Broken bones; A-weight-ting is the hardest paart

[Kickaha]

only one i still have issues with is physio because i was too stubborn and bullet proof to get physio...

You forgot stupid

Good to hear Dave, we will schedule the Blenheim meeting for the day after the plate is removed

[F5 Dave]

Hi PB, hadn't realised you'd gone for the plate op (typical male or inefficient stalker - it's a fine line). It is a great feeling that it finally feels 'connected' when that plate first goes in. Its a long road, but at least you can see where you are going. Good luck & a shame that the physio isn't fully subsidised now, but cheap enough & well worth it. The gym physio really helped me.

Is your plate under your shoulder or in the middle? if so may be a leave in place & you're fine sort of thing. can apparently be a pain if you want to wear a pack or whatever (& I've heard a bra but I'm not personally planning to test that out).

[vifferman]

All the best for your continuing recovery, Dave. I hope it all turns out well.

hmm a large packet from CKT just showed up. Best I go attach that to a motorbike.

Don't forget to post something about that!

[PrincessBandit]

Just taken a couple of pix on the weekend (4 days after surgery)....

[DemonWolf]

Nice bruising... hope ya heal up fast.


thinking back to mine.. I'm so glad it healed (eventually after it re-broke while sleeping, and I even asked them to plate it as I couldn't sleep much... they said no) without the plate. Though the lump\knitted bone gives me alil grief if I have a heavy packback for long periods... bah I should have gotten the plate!

[F5 Dave]

Ahh, your is the opposite side to mine. From what little I know you should have less leverage on the plate so less chance of damaging it. I was warned not to lift my arm past ~45deg, maybe you won't have that restriction (clearly follow surgeon's guide not some turkey on the internet). Soon as you can get some movement the better for the shoulder.

Did they say the plate will stay in? I suspect it might. Good luck healing.

[F5 Dave]

Nice bruising... hope ya heal up fast.


thinking back to mine.. I'm so glad it healed (eventually after it re-broke while sleeping, and I even asked them to plate it as I couldn't sleep much... they said no) without the plate. Though the lump\knitted bone gives me alil grief if I have a heavy packback for long periods... bah I should have gotten the plate!

There's a simple solution; don't wear a heavy backpack. When on holiday carry a credit card. It's much lighter.

Yeah some people get heinous lumps healing naturally. But a plate isn't the easy (or quick) option for sure.

I only had a small amount of bruising after the op, about a 1/5 of that of the accident which spread right down my arm etc.

my scar is hardly noticeable. Pity to have to cut it open again.

Here's a tip from the physio. Apparently new practice is to pinch the scarring once it's fully joined (obviously not now). This helps pull it away from the muscle etc so it is confined to the skin rather than anchored down a bit. Helps break it up a bit. Worked on me, but it was somewhat unpleasant at the time.

[DMCD]

Just taken a couple of pix on the weekend (4 days after surgery)....

Awww PB you poor thing, get better soon.

[PrincessBandit]

Stitches out today and now just a sticky strip called "micropore" is covering the scar. No more having to keep it dry now. Yippee!

[F5 Dave]

Yeah mine were dissolvable except for one for some crazy reason.

Good news, hope your healing goes well. Assume you are out of sling now?

[PrincessBandit]

No, have to wear it for another 3 weeks although I do take it off for an hour or so each day. The specialist has given me a set of exercises to do now to encourage the shoulder to free up. I think the sling is just so I don't get carried away and move my arm stupidly (as if I could...) and at least it's waaaaay better than the dreadful collar'n'cuff I had after the accident which didn't support my elbow at all.
Man, I am so glad the operation has been done and am looking forward to regaining full movement in my arm knowing that the bone is at least together at last!

[F5 Dave]

Yeah I slept with mine off but I did seem to need it for a little while. When I got to next visit he said wean yourself off it, it won't help or hinder now the plate is in. Again Doctor's orders & all that.

They gave you some physio rotation exercises with hanging shoulder yeah?

I stopped doing mine after a while when I started to get some movement (& got bored) & wish I'd kept going. I still do them now when my arm is achy in the morning (showers are great). Keep those going.

[F5 Dave]

Well I decided to update this for anyone following thread.

I had the plate out today. Was a quick procedure, much easier than getting it in for sure. They did warn me that there was still risk. Being a hook plate the hook is under the shoulder bone so they have to wiggle it out. They saved it for me, more on that later. The risk is that you could get nerve damage or hit a vein or rebreak the bone. Fortunatly none of that seemed to happen. I went in 7:30, was in op at 8:30 & out & recovered enough to be picked up before lunch. The guy in the next cubicle was from the local bike shop & was in to have his plate out of clavicle. Small world.

Ring Wife, she comes picks me up, takes me home, house been burgled. Great. So ring Police, they come pretty quickly & bring dogs etc. The alarm seems to have scared them off after a quick pull back the bed & dash, but they did spot my wallet on the dresser. Ironically I'd left it at home so it wasn't at the hospital (not that I'd mistrust the nurses, they were great). Also got the camera, so as I said no picture of the plate till I get to work.

One of the Police that showed up we knew from Antenatal group. Smaller world. I call the credit card call centre & speak with a girl who called me on thursday to check up on a UK purchase I made (ironically for Forcefield body armour, can't get it here, supposed to be the best, to help make sure this doesn't happen again). Tiny world. So while speaking to her she recognises the Cop who we knews (sorry I've had a general today & grammar is off) voice in the background & knows him personally. Where was this world again?

Ok so it sucks being burged but not much harm done. Must go rest up, but I seem to have good movement, no sling required, just don't lift anything & obviously it has to heal the holes from the screw before it is back to full strength. I'm pretty happy now. If tired, tired, tired.

[PrincessBandit]

Wow, so you and I must have broken our collarbones about the same time (you just before me); you had yours plated on July 7th (I had to wait until Dec 9th!!). So now yours is out; I was told I'd have to have mine in for a year, then removal would be dependent on a few factors (not automatically done).
So pleased to hear that the procedure was relatively straightforward and you're getting back into it. Not pleased to hear about the lowlife scum who burgled your house! I hope you are able to recover/replace what was taken; but it's a whole lot of hassle that you could really do without! All the best....

[F5 Dave]

Yeah mine was broken 1 feb. They told me they take them out anywhere from 6 - 12 months, but gave me the option to leave it in, but my specialist told me they take hook plates out as they are uncomfortable as they rest under the bone that has the shoulder joint so it rubs & it causes pain if you rest on it at all. Feels a lot better now but that could well be the painkillers. Yours may well be ok to stay in, depends if it gives you grief.

'course I had to walk around with the Police etc instead of resting, by the time they'd left I'd noted the blood on my t shirt. opps, rang the hospital & they said try pressure & redress which worked ok. Sheesh nothing is ever simple huh? Best head off to bed.