Two cracked ribs and collarbone
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Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:20 pm
Anyone have good suggestions how to heal up from this mess. Doctors have said the usual rest, arm in sling but that's it. Physio is in order but I guess the question is when shold I see them as right now it takes me 10 minutes to get up from lying down and a lot of pain.
Also anyone got some tips for keeping the fitness/form while essentially being useless. I can't stop eating ice cream because I suppose my body craves calcium for the bones . I'm thinking mag trainer, but the problem is my ribs won't let me breath properly lol. Life sucks atm haha.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ft_critical » Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:35 pm
Don't take anti-inflammatory medicine, interferes with bone production. Get on the trainer, use something on either side to support you, even like brooms under the arms.Calvin27 wrote:Had a bit of a bingle and ended up with two cracked ribs (on the back side) and a collarbone
Anyone have good suggestions how to heal up from this mess. Doctors have said the usual rest, arm in sling but that's it. Physio is in order but I guess the question is when shold I see them as right now it takes me 10 minutes to get up from lying down and a lot of pain.
Also anyone got some tips for keeping the fitness/form while essentially being useless. I can't stop eating ice cream because I suppose my body craves calcium for the bones . I'm thinking mag trainer, but the problem is my ribs won't let me breath properly lol. Life sucks atm haha.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby MichaelB » Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:40 pm
Anna Meares rigged up something like an overhead clothesline to support her are her track spill.
I guess rest and slowly does it.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ValleyForge » Fri Feb 09, 2018 3:41 pm
Yup - that's wishful thinking right there.Calvin27 wrote:I can't stop eating ice cream because I suppose my body craves calcium for the bones .
No - NSAIDs do not significantly interfere with reparitive bone formation. Decent analgesia in the form of NSAIDs will allow deep breathing and exercise. A good thing.ft_critical wrote:Don't take anti-inflammatory medicine, interferes with bone production.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby Calvin27 » Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:02 pm
Breathing is the hardest part atm. I was offered soft drug and turned them down (pointless, want the hard stuff!). Tried some panadol which was useless. Had some 'spare' endone which worked a treat but only had like 2 pills of that in reserve lol. Right now just trying to take deep breaths and it's kind of like a pain addiction - weird i know.ValleyForge wrote:Decent analgesia in the form of NSAIDs will allow deep breathing and exercise. A good thing.
Might try get a script for something and give the anna meares method a shot hahaMichaelB wrote:Anna Meares rigged up something like an overhead clothesline to support her are her track spill.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ft_critical » Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:12 pm
My surgeon said they did in June last year.ValleyForge wrote: No - NSAIDs do not significantly interfere with reparitive bone formation. Decent analgesia in the form of NSAIDs will allow deep breathing and exercise. A good thing.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ValleyForge » Fri Feb 09, 2018 7:19 pm
They do have a therapeutic role in HO (heterotopic ossification) but they don't significantly alter normal bone ossification.ft_critical wrote:My surgeon said they did in June last year.
Perhaps for an upper humerus fracture, a distal third tibial or a scaphoid fracture where non-union is a distinct possibility, you might avoid them.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby find_bruce » Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:20 pm
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby mikesbytes » Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:42 pm
The collarbone is a different story. In my case the broken collarbone was straight and the break points were together, so they decided not to pin it. Weeks later the story was very different, the bone was overlapping with a 2.5cm gap between then. Either it would heal with one shoulder out of alignment or never heal. So I ended up paying for it to be plated. However if it had been done in the beginning then a pin would of sufficed
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ValleyForge » Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:29 pm
Absolutely right there. Broken ribs never killed anyone. Only the pneumothorax (punctured lung), pulmonary embolism or pneumonia. Two of which are related to inadequate analgesia.find_bruce wrote:I was going to mention they only hurt when you breathe, but it seems you have figured that out for yourself. Be careful, I don't know if it is medically proven, but cracked ribs have a reputation for being followed by a lung infection
Generally though, in the active cyclist, the risk of a post-rib fracture pneumonia is pretty low. If you are a 80yr old obese smoker who has fallen over - that's a different story.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ValleyForge » Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:34 pm
Operating on clavicles (collar bones) runs hot & cold. If there was a big improvement, everyone would have it done. The benefit seems to be for the athlete who wants to return to training ASAP; the technique that has the best recovery is an intra-osseous nail - though not all fractures are suitable for this - a plate is bloody painful and leaves an amazing scar.mikesbytes wrote:The collarbone is a different story.
And yes, fit patients have died after having their clavicle operated on. Does make you wonder....
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby 1Rowdy1 » Fri Feb 09, 2018 9:38 pm
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby Calvin27 » Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:03 am
Yep religious about this. It would suck to get a chest infection and have to cough and splutter with cracked ribs.1Rowdy1 wrote:I know it hurts but you need to breath as deeply as possible
On a happy note doing some helmet shopping! Might try mips this time, which brands have mips ready helmets? Most I've seen are mtb helmets.
Cushy dirt bike
Very cushy dirt bike
Bike crushed by car (RIP)
No brakes bike
Ebike
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ValleyForge » Sat Feb 10, 2018 9:16 am
MIPS was released OS a while ago, but only a few have been tested for the AU standard. I have the kids in Bell MIPS helmets now. One on-line retailer was flogging a 15% off helmet sale. Non-MIPS only.Calvin27 wrote:Yep religious about this. It would suck to get a chest infection and have to cough and splutter with cracked ribs.1Rowdy1 wrote:I know it hurts but you need to breath as deeply as possible
On a happy note doing some helmet shopping! Might try mips this time, which brands have mips ready helmets? Most I've seen are mtb helmets.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby TheWall » Sat Feb 10, 2018 10:22 am
Hey. Hope the ribs and collarbone heal quickly. And I am sure retail therapy will help your cause haha.Calvin27 wrote:1Rowdy1 wrote:I know it hurts but you need to breath as deeply as possible
On a happy note doing some helmet shopping! Might try mips this time, which brands have mips ready helmets? Most I've seen are mtb helmets.
I recently bought this: http://www.giro.com/eu_en/products/men/ ... inder.html
Most comfortable helmet I have ever worn.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ft_critical » Sat Feb 10, 2018 1:00 pm
It was for a broken rib and for a broken collarbone and he was very specific about it. He is a surgeon and a good one, not a GP. The explanation being that part of the bone production process is an inflammatory reaction.ValleyForge wrote: They do have a therapeutic role in HO (heterotopic ossification) but they don't significantly alter normal bone ossification.
Perhaps for an upper humerus fracture, a distal third tibial or a scaphoid fracture where non-union is a distinct possibility, you might avoid them.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ValleyForge » Sat Feb 10, 2018 2:58 pm
I've linked a PubMed article from 2016. The orthopedic surgeons I ride with take them for fractures.ft_critical wrote:It was for a broken rib and for a broken collarbone and he was very specific about it. He is a surgeon and a good one, not a GP. The explanation being that part of the bone production process is an inflammatory reaction.ValleyForge wrote: They do have a therapeutic role in HO (heterotopic ossification) but they don't significantly alter normal bone ossification.
Perhaps for an upper humerus fracture, a distal third tibial or a scaphoid fracture where non-union is a distinct possibility, you might avoid them.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/27500434/
And me too - but been lucky for a good while free of fractures
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby open roader » Sat Feb 10, 2018 5:09 pm
I qualify my comments by saying that every case is different and some cases are drastically different.
If you are hesitant about the collarbone healing naturally - get a 2nd opinion asap.
I broke my collarbone way back in 2001 - perfect one point landing on my shoulder after being high sided off a motorcycle. Clean snapped clavicle approx mid way between the extremities. My attending surgeon said plate it this instant. My father, a retired GP and former surgeon said my case was nothing special, I was not getting paid to play sport or go back to work inside a months time frame and recommended no surgery as he thought the risk of a staph infection was not worth a broken collar bone op.
I followed my father's advice and let it heal naturally. My right collarbone is now 28 mm shorter than the left and has a 75mm calcification knob which severly effects the comfort and ease of carrying a backpack or slinging anything of weight over my right shoulder. I'm still suffering muscular issues with a fore shortened collarbone and kick myself for not opting for the plate. Collarbone plates are not just for elite athletes, if you feel uncomfortable with allowing the bones to reunite over time then go get a 2nd opinion.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby mikesbytes » Sun Feb 11, 2018 9:18 am
You description sounds similar to mine except I was descending on push bike while in NZ and got knocked out for 10 minutes. The following cyclists, which included a doctor said I lost the front end and tried to save it, so at a guess instead of low siding I high sided.open roader wrote:Clean snapped clavicle approx mid way between the extremities....
...I followed my father's advice and let it heal naturally. My right collarbone is now 28 mm shorter than the left and has a 75mm calcification knob which severly effects the comfort and ease of carrying a backpack or slinging anything of weight over my right shoulder. I'm still suffering muscular issues with a fore shortened collarbone and kick myself for not opting for the plate. Collarbone plates are not just for elite athletes, if you feel uncomfortable with allowing the bones to reunite over time then go get a 2nd opinion.
Anyway it was clean break and despite asking for it to be pinned the doctors decided it was fine as it was as the ends met perfectly. After 6 weeks in NZ I was cleared to fly back to Australia and back in Australia I knew it wasn't straight but an xray unearthed that the ends were now 25mm apart and my shoulder looked about 25mm narrower. I spoke to everyone I knew who had broken a collar bone and everyone of the regretted not getting it pinned or plated, so I got mine done but instead of a pin as would of happened at the time it now needed plating.
If I hadn't done it, it would of ended up pretty similar to yours
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby open roader » Sun Feb 11, 2018 10:19 am
I had that moment too about 2 weeks post break, but again I decided to follow my father's advice - to my detriment.open roader wrote: I spoke to everyone I knew who had broken a collar bone and everyone of the regretted not getting it pinned or plated, so I got mine done but instead of a pin as would of happened at the time it now needed plating.
Modern medicine is available and practiced on a daily basis for good reasons. It is a constant progression in treatment technique and it is proven to work. Why I turned my back on having a plate inserted is one of those things I clearly have not gotten over yet and physically will never get over now.
We live in a country with free or otherwise mostly affordable and available medical assistance - more the fool me for not taking advantage. Carrying a camera back pack or garden spraying with a 15l back back spray is now an uncomfortable task in the short term and impossible for longer periods - both things I thought nothing of at the time I was racing motorcycles - another life altogether and life has a funny way of showing you your mistakes down the track........
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby ft_critical » Sun Feb 11, 2018 11:59 am
open roader wrote:My right collarbone is now 28 mm shorter than the left and has a 75mm calcification knob which severly effects the comfort and ease of carrying a backpack or slinging anything of weight over my right shoulder. I'm still suffering muscular issues with a fore shortened collarbone and kick myself for not opting for the plate. Collarbone plates are not just for elite athletes, if you feel uncomfortable with allowing the bones to reunite over time then go get a 2nd opinion.
The xray I had in Belgium did not work because of existing metal plate. The report was ligament damage and a broken rib (June 2017). In Aust it was discovered that there was a significant overlap that had already calcified. Mine sounds pretty similar to Open Roader's though there is also a plate that sticks out of the skin. We elected to see how it went. It is indeed strong in certain planes, however, I fell over skiing at Christmas, just your regular slip and land on the shoulder. God it hurt.mikesbytes wrote:but an xray unearthed that the ends were now 25mm apart and my shoulder looked about 25mm narrower. I spoke to everyone I knew who had broken a collar bone and everyone of the regretted not getting it pinned or plated, so I got mine done but instead of a pin as would of happened at the time it now needed plating.
So I am hoping to fall off riding and re-break it so I can fix it properly. Just never a convenient time to do that. Although it nearly happened for me today at the West Head Road Race via an enforced high-speed dirt excursion....
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby g-boaf » Mon Feb 12, 2018 8:12 am
POC does them, but the POC site only shows some quite ugly colours:Calvin27 wrote:Yep religious about this. It would suck to get a chest infection and have to cough and splutter with cracked ribs.1Rowdy1 wrote:I know it hurts but you need to breath as deeply as possible
On a happy note doing some helmet shopping! Might try mips this time, which brands have mips ready helmets? Most I've seen are mtb helmets.
http://www.pocsports.com/eu/octal-avip- ... ad-helmets#
I have a normal Octal helmet, easily my favourite helmet so far. Best of luck on recovery from your injuries.
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Re: Two cracked ribs and collarbone
Postby trailgumby » Mon Feb 12, 2018 9:07 am
However, I now have a large lump at that point and had assumed it was a result of the ends fusing. The doctor made a comment to that effect at the time. but now reading the stories above I am ow wondering whether the ends overlapped.
In relation to your rib injury, I had pneumonia with my recent pulmonary embolism. It was a result of not breathing deeply as I was trying not to irritate my trachea, thinking I had an upper respiratory tract infection. I had chest x-rays done - thinking I should ask to see them to satisfy my curiosity about the collarbone.
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