Broken Collar Bones and Return To Racing

[ahastings]

All breaks are different, and the doctors tend to be on the conservative side on returning to action to cover themselves. I broke mine last year March 12th at VIR first race of the year . Had surgery 1 1/2 weeks later on March 22nd to get it plated, did a track day 3 1/2 weeks after that and raced one week after the trackday. My doctor gave me the option of surgery or not and I opted for it , because I had heard too many horror stories of waiting several weeks then finding out you have a non union of the bone. Also I didn't trust myself to keep my arm immobilized long enough for the bone to start to heal together.

[Jason748]

Broke mine July of last year, after weeks I had no bone growth and everything was still moving around in a big way.  Doc said it needed to be plated.  After it was plated I "could have been racing within a week or two, except the wife said "you can be done for the year, or you can just be done..."   So I took the rest of the year off    and I'm back at it this year.

[Court Jester]

Vit D helps the body absorb calcium.
outside of that i have nothing to add.
Good luck.

[backMARKr]

outside of that i have nothing to add.

Miracles do happen......

[Court Jester]

HEHEHEHE

[APP_Racing]

Oct 16 2005 broke mine in 2 places.  Healed up and was relatively moveable within about 7 days as long as I didn't try to do anything with big motions.  Was exercising and light weights within a couple of weeks.  Rode the street bike a few times as well.  The collapsed lung is what took the longest recovery.

[Cyklracer]

No money, no points, no championship
and a chance at either hurting myself againg or one of
my competitors because of lack of strength. 

That's sort of where I am.  Have the burning desire to get back on the bike, but at 40 years old with 4 kids at home who are pissed that I can't/won't go trail riding and being pissed myself that I can't "easily" do all the other physical activities I'm used to (mountain biking, running, golfing, etc) I've got to balance that desire with a rational approach to not messing things up and further delaying a return to ALL those activities.

My big problem comes from the Dr. cutting through the muscle and nerves, be aware of this if you get it plated as mine is just about ruined.
I think the Dr. could have been more careful and done less damage.

Sounds like your doc could have been a little more careful with his cutting!  I had one plated 10 years ago - felt relatively fine within 2 - 3 weeks post operation, a little tender to being bumped for a year afterwards, but now probably stronger than it was before.  Took a HARD skiing fall on it this winter (15 feet of air between where the ski dug in to where I hit packed base), got back up, rounded up the skis, and took off again.


I love the racing, but want to be able to do everything else as well - and like any racer want to do it all as soon as possible!

[ahastings]

Oct 16 2005 broke mine in 2 places.  Healed up and was relatively moveable within about 7 days as long as I didn't try to do anything with big motions.  Was exercising and light weights within a couple of weeks.  Rode the street bike a few times as well.  The collapsed lung is what took the longest recovery.

. You might have been able to move it after 7 days but A broken bone will not be healed  in 7 days.

[Super Dave]

The bone stuff...
http://www.seacoastvitamins.com/product_info.php?products_id=787

It has several bits in there that help develop a more complex matrix of bone building that one would normallyl normally have.  A scientist friend of mine turned me on to it six years ago, and the link is to a very inexpensive place to get it from. 

In seven days?  Well, I don't know, but I have been back to a doctor after fourteen, and he stated that I was healed.

Take the suppliment, eat protien.   


It is about discomfort after that.  I've raced hours and a day after breaking stuff.  How much does it affect you?  Really depends.