Clavicle Error - Broken Collarbone

Went back for my one month check-up this avo, expecting to be told that it's nearly there, and was told that it's made very little progress and that if it's not looking better in another month they'll operate. The x-ray was a joke... the bone is just floating around. I'm feeling pretty miffed (furious) about the advice I've received up until today, which was entirely at odds with what the bloke today said. Another month with this cunting sling hanging round my neck just to be told I need an op? Let me.

...So the (touring) holiday I've been looking forward to for 18 months goes up in smoke.

Fuck, shit, cunt.

Dude, I really feel for you. I only had to endure two weeks of floating around broken bits before I had surgery. I had it done on the NHS and it was two weeks ago on monday - I'm now off painkillers, not using a sling and am allowed to do most things except lift my arm above shoulder height (I'm not allowed back on the bike for another couple of weeks...)

As it sounds like you still have bones floating around and a doctor who doesn't seem to be inclined to consider surgery, I STRONGLY recommend getting a second opinion from a shoulder specialist orthopaedic surgeon. If you have private insurance then all the better.

I am a total pussy when it comes to pain (I had a general anaesthetic to remove two wisdom teeth) and was very against the idea of surgery if it could be avoided, but I spoke to two different shoulder specialists at King's College Hospital and made the decision after a week of floating bones and exquisite pain to opt for surgery. From the surgeons I discovered that until relatively recently 95% of all clavicle fractures were treated conservatively, but a big study in 2006 showed significantly displaced (>2cm) midshaft fractures have a high rate of non-union (ie. failing to connect together at all) and has tipped the balance towards surgery in these cases.

The study is here:
http://www.ejbjs.org/cgi/content/abstract/88/1/35

will post more tomorrow, including some pics if I can work out how to.

hang in there.