Learn Me Broken Collarbone

In reply to Tom Suddard:

Just get better at a jibberish accent and really screw with people as you might set off metal detectors after surgery.

Tom Suddard wrote:

yamaha wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote: I predict: Someone's gonna be a whole lot more Metal. y0.

He will need to grow a beard and start saying "Durka" a bunch when getting on planes now.....

I'm alreadty making great progress towards a beard. Cant really shave with my left hand, and Nicole has always wondered what I'd look like with a beard so she's no help.

Nothing wrong with a beard, especially if your companion isn't complaining about it. My wife has seen me clean shaven for exactly one day in 20+ years. I've had a beard for about half that time and a Van Dyke for about half. She actually told me to grow it back 5 minutes after I shaved it off, so I quit shaving again...

quote from the report from my MRA this morning:

"no rotator cuff tear, abnormal appearance of the osseous gland, with posterior angulation and subcortical cystic change. this likely represents sequel of prior post traumatic change , with interval degeneration. there is an associated tear of the posterior glenoid labrum."

round 4 ding ding ding, as previously noted, you'll have a better experience then I have had.

Osseous gland? What's that?

I see the doctor at 10 tomorrow btw.

And I'm sure the doctor will tell me everything tomorrow, but, uh, I get to keep my arm and use it again someday, right?

Tom Suddard wrote: And I'm sure the doctor will tell me everything tomorrow, but, uh, I get to keep my arm and use it again someday, right?

You need to ask the Dr if you'll be able to play guitar after it is healed. When he says "Yes, you'll be fine in 12 weeks", respond with "Awesome, I've always wanted to play an instrument!"

Ouch ouch OUCH. Never busted a collarbone (it's a common dirt bike injury, I'm an outlier) but friends who have say what's already been said: it's nearly impossible to stabilize so hurts more and heals slower. Easy on the pain dope; lots of people will tell you that since it's for pain you won't get da monkey on da back, but I've seen enough people who have gotten the hook through the lip to say they are wrong.

I once busted a rib dirt biking, wasn't wearing a chest protector. Dumb. The now ex worked nights so when I got home she wasn't there. It took me for dammit ever to get all my gear and the bike stowed, gobbled a couple Excedrin PMs or whatever they call those things, then finally got comfortable in the bed and fell asleep.

~2:15 in the morning, the bedroom light pops on and I open my eyes just in time to see her playing Supergirl above me. When all 5'5" and 110 pounds landed on me, my eyesight squeezed down to a pinpoint. She didn't stop apologizing for a solid week. Did I play that to my advantage?

Tom

You are going to now be able to predict the weather for the rest of your life with that shoulder. If there is any specific rehab for that DO IT!!!! It is a PITA but it really pays to take the rehab seriously and work at it. It will make a huge difference in your recovery time and the final level of recovery.

And don't take lightly what others have said about the pain meds try at all costs to avoid the opiate based ones. They get a hook in to you and it will become a lifetime problem that you don't need.

Best of luck!!!

I'm already well-versed in painkillers and rehab after tearing up my knee a few years ago. No worries on the painkillers—I already hate taking them.

Looks like sometimes the plates stay in and sometimes people have them taken out. Assuming I get a plate, any anecdotes about whether I should keep it long term?

I think the current ideas on the plates (I'm not an orthopod) is that if it isn't bothering you, leave it alone. Now, if the screws give you trouble or something, then address it. Ask t orthopod.

If a fixation plate is not bothering you, you leave it alone. There is the possibility that the bone under the plate will be weaker due to the continued presence of the plate, but that is generally not an issue.

My wife had a plate and 9 screws put in an ankle. 6 months later she was having some issues. They took out one screw and left the rest of it. That solved her issue.

Awesome, thanks for all the advice, everyone.

Surgery is scheduled for Monday, woohoo. He actually gave me the option to try letting it heal on its own, but that seemsed like the wrong choice on about 8 different levels. He said if it was his, he would have it fixed.

One thing I'm struggling with now is my elbow. It's pretty frozen up from being in the sling. I have the sling off now, and I'm slowly trying to get my arm moving. Any tips to help this? Am I wearing the sling wrong?

Toebra wrote: If a fixation plate is not bothering you, you leave it alone. There is the possibility that the bone under the plate will be weaker due to the continued presence of the plate, but that is generally not an issue.

I agree. Leave the plate in unless it is bothering you. I have had this one for 10 years now.

In reply to Hal:

Looks like one of your screws is loose.

Busted my collarbone wrestling as a Junior in HS. Two breaks in the middle which they chose to just let set by themselves, so my right 'bone is sorta "Z" shaped... Not much fun. I feel for you, mang.

In reply to Tom Suddard:

Ask your doctor.

My elbow did the same thing. I would sit down where my shoulder was stabilized with a pillow or something or lay down. Then take sling off and slowly stretch my elbow out. Otherwise it is very uncomfortable.

In other words, move it as much as you can without causing pain to your shoulder area.

Physical therapy for mine basically consisted of find a flat surface in the plane where I needed to improve motion, and walking my fingers along it. First was tables and countertops, then standing in a doorframe and walking up the side until I could get my hand above my head. I was relatively lucky in that I broke mine in two places about an inch apart, and the whole bone stayed relatively in line.

A guy I raced with had a break like yours, and never had the surgery, which left him looking like Ash from housewares was coming up out the side of his neck..

Yeah, I'll call in the morning and ask. But you all are more accessible at 11pm.

Tom Suddard wrote: Oh, and here's a video of the trail we were riding, if you're curious. https://vimeo.com/126761455

That's pretty sweet!

I'm too old now to desire getting airborne anymore, but definitely a cool trail. I hope you get back on it soon enough. Just do a pre-ride before you go all-out on it.

bgkast wrote: In reply to Hal: Looks like one of your screws is loose.

The bone broke on a diagonal, that screw was to get the two pieces lined up so they could put the plate on.

Okie dokie.... 10 hours and 33 minutes until surgery.

And if anybody wants to surprise me in the hospital parking lot, I'd like to be taken home in (and then handed the keys to) this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-300SD-Turbodiesel/251946215462?_trksid=p5713.c100043.m2062&_trkparms=aid%3D999002%26algo%3DURGENT.LUI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140502134130%26meid%3D5383092796c84edb821ccb0c502841cc%26pid%3D100043%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26mehot%3Des%26so%3Dlastwatched%26

Am I supposed to be able to sleep tonight?

Don't worry, they will give you something to sleep before the surgery.