Collar bone surgery

Mr Punch

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31 December 2009
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I broke my collar bone about 6 weeks ago. Further x-rays have shown its not healing so likely to have surgery to plate it.

Does anyone know what the recovery time is following the operation ?

X
 
First couple weeks will be equally painful. Although now stable so not as bad as no movement. you can generally move it within pain free range within a couple of days- Im a physio if you get no post op advice then pm me i can explain your exercises!
Takes 6-8 weeks with no lifting other than like a cup or plate etc.
Takes 12 weeks before can lift heavy items- before this there is a risk ofthe plate moving if too much weight is put through it.
Within 6 weeks you should have full movement and can generally ride from that point although within sensible limits.
Good luck.
 
Not for this specifically but generally following plating/stabalisation you're looking at about 6-8 weeks for the bone to knit properly. Because it's stabalised by a plate, provided everything else is ok, you can usually use the limb (arm in this case) gently sooner than that but it is 6-8 weeks for full healing and then it will take another month or two to build up strength around the area.
 
I had mine plated a week after breaking it and the pain relief was almost instant.

Clearing out a winter's worth of deep litter the following weekend was too much and I had to stop halfway but I was riding pretty much immediately and hunting (incl. falling off :o) 4 weeks after the op.

6 years on it causes me no problems.
 
Had mine done, just follow instructions to the letter! Mine was broken in 4 and the plate didn't stabalise first time so had to have another op as it pinged upwards whilst I was at work!! Took mine 8 months in total. I had extensive muscle and tendon damage too and had years of physio, still have scar tissue and monthly sports massage 3 years on But that is worst case scenario and I have 80% movement back when they thought I wouldn't even get 50! Hydrotherapy on recovery is amazing if you can get it!
 
I found the plate so unconfortable and couldn't wear a bra so a year later had it taken out again which then immobilses for another 2-4 weeks but full movement now. hadn't realised quite how uncomfortable the plate was until it was out. still glad i had it plated though as i don't think it would have healed without out.
 
Mine was plated four days after it broke. It stabilised my shoulder immediately and eased some if the pain? The op required a lot of messing about inside to fix so I was quite sore afterwards and had some spectacular bruising. Really pleased it was pinned because I was aware of the risk of what happened with you. I started back riding after 8 weeks.. Quite gently :) then lessons after 12 weeks when I was signed off. Six months on and it's all ok apart from a patch of numb skin on my upper arm due to them cutting a nerve. Plate is visible but it doesn't bother me or cause any discomfort.
Best of luck with your operation and what a shame it wasn't plated sooner.
 
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