Six weeks ago today, I broke my collarbone playing hockey. It wasn’t a terrible break or anything, in fact I didn’t know it was broken for a few days until it was x-rayed. I was told by the doctor at a clinic that the bone would take 6 weeks to heal, and was not to play hockey or any kind of contact for 6 weeks.
I have also been to see my ART chiro a few times since. I told him I was looking forward to start lifting again after the 6 weeks, and he told me I shouldn’t do it. Something to do with interfering with the laying down of bone cells. Unfortunately, neither of us had any time to discuss this further, because I really didn’t know what to make of that.
I was just wondering if any of the medical professionals or those who have had this injury before had any opinions on this. My shoulder feels really good now (and has for a couple of weeks). Should I hold off on the weights? Any idea for how long?
Had the same this past summer. Mine broke in 2 places. The Doc said the more breaks the better because when it heals overlapped it is actually stronger. I think I waited 7 weeks. There are also som e re-hab exercises (more like streches) you can do to keep mobility up after it heals. I took it easy on shoudler exercises for about a month or so. I did them but went fairly light. Then after that it was back to heavy and eventually business as usual. … Phew, it took about 15 minutes for me to track down but heres the link: http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_brknclav_rex.htm
Read all the info before attempting. I think it tells you when to start somewhere on the site. Good luck and hav e fun sleeping on you back! I hated that the most.
Broken collarbone is really common. Did you make a wish? (it’s the wishbone of a chicken equivalent.)
I did - I wished I hadn’t broken the collarbone.
One possible downside is that if it might be slightly not straight as it was, leaving the arm on that side slightly more prone to dislocation … not that common but do some L-flyes etc… just in case, and be aware of that possibility.
I wonder if the collarbone is generally weaker than other bones, it isn’t exactly load bearing for most people, maybe it doesn’t get as strong as you grow up, and hence breaks more easily. I mean, as monkeys we’d be hanging in trees, as cavemen etc… we probably would have grown up carrying heavy stuff around on our shoulders or head. Just an idea.
Did you guys find that you couls not sleep on the affected side / collar bone? I bet it gave you a lot of shouler pain as well where the joint is connected to it?
Man, a reply to a post from five years ago … yes of course it damned well hurts for awhile and it is probably a good idea to get it checked, if not immediately, then if it does not stop hurting. Broken bones can heal badly sometimes. Mine broke decades ago and I do not think I can find the bump anymore. Have had no recent problems and never had it properly fixed when it happened.
A lot of my pain was not from the broken collarbone but the dislocated shoulder that went with it, that was a bad pain for weeks, then recurring pain for months, and then weakened for years but has been no real problem for well over 10 years now.
The rule: if it hurts prob. best to get it checked
Man, a reply to a post from five years ago … yes of course it damned well hurts for awhile and it is probably a good idea to get it checked, if not immediately, then if it does not stop hurting. Broken bones can heal badly sometimes. Mine broke decades ago and I do not think I can find the bump anymore. Have had no recent problems and never had it properly fixed when it happened.
A lot of my pain was not from the broken collarbone but the dislocated shoulder that went with it, that was a bad pain for weeks, then recurring pain for months, and then weakened for years but has been no real problem for well over 10 years now.
The rule: if it hurts prob. best to get it checked
