Went back to see the physician (actually the PA) after my surgery.
Looks good. I can start to use my arm outside the sling for very light activities (nothing heavier than a remote control, mouse or fork). That’s a big improvement! He still recommends that I sleep in a recliner, though I can try a bed if I want.
He showed on the original x-ray how one broken end of the bone was very near, and almost punctured, my lung. I’m glad that didn’t happen!
No pain anymore, just an occasional little ache that acetaminophen easily covers.
Come back in two weeks, and then start some physical therapy. 7 weeks till near normalcy, 11 or so to sports.
Have you considered replacing basketball with a nice, easy, slow round of golf? Knowing you, on the first day, a rogue ball would whack you on the head, probably the nose, or chin (those parts haven’t been injured lately), or you could try for a dislocated shoulder.
Comment by Mom — August 14, 2014 @ 3:58 pm
Golf is too boring! And you can’t play indoors on hot summer days.
By the way, he mentioned that the bones lined up so well that they should knit together quickly. That’s good news too.
Comment by Daryl — August 14, 2014 @ 4:28 pm
Did you mean one end of your clavicle almost punctured your lung, or your rib did? I can’t picture your collar bone puncturing your lung. It must have been really displaced!
Glad you’re healing well and feel better.
Comment by Donna — August 14, 2014 @ 5:33 pm
Maybe a little boring would be good for you. Being overactive has brought a world of hurt, but I can’t seem to figure out a way to include the bunion in with activity. Other injuries, yes.
Comment by Mom — August 14, 2014 @ 7:23 pm
Are you still sleeping in the recliner or did you already move back to the bed?
So glad the pain is way down. Broken rib pain is one of those things you just can’t get comfortable from.
Comment by Don — August 14, 2014 @ 7:54 pm
The clavicle broke near the middle. The outer piece was pushed down and a little back so that its broken end was very near the lung. The inner piece was pushed up and back and was nearly protruding from the skin. You can see from this picture:
that it’s really not far from the collar bone to the lung.
They recommended that I continue to sleep in a recliner. If I sleep in a bed they want me propped up anyway, so it’s just easier in a recliner. That kind of forces me to keep my arm at my side and I won’t be tempted to roll onto that shoulder while sleeping. That could be bad. I am out of the sling part of the day, but still need to sleep with it on.
The broken rib has been gradually easing. I even sneezed a little yesterday and it wasn’t excruciating, as it would have been last week. It’s still the main pain, though, a lot worse than the clavicle.
Comment by Daryl — August 15, 2014 @ 10:40 am
I’m glad it’s easing. I felt bad telling you it would last for quite a while but as you’ve found out, it does.
Comment by Don — August 15, 2014 @ 7:20 pm
I remember trying to eat with my left hand. I found it easier to hold the food waist high with my right and bend over to get it.
Comment by Dale — August 16, 2014 @ 6:28 am
Dale — you were probably in a lot more pain than I am, especially after my surgery. With your green-stick break, every time you moved the bone would flex around the break. In contrast, my bone is firmly fixed in place so I can move much more freely. It’s almost like wearing a cast on a broken arm.
Your broken collar bone was probably more like my broken rib, where the ends rub against each other each time I move, though that has really started to ease up now as Don predicted.
Comment by Daryl — August 17, 2014 @ 8:57 am