!

It almost seems most need surgery. Fingers crossed I don't need to!

Glad that's worked out for you!

Great stuff!

I think I'm about 15-16 weeks after my break now!? Been back on the bike for the last 3 weeks when time allows, which means I have been out twice :|

Feels fine on the bike, and generally pretty good otherwise. Not confident putting body weight on it yet as it still stings a bit if I try to do press ups (LOL) for example. If it's still the same in a few weeks I'll go back in.

Spoke too soon it seems. First time carrying a moderately heavy backpack whilst walking - huge pins and needles in the hand/forearm underneath the clavicle in question after about 10 minutes.

Sound familiar to anyone?

So i came over the bars and fractured my clavicle in an unintended high speed spd unclip. I was in hospital for one night and prepped for surgery The next morning the bones had moved and there was no longer skin trapped in the fracture so they decided to hold off on surgery for a week and discharged me.
When I went back for a check up the orthopaedic surgeon said 'I could get surgery but probably wasn't worth it' he was pretty vague and seemed to try get me to do it at at a later date if necessary. I was stressed and didn't know what the right choice was so I decided to think about it and get back to him. In that time i have done a little research and i don't know what to do to get the best outcome. I'm still in 7/10 pain, 9 days after the accident and have a lot of 'tenting' I have called the hospital who said i can probably get surgery this weekend if i go through ER.
I just want to have the outcome that will leave me with the best movement and strongest arm, as I rock-climb and I'm a full time cycle messenger. Reading this tread it seems like i should go surgery route. excuse the painkiller grammar. Anyone have any advice?

(The top x-ray is mine the second is just for reference)

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Looks like my ex-broken collarbone. I did not do surgery and went through 6 rather horrible weeks (glad my girlfriend could help me during the disastrous first 3 weeks).

After 8 weeks close to full mobility and not noticible after 12.

I'm at week 5 and its still uncomfortable to move / sleep but no where near as bad as the first few weeks. If the bone is still reasonably straight they don't really like to operate and the recovery time is longer as well. Ice is a savior helps with the pain alot I found. Just rest up man there's not much else you can do. I go back next week for the all clear I hope! Just don't plan on wearing socks and shoes for a while.

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I'm at week 20 and about to call the consultant for a suspended appointment after being discharged around 7 weeks ago. I had a painless few weeks between say, 14-18. Having inconsistent (mild) pain and soreness around the join for the last fortnight.

It sounds like your doc is taking a similar line to mine. The various consultants I saw said surgery was an option, but they were always keen to highlight the risks so it felt like they were trying to talk me out of it.

Hindsight being 20-20, I think I'd have been adamant about having surgery.

Thanks for the reply @tyeness and @Thuekr I went for the surgary and am now the proud owner of a plate and screws. In recovery I instantly felt more 'normal' as the shoulder is back where it is supposed to sit and I don't feel hunched and afraid of the bone moving about, like pre-surgery.
Long shot but any Australian forummungers have any advice about Work Cover? The injury happened whilst working (as an independent contractor :/)

Also take a lot of care riding SPD fixed. I recently switched from straps and wont go back to SPD on my fixed. An unintended un-clip while braking down hill, at speed caused me to go over the bars. This accident wouldn't of happened if I had maintained my clips and cleats properly, or used straps.

Top tip. if you are going to be semi immobile and off work for a month. Get a puppy.

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2 months later and I'm going to go out tonight for my first ride. Nothing to crazy i don't think but I'm fed up with missing the good weather.

Chapeau - we all remember our first ride post rehab.

Still spooked when riding 30mph average in fix crits (wasn't b4 the crash). Being sick from work that many days and needing someone to lay you down in bed and pulling you up from it the first 3 weeks, ouch.

Well after putting that above post up I actually ended up getting on the bike on Saturday morning. The plan was to ride to work and back (16km all up) to see how I would go.

In total I did 5km and realized that I need to do a lot more strength work on my shoulder and get my elbow more flexible. And yeah I was pretty spooked as well in traffic. Didn't help with some guy cutting me off!