Broken collarbone / Clavicle fracture

Good afternoon. I was hoping someone might have some insight regarding swelling and the recovery process for a fractured clavicle—anything that could help ease the anxiety. I recently took a spill on my motorcycle and ended up with a broken collarbone. The surgeons went ahead and installed a plate with screws to hold everything together. Interestingly, they didn't bother with any bandages or a sling. I'm wondering, roughly how long does this whole recovery period last, and are there specific exercises I should be looking into? If I can offer anything helpful from what I've learned so far, I certainly will.

Well, you're lucky; if you had to choose which bone to break, you picked one of the better options. Recovery usually takes just a few weeks, rarely more than a month... Rehabilitation isn't particularly intense since the period of immobilization due to pain is relatively short.

Thanks, I feel a lot better just hearing that. Honestly, my whole career depends on me getting back on my feet. Being a merchant mariner means when I'm back home in the States, the paycheck stops coming.

So, I’m in the same boat—broke my collarbone in two places. I’ve got two bone fragments, one about 22 mm and the other 24 mm. Because of how the break went down, I’m stuck in a Desault brace. Anyone actually know how long this recovery process is going to drag on?

It feels like just yesterday I was that clumsy girl who went and broke her collarbone! I ended up having to wear a brace for about a month, and after that, I was pretty much good to go. As far as I can recall, the pain wasn't actually that unbearable...

I wiped out on my bike back in my early 20s and dislocated a bone. After five days of agony, I finally saw an orthopedist who gave me a blunt ultimatum: we either break it to reset it properly, or let it heal crooked. Naturally, it healed on its own, and now one shoulder sits lower than the other...

The only thing I remember clearly is how long it actually hurt. For years afterward, I’d feel those aches whenever the weather shifted. It was easily one of the most intense pains I've ever endured. I was popping Ibuprofen like candy, but nothing touched it. Physically, I don't see much fallout, but believe me, it hurt...

So, I'm wondering... how long am I actually stuck wearing this brace?

Hey everyone... So, I had a nasty wipeout while skiing and ended up breaking my collarbone, tearing some ligaments, and having the bone shift upward.

They actually used a screw to fix it, but I haven't been given a cast or even a brace; now I’m just stuck waiting six months until they can pull the screw out. Does anyone here have any actual experience with this? How long does the recovery really take?

I broke my collarbone twice as a kid, then again at 23 right around Easter (yeah, real great gift for the family, haha). Basically, I fell off a bunk bed, crashed two bikes into each other, and the third time I rode my bike straight into a ravine. Recovery took about a month and a half. A bit longer than the first two times since it was fractured, cracked, and dislocated that last time. Safe to say I learned my lesson... now I do downhill mountain biking. 🙂

Kenneth Gonzalez9 said:Hey everyone... So, I had a nasty wipeout while skiing and ended up breaking my collarbone, tearing some ligaments, and having the bone shift upward.

They actually used a screw to fix it, but I haven't been given a cast or even a brace; now I’m just stuck waiting six months until they can pull the screw out. Does anyone here have any actual experience with this? How long does the recovery really take?

Hey,
did you end up getting that screw out yet?

Back in early 2011, I snapped my collarbone because some massive dude on a bike (like 6'7", 200lbs) crashed right into me. The pressure caused a nasty break at the AC joint, and I was in surgery basically instantly—though we did spend over an hour waiting in the ER first. They told me I got lucky that being young (only 20 at the time) meant the bone was flexible enough that it wasn't a compound fracture. Honestly, I fought the surgery hard because I can't stand the sight of blood, let alone being under the knife.

Anyway, they went ahead and put the hardware in.

Healing was pretty slow. They originally said I’d be screw-free in six months, but at my seven-month checkup, things weren't knitting together quite right, so they pushed back the removal date.

What I really want to know is what the actual recovery looks like and, more importantly, how long I have to baby my arm. It’s been almost seven months since the surgery, and I can finally lift about 5lbs without panicking.

Someone mentioned I shouldn't put any heavy weight on that arm for at least three years.

Later

Lisa Thomas98 said:Good afternoon. I was hoping someone might have some insight regarding swelling and the recovery process for a fractured clavicle—anything that could help ease the anxiety. I recently took a spill on my motorcycle and ended up with a broken collarbone. The surgeons went ahead and installed a plate with screws to hold everything together. Interestingly, they didn't bother with any bandages or a sling. I'm wondering, roughly how long does this whole recovery period last, and are there specific exercises I should be looking into? If I can offer anything helpful from what I've learned so far, I certainly will.

I actually broke my collarbone playing Rugby and ended up with a plate and screws too!
Just a heads-up though—for those first two months, you absolutely cannot lift anything heavy with that arm. You have to keep the weight off it entirely. After that initial period passes, you can start getting back to your normal routine to help regain your strength. Then, after about six months (if you want them removed), you can have the hardware taken out...

velvetlynx85 said:I actually broke my collarbone playing Rugby and ended up with a plate and screws too!
Just a heads-up though—for those first two months, you absolutely cannot lift anything heavy with that arm. You have to keep the weight off it entirely. After that initial period passes, you can start getting back to your normal routine to help regain your strength. Then, after about six months (if you want them removed), you can have the hardware taken out...

Post from 9. 2008 🙂

Is it actually possible for a collarbone to pop out of place?
I've been hitting the push-ups pretty consistently lately, but recently I’ve started feeling this pain on the left side of my collarbone—and there's this clicking sound, too. When I feel around the area, I can tell it's quite swollen; the bone just seems much more prominent on the left side compared to the right.

It’s totally doable.

ruggedtiger63 said:It’s totally doable.

Thanks for the reply—though I suppose if I really need to seek professional advice, I should probably head to an orthopedist or someone in that field, right?..
Honestly, though, there isn't any pain anymore. Ever since I stopped doing push-ups entirely, the discomfort has just... vanished. It doesn't hurt at all, nothing. It's just that, you know, if I happen to feel around the area, I can still detect that little bone protrusion.

Andrew White4 said:Thanks for the reply—though I suppose if I really need to seek professional advice, I should probably head to an orthopedist or someone in that field, right?..
Honestly, though, there isn't any pain anymore. Ever since I stopped doing push-ups entirely, the discomfort has just... vanished. It doesn't hurt at all, nothing. It's just that, you know, if I happen to feel around the area, I can still detect that little bone protrusion.

An orthopedist.

ruggedtiger63 said:An orthopedist.

Thanks for the input.
I’ll definitely go get checked out—I mean, I should—but I have this nagging feeling it might be nothing too serious... maybe it's just some localized inflammation or something similar.

Andrew White4 said:Thanks for the reply—though I suppose if I really need to seek professional advice, I should probably head to an orthopedist or someone in that field, right?..
Honestly, though, there isn't any pain anymore. Ever since I stopped doing push-ups entirely, the discomfort has just... vanished. It doesn't hurt at all, nothing. It's just that, you know, if I happen to feel around the area, I can still detect that little bone protrusion.

Andrew White4 said:Is it actually possible for a collarbone to pop out of place?
I've been hitting the push-ups pretty consistently lately, but recently I’ve started feeling this pain on the left side of my collarbone—and there's this clicking sound, too. When I feel around the area, I can tell it's quite swollen; the bone just seems much more prominent on the left side compared to the right.

I’m dealing with the exact same thing right now. When I first started doing dips, it hurt quite a bit at first—maybe for two or three days—and then it finally settled down. But now, every time I try to get back into them, that pain comes right back. It’s strange; I can actually feel a bone popping out when I touch the area. Did you manage to get yours sorted out? Did you end up seeing an orthopedist? Best of luck!

Took a spill on my bike and snapped my collarbone. I didn't get any surgery or screws put in or anything—just had some stuff wrapped around my shoulder and was told to keep it immobilized for about 15 days. How long am I looking at before I can get back to my normal routine?

Hey there.
I’m dealing with pretty much the same mess as goldenscout9. Broke my collarbone and ended up with that "figure eight" brace on my shoulders—at least that's what the doctor called it. I've gotta wear this thing until my follow-up appointment this Wednesday. So, quick question for anyone who’s been through this hell: how on earth did you actually sleep? It feels like the brace loses its grip whenever I lie down; it just stops holding my shoulders in place, and then the pain hits. Woke up this morning hurting like crazy, though it does settle down a bit when I'm sitting up or standing. I barely managed about 40 minutes of sleep before tossing and turning all night from around 11 until just now.