No worries mate. You'll be back in no time. That's if the wifey lets you.

Do you have an x-ray you could share?

This sounds very similar to mine. Was the teflon cord you mentioned the "luggage tag" by biomet? If so, did you leave it in or have it removed? Does it give you any issues?

I broke my clavicle back in 2012. It was a mess, including tearing a ligament. The first doctor I saw in my somewhat small town took one look at it and said he could not fix it. Instead, they referred me to a specialist at Duke. After meeting with the surgeon at Duke, it was decided they would plate my clavicle and use a Teflon cord to fix the torn ligament.

When the doctor got into my shoulder he discovered that my clavicle was really more "shattered" then broken. I don't know how many screws they normally use, but he could only get three in. He was afraid putting more in was going to further damage what was left.

My left arm was in a sling for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks he let me out of the sling, and we started physical therapy. After 4 weeks of PT he let me start to swim, bike, and run again. I was allowed no physical activity above walking for the 8 weeks I was in a sling, and only the exercises that were prescribed by the PT the 4 weeks after. He would not even let me ride the bike on the trainer.

I followed the docs orders and while it sucked, today my shoulder is almost where it was before the break. My suggestion, find a good doctor and follow directions. While I hated having my activity limited, I would rather give up a few weeks of activity to not have any long term problems. Maybe the first doctor (the one who did not think he could fix it) was just trying to scare me, but the picture he painted of it not being fixed correctly was really lousy.



Matt[/quote]

This sounds very similar to mine. Was the teflon cord you mentioned the "luggage tag" by biomet? If so, did you leave it in or have it removed? Does it give you any issues?[/quote]
I am not sure the maker of the hardware and cord, but it is still in there. My doctor and I discussed this at length prior to the surgery and his opinion was that removing stuff presented more problems then keeping it in, assuming you have no issues. In general, I do not have any problems with the plate or cord. The longer it has been in, the less it bothers me. The first six months after surgery I noticed it the most. I would feel a sensation of stuff "pulling" in my shoulder. I also felt like I lost a lot of strength in my shoulder. Now I was never been a big guy to begin with, but at Christmas (immediately following the accident) I was trying to get the tree off the top of the car, and it was a pain in the ass. I started lifting a bit after that incident and that helped a lot. I also discovered that the more I swam, the better it would feel.

Now, almost 4 years out, I hardly ever notice it. You can feel the screws and occasionally a backpack will irritate the screws, but I can pretty easily make adjustments to get comfortable. If I was serious backpacker, I might feel differently. The only other time it really gets me is if I carry my youngest on my shoulders, which I can only tolerate for about 10 minutes. But she is pretty much too big to be put up there now.

I hardly ever notice the cord. Every now and then if I get twisted trying to lift with that shoulder or if I am carrying something really heavy with my left arm (which is the busted shoulder) I will feel the pulling sensation. For instance, over Christmas my father-in-law wanted to split some wood. I was swinging a splitting maul around I could definitely feel stuff pulling in there.

Matt

In my experience:
Not a big deal.

I put mine into 5 pieces. A plate and 10 screws were needed to get everything tied back together.
I did this in Mid August and was racing CX in November.
Back on the bike on the trainer in under a week. Riding outside at about 1.5 months.

I did basic PT. Seemed to help regain strength. Mobility was never a problem.

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Hey Mr. Oyster, what did the doctor say?

Reading through these replies, it confirms everyone's experiences vary widely. I broke mine in August and immediately searched the archives for others' experiences and advice. Wish I hadn't. I had an unrealistic expectation and became frustrated when my recovery lagged behind. I had surgery delayed a week to allow a pneumothorax to heal, then a plate and six screws. I was kept in the sling for 7 weeks. PT was slow and conservative and I became disgruntled. I attempted trainer rides a couple times, but bailed after the first several minutes were unbearable. It was at least 10 weeks until I could ride 30-60 minutes and I lost 45 watts during that time. I am now slowly building run fitness too. No swimming yet. The best advice I never followed was YOUR RECOVERY IS YOUR RECOVERY. Listen to your DR and PT and don't base your expectations off of any others' experience.

A couple of things to add on top of what's already been said:

I crashed twice about a year apart...on the same shoulder. The first was, remarkably, just a bone bruise and not a break. The second was broken in 6 places so a plate w/ 9 screws were put in. I have to say having surgery and plate healed much more quickly than a bone bruise. That took months so sometime a break is better than a bruise.

When I started to get back to riding (within 3 weeks), it was my ribs that slowed me down, not my clavicle. Not sure of extent of your crash but if it also includes bruised/cracked ribs, it will take a bit of time for that to heal.

After about 2 years, my plate started to bulge through my skin. You could actually feel the screws so had it taken out. Now it's dealing with scar tissue buildup and making sure you maintain range of motion.

And, whatever you do, DON'T go through a metal detector at an airport expecting the buzzer to go off then, when it doesn't, look around surprised then audibly say "huh?" TSA frowns upon that.

Be glad it is your upper body, ruined my knee on august 15th of last year and am still limited to walking and riding the trainer. I have broken both collar bones in the past but no surgeries need. Allow your self to be injured, you don't have to power through it, and don't be too proud to take get some help for things that are challenging. My wife does all the heavy lifting around the house now.

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Thanks to all for the information. It's been really informative and encouraging. I even had my wife read it, to make her feel a little more at ease about things.

I met with a Trauma Surgeon in Atlanta - Dr Quackebush. The moment I met the guy, i knew I'd like him (and that name...how can you not like a guy with that name??). The first thing he said to me was, "Yes, its broken, yes I recommend surgery, and yes you'll be back to training and racing soon."

He said that I was fortunate in that the breaks were in the middle of the clavicle, where it is stronger, As such, the surgery becomes a little more deliberate and not as challenging than when it's on the end and you have possible damage to the AC joint. As a puzzle, the middle is stronger than the ends and offers more stability when putting back together.

I am having surgery tomorrow morning at 7:30a EST. He said it will take around 1.5 hours to perform, and then he said he would make sure I could put my arms over my head before I leave. I thought that was odd, but hell, I'l go with it.

He also recommended that a at some point I go back in and have the plate taken out. The reason being if I crash once again on the same side, the plate will hold, but either end is more susceptible to breaks. He said a lot of times people will come in at the start of their off-season to have it taken out. He said it's a much simpler process.

I'll give you an update as I go through the recovery process, but he confirmed the basic timelines everyone else has...his advice - don't push it too far, and listen to your body. Know the difference between pain and breakthrough.

Excited to get on with the recovery portion of this journey!

Thanks Slowtwitch!

Everybody's story is different, and your results may vary. Here's my story:

I broke my collarbone in a bike accident 2 years ago at age 51. I am in good shape. It was a complete break that required a plate and 6 screws. My surgery was more complicated than originally anticipated and what should have taken less than 1 hour took 3. I was told to immobilize the shoulder for 6 weeks.

I scheduled a followup with my doctor 4 days after surgery due to swelling down the length of my arm. An ultrasound confirmed blood clots in my arm which led to two days in the hospital to be started on blood thinners. Two days later, I was back in the hospital due to difficulty breathing. A CT diagnosed severe pulmonary embolisms (PE) in both lungs. At that point, I was seeing a pulmonologist and a hematologist. Another stint in the hospital, including the ICU, more blood thinners, and put on Xarelto for 6 months. (I did not do any outdoor riding while on blood thinners). The blood thinners cleared the PEs.

6 weeks post op went back to the surgeon for a routine follow up and cleared for PT. Then I realized that I had developed what they called a "frozen shoulder". I could not raise my arm more than 45 degrees. 6 months of PT later I was pretty much back to normal. No problems since.

As I said, every case is different. My main point is to be aware any swelling. If you see any, contact your doctor right away.

Good luck, and I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Brian

did mine a little over 2 years ago (Oct '14). broke on the far outside no room for a permanent plate. Surgeon said he'd have to put it in and take it out in 8 weeks, kinda like a cast. 2 surgeries would have been a bummer. So, he said let's give it a few weeks and see if it will set reasonably well by itself. It did. Lucky me.

Keep a positive attitude. My first thing was kicking at the pool, one hand on the board. Used the pace clock and did intervals. Running was last, but, it gave a mild case of PF a chance to finally heal - same with a nagging case of AT on the other leg.

Came back to have a win at WF (RIP) -fastest splits in SBR for my AG (sorry for the back/front door brag). But, the point is that a comeback IS possible. I'm not the only one.

Stay tough and be smart.

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I saw this on a white board in a window box at my daughters middle school...
List of what life owes you:
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2. __________
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Hit by a minivan August 6th 2013.. Broke my left clavicle and needed a plate with screws and an anchor. Had to wait until the 20th to get surgery because of fluid on my lung.. I was on my trainer a week later. I climbed Whiteface on my cross bike in early October.
So if you follow similarly you'll be back to it after a few weeks.

Don't rush the recovery though. I did and now have a bump that shouldn't be there.

I don't hurt most of the time but if I move just right it'll hurt. Swimming only bothers me if I've been out of the water for a while. Otherwise I'm fine.

I haven't broken a collar bone but a training buddy of mine did and I was there to witness. We were riding early one morning to get our ride done before the roads got too dangerous with cars. We took a right onto a major road which was undergoing construction. When we turned right my buddy entered the shoulder lane which was still under construction. Trying to avoid the gravel in the shoulder lane he tried to switch lanes. What he didn't see was the two inch lip separating the shoulder lane and travel lane. When he turned left into it, he hit the lip and went down HARD. Since I was about 10m behind him and in the travel lane I was able to stay safe. He on the other hand broke his collar bone in five places with one horizontal crack. This is one of those situations when having ICE in your phone directory is a good idea. He wasn't able to find his home phone number since he was a bit dazed from the crash, but I found it and was able to call his husband for help. He was probably riding on the trainer post surgery within a week. He's still negotiating with his husband on his return to racing though.

you can be sure you ll recovery fast and well
clavicle fracture is "easy" to recover and, if you don't have nerves involved, recovery will be 100%

End of May 2016 i smashed against a tree at 18 miles/hr with my back, head down.
clavicle broken in four places like you, scapula destroyed in 20 different pieces, 9 broken ribs back and forth, pneumotorax and blood in my mouth. i was close to be dead. 1.5months lying on a bed in the hospital

today i swam 3km, much slower than last May but I did it. i ran 20miles in the freezing temps around here and my FTP is probably better than May 2016.
I had to put a lot of effort and motivation on physio, slow restart etc.

remember, put the same motivation you used to prepare for ironman races and you ll be fine. don't worry if you need 6 months or 18 months. you ll be back soon or later, possibly better than before the accident.

good luck!

Today is the start of my road to recovery.

Surgery went very well. During surgery they found 4 vertical breaks and one horizontal break going the distance of the clavicle. The surgeon put in the largest plate he could and 8 screws. He encouraged me to have it removed in December this year in order to protect the outside of the clavicle in case i wreck again (the thought being that the plate puts more force on the outer edges of the clavicle).

I will say they gave me a nerve block which really helped immediately after the surgery as it lasted until about 2am. The pain seems to be a lot less than the 5 days leading up to the surgery. I have been prescribed Oxycontin and Oxycodone Hopefully I should be off of them by Monday.

I am really encouraged by everyone's stories. It really gave me the mindset to be patient, attack PT with the same zeal and vigor I would to prepare for your race, and enjoy the process of getting back to racing.

I've had a few minor injuries over the last few years and this forced time off I believe will allow so things to heal, which otherwise would have been ignored as I would have tried to push through.

I am simply thankful it wasn't worse (as many on the forum has said) and glad to have so many people provide such information and encouraging feedback along the way.

I truly appreciate every single post. I've read them aloud to my wife, which has provided her with a lot of comfort as well.

Thanks Slowtwitch!!!!

Fantastic mate!!! Keep us updated on your progress. Good luck!!!!

Hi Oyster,
Glad to hear you opted for surgery and on the road to recover. I broke my collarbone along with 7 ribs on July 12, 2016. Doc suggested just letting it heal; however, by Nov I was still having problems trying to swim and any exercise that involved a press. X-rays showed non-union, so on Dec 22 I had a plate and 8 screws put in. At the 6 week post surgery mark I'm able to jog, swim (lightly), lift weights (light), spin class, hit golf balls etc. Range of motion is about 95%. There is no pain, just tightness and a palm sized patch of numbness immediately south of my incision. I only went to PT once and after telling the therapist I had already returned to the gym for light exercise, I was told "you don't need PT" as long as your "active but not crazy." If I had to do it over again, I'd clearly opt for surgery immediately. Take care.