Another day another collarbone

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
4 more weeks in the sling. because its a bone graft on an old break they are being cautious... yay. no physio allowed. shoulder will be well fucked after that.

oh well, it will pass.
I was told not to physio with my right shoulder. The surgical team just kept telling me to be patient and all would be good. I had friends regularly doing the "what's your physio say?" They were so persistent with all the "don't trust the doctors..." And I held out. I just did what the doctors told me and it all turned out just the way they said it would. After about 8 or 9 months one of the lesser surgeons in the team (I can never work out their hierarchy) gave me 2 very basic exercises that I did irregularly).

Just be patient and trust their expertise. They undertook a lot of training to get there.
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
I was told not to physio with my right shoulder. The surgical team just kept telling me to be patient and all would be good. I had friends regularly doing the "what's your physio say?" They were so persistent with all the "don't trust the doctors..." And I held out. I just did what the doctors told me and it all turned out just the way they said it would. After about 8 or 9 months one of the lesser surgeons in the team (I can never work out their hierarchy) gave me 2 very basic exercises that I did irregularly).

Just be patient and trust their expertise. They undertook a lot of training to get there.
I move the elbow and wrist and am allowed to dangle the arm and move it around a bit. But the shoulder capsule is already adhesion central, not much to be done except do what little I can to not let it get worse and suck it up for the next 6-12 months.

But yes, I will take it very easy on the shoulder as per advice. I have zero interest in bending the plate or pulling a screw!! Or upsetting the bone graft that cost me a hole in my pelvis...
 

Chriso_29er

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I just did exactly what the surgeon said. Didn't take the sling off basically for 2 weeks, including bed and shower.
Once off, didn't lift anything but started to slowly rebuild my unused shoulder muscles. With no weight I had all movement back by 3 weeks after surgery but just took it very easy.
Had final x-ray last Friday in prep for seeing the doc again today.
He luckily said bone is now fully healed and in his own words, I can now do what ever I like ha ha. Just got to be careful not to overdo any muscles and slowly build them back up. Seeing my Physio again on Thursday.

So good news is after getting that phone call, I was straight on the bike this afternoon ha ha
Will stay on road until I'm happy I've rebuilt some strength in all the muscles, as it seems to be only a few taking the main effort at the moment. Visible differences between left and right if I hold both arms in front of me. I'll see what the Physio has to say later this week.

Keep at it @Haakon, you're case is very different to mine but no doubt you'll be back active in no time now.
 
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Haakon

Keeps on digging
One thing about the public system is that at the 4 or so follow ups at the fracture clinic I’ve seen 4 different orthopaedic people and hence have 4 different sets of advice on how/how long I should treat it. And a sports injury specialist and the chiro/muscle guy ive been seeing for my hip problems.

One ortho before we went down the surgery road and it was just a slow healing break said 6 weeks in the sling no movement at all. That’s terrible advice... But one consistent thing is the intent is to minimise movement and load, but the elbow and hand should be moved around otherwise your arm gets fucked up. And sling off to shower, just don’t swing your arm around. I’m not sure a strict 2 weeks locked in a sling 100% is necessarily good advice, but so long as your shoulder joint came through ok I guess no harm... 2-3 months of restricted movement will fuck it up though... I think my shoulder probably locked up at about 3-4 weeks in hindsight.

the screws and plate won’t be damaged by restricted movement. You’d have to do a push-up pick up 20kg really to bend the plate - but don’t even go close to that and you’re fine.

Apparently with mine they’re just leaving it longer because it failed to heal the first time and the bone graft needs time to do it’s thing. And even with the graft, there is a bigger effective gap to fill in.
So arm out at my side to sleep is most comfortable. And I can type two hands with the forearm resting on the desk. So long as it’s supported and not being loaded up.

But to add insult to injury (or is it injury to injury?) my right hip is sore af after the surgery... I think they must have yanked my leg around while I was under when they were drilling holes in my pelvis, because the joint hurts to walk. Sigh. Oh well, it’s checked out ok with the physio at least, it’s just upset my calcified tendons in that hip from my last big MTB crash injury.
 

Chriso_29er

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I asked about activities moving forward and he said no limits on weight or anything, the bone is fully healed, even said good-luck with your mountain biking lol.
But yeah I will be taking it cautious, just nice easy road rides for a while. Not that we have any choice down here at the moment! Nearest MTB trail is 2km outside of my 5km radius ha ha.

Should also clarify about the 2 weeks in the sling @Haakon, that also included hand and arm movements 5 times a day to stop exactly what you're mentioning. But yes I was surprised about the showering thing, they even gave me extra slings for wet use! So I just followed the advice. Not sure if it was strictly for the bone issue, maybe to do with tissue/tendons around the area after surgery?
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
You are the small spark of hope that life could be worse, much worse, for the rest of us in 2020. Thank you @Haakon .


Eerrrrrr I mean that sucks. How is the post surgery shoulder recovery going?
I'm happy to provide a valuable service :)

Shoulder is getting there. As it was a bone graft job they're still making me hold off on full blown physio work, but final x ray in two weeks where i'm hoping they'll tell me its knitted and strong to start proper rehab work.

Bone graft harvest on the pelvis flared up my dodgy hip flexor tendons which has sucked a bit, but that will pass.
 

pink poodle

気が狂っている男
I'm happy to provide a valuable service :)

Shoulder is getting there. As it was a bone graft job they're still making me hold off on full blown physio work, but final x ray in two weeks where i'm hoping they'll tell me its knitted and strong to start proper rehab work.

Bone graft harvest on the pelvis flared up my dodgy hip flexor tendons which has sucked a bit, but that will pass.
Next you'll have a bout of diarrhoea!
 

teK--

Eats Squid
One thing about the public system is that at the 4 or so follow ups at the fracture clinic I’ve seen 4 different orthopaedic people and hence have 4 different sets of advice on how/how long I should treat it. And a sports injury specialist and the chiro/muscle guy ive been seeing for my hip problems.

One ortho before we went down the surgery road and it was just a slow healing break said 6 weeks in the sling no movement at all. That’s terrible advice... But one consistent thing is the intent is to minimise movement and load, but the elbow and hand should be moved around otherwise your arm gets fucked up. And sling off to shower, just don’t swing your arm around. I’m not sure a strict 2 weeks locked in a sling 100% is necessarily good advice, but so long as your shoulder joint came through ok I guess no harm... 2-3 months of restricted movement will fuck it up though... I think my shoulder probably locked up at about 3-4 weeks in hindsight.

the screws and plate won’t be damaged by restricted movement. You’d have to do a push-up pick up 20kg really to bend the plate - but don’t even go close to that and you’re fine.

Apparently with mine they’re just leaving it longer because it failed to heal the first time and the bone graft needs time to do it’s thing. And even with the graft, there is a bigger effective gap to fill in.
So arm out at my side to sleep is most comfortable. And I can type two hands with the forearm resting on the desk. So long as it’s supported and not being loaded up.

But to add insult to injury (or is it injury to injury?) my right hip is sore af after the surgery... I think they must have yanked my leg around while I was under when they were drilling holes in my pelvis, because the joint hurts to walk. Sigh. Oh well, it’s checked out ok with the physio at least, it’s just upset my calcified tendons in that hip from my last big MTB crash injury.
The sling is not so much to support the arm, if it was it wouldn't be your standard over the shoulder sling. It would be the type that wraps around your whole forearm and positions your hand near the opposite collarbone, thus lifting up the elbow and taking the weight off the shoulder entirely.

The sling is to immobise the arm and remind you not to use it.

Regular movement but avoiding excessive load is the key to avoid adhesion.

Obvoiusly to raise your arm up your side or front is going to apply load, so you can improv by lying on your back on the floor, which gives you the full range of motion in many directions without fighting gravity. Or you can set up a simple pulley system over a doorway with a bit of rope and use your other arm to lift your bad arm.
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
The sling is not so much to support the arm, if it was it wouldn't be your standard over the shoulder sling. It would be the type that wraps around your whole forearm and positions your hand near the opposite collarbone, thus lifting up the elbow and taking the weight off the shoulder entirely.

The sling is to immobise the arm and remind you not to use it.

Regular movement but avoiding excessive load is the key to avoid adhesion.

Obvoiusly to raise your arm up your side or front is going to apply load, so you can improv by lying on your back on the floor, which gives you the full range of motion in many directions without fighting gravity. Or you can set up a simple pulley system over a doorway with a bit of rope and use your other arm to lift your bad arm.
Yeah, I know. I'm using the arm gently a little without loading it up. I use the sling mostly when going out walking or in the car to stop it being jerked around. And doing all the little exercises they give you.

Just no serious frozen shoulder exercises yet, beyond the assisted ones as you mentioned. Leaning forward in the chair and walking my hand out along the floor for example.
 

Haakon

Keeps on digging
6 week follow up, all good so far. Allowed to commence physio and start work on range of movement at last!

No riding obviously, another X-ray and check in another 6 weeks. No pushups or pushing up off a table, nothing heavier than 5kgs.

368354
 

Chriso_29er

Likes Bikes and Dirt
6 week follow up, all good so far. Allowed to commence physio and start work on range of movement at last!

No riding obviously, another X-ray and check in another 6 weeks. No pushups or pushing up off a table, nothing heavier than 5kgs.
Great news!
Interesting they want to X-ray again in another 6 weeks?
 
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