Misery and pain! Broken collar bone.

B

Bounty

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Parted company spectacularly last night with my youngster.

She was fresh anyway, and had been spooking at something in the corner of the arena. She went on to work really nicely, she's not been back in work for very long. We were doing low key walk-halt transitions to get her working off the leg, and she was really listening...
Then someone next door started up a chainsaw as we walked away from the scary corner, and all hell broke loose!
Managed to sit it until my saddle slipped half way down her sides, (damn elasticated girths!), avoided being chucked into the fence, and landed head first, rather heavily.

My right collar bone is now in 3 bits, in a zig zag formation, doctors assure me it should heal itself, despite the fact that their worried about the bones coming through the skin.

It hurts, and i can't ride or drive for 8-12 weeks.

Sorry for the self pitying post.
 
Ouch!!

Hope you begin to feel a little more cmfortable soon!!

Take this opportunity to be absolutely pampered, it sounds like you deserve it!!
 
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*Passes bag of pick 'n' mix*

I think you need these more than me. What a bugger though, no riding or driving for ages
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Feel better soon!
 
It isn't self pitying, I know exactly how you feel! Just remember to space out whatever you find to fill time in - I was on crutches for 7 weeks and it lasted a looooooooong time!

Huge gentle hugs, make sure you are treated like a princess and hope you feel better soon
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x
 
It's not self pitying at all, it sounds very painful!! I hope it is sorted soon, at least you get out of winter mucking out!
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Thanks so much everyone.
I'm lost already, and this is only day one of it. I'm supposed to be staying in bed for 3 days to try and reduced the risk of the bones coming through the skin, and i hate being indoors! Had the windows wide open all day just for the fresh air.
my parents should have tried harder to make me normal, and not given in to the pony thing!

Its a bit disconcerting that my mum goes pale and feels faint everytime she looks at it!
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College, which is even worse! I'm a non-resident, so have to drive to get there... Having lecture notes sent home, but its not the same as actually being there.

I've been riding since i was 5, and am now 19. This is the first time i've managed to hurt myself and it sucks! Suppose it had to happen sometime.
 
Oh ouch!!

Try to do as you are told and stay in bed, as it will help with the healing in the long run!

We'll expect to see lots of posts from you in the next 8 weeks then! Nothing else to do but sit on HHO!
 
QR btw..

Very painful!
What really p*sses me off is that i'd planned to do a dressage test at the end of next month, it's the first competitive thing that i've wanted to do in ages. Worked really hard with my gelding to get both of us upto scratch, and yesterday morning it all fell into place finally and went almost perfectly. The best i've ridden in years. Was on a high all day, and then came literally crashing back down to earth last night.
HORSES!! ppffhh!

So yeh, lots of posting. You'll all be sick of me!
 
Take Care of your self, I have broken my left one on two different occaisions in two different places and tbh my left shoulder is now knackerd! If they give you the option of surgery go for it - in fact speaking from experience I would nag for it. In all other countries they pin them - which I know is not very nice but it does mean they repair properly. I have ended up with a shortened, dropped, twisted and almost permanently crampy shoulder. Also drink lots of milk ( sounds silly but is true) eat cod liver oil and malt ( boots - in a jar) keep it supported and warm - and do everything they tell you.
Sorry to nag - I just dont want you to end up with permanent hassle
 
Poor You. I did the exact same thing. 3 bits in a zig zag, thought it was going to come through the skin. I had to go for check ups for about 6 months on the last one I saw a different consultant and he asked if I wanted it pinned (I said No as it would have been another 3 months off) however if they had offered me it at the start I would have said yes. It took about a year to heal to the point where I could walk around for me than 15 mins without being in pain or having to resort to a sling. It still aches a bit at tiimes now - 4 years on, and I feel sometimes when I lie on my side that it is bending in the middle. I also have an enourmous lump of extra bone.

Have they said why they won't pin it for you?

they we go cheery post...
 
Owwwwwww do exactly what your told to the letter - I didn't and mine then took 6 months to heal
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(mind you had to factor in that it was displaced by an inch and I was nearly 30 when I broke it which didn't help!!!).
 
You poor thing! You have my sympathy.... I smashed my right collarbone coming off a youngster in the field in August. Although it only broke in one place the bones were overlapping. It was agony for about 2 weeks and then it really was a lot better - still very sore though. I had a sling for about 3 weeks - towards the end more to alert people to the fact I had a bad arm so they wouldn't bash into me. Went for first Xray after 6 weeks and the bones were fusing but still not 100% - went back after 9 weeks and it had healed. Have a lump on my collarbone but you can't really see it unless you look for it. I feel slightly crooked on that side and sometimes feel soreness in that shoulder - but nothing more than a dull ache. I got back on my mare after 5 weeks as I couldn't wait any longer much to my OH's disgust - had to promise to go no faster than walk and to wear my BP too. Hope he doesn't see this cos I didn't!
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Ouch you have my full sympathy. Just out of interest did they ask you if you wanted it plated? I had mine done (was given the option but it was so displaced that they felt it ought to be done) and the pain relief was almost instant, I started hacking out a week later and was hunting within 4 weeks. If they didn't offer it to you then I really would suggest asking them or even going somewhere else. I do have a scar running the length fo my collar bone but it's better than a big lump and it is quite a talking point.
 
Hello you also have my full sympathy. My OH broke his right collar bone in June this year ( he fell off a skateboard) he managed to break it right where it joins the shoulder and was told surgery was the only option, he had the op in the june they fitted a plate that went over the bone to stop it popping out ( meant he had very restricted movement could only lift his arm to 90 degrees) 12 weeks later he had another op and they removed the plate and he now has prety much full movement.
Having read other peoples stories i would definately say if they offer surgery take it OH has a nasty scar but no lumps or bumps and the surgeon advised it makes it much stronger in the long run.
Good luck with it
 
QR strikes again!

Although its kinda depressing i'm really pleased you all shared your experences.
Once my xrays came through in A&E they imediately said i'd be staying in overnight and put on the emergency list for an op the next day. Then, when the orthapaedic specialist came around he said it should be fine in a sling and a fair amount of immobility. Went back for frcture clinic yesterday morning, whuch was a complete waste of time. He breifly looked at my skin, and checked my fingers were ok, and told me to get up and about asap, quoting that 9/10 people fuse naturally without intervention. If it hasn't healed after 6 weeks then he said he'd operate.

24 hours on, i'm thinking it shouldnt be like this. The bones are sticking up, putting my skin under loads of pressure, and searing pain. Lying in bed is the only thing that isn't agony.
I appreciate that its going to hurt to some extent, but not like this.
I went along with what they said cos i thought they'd know best, but following gut instinct and what you guys have told me i'll be pushing for surgery as soon as i can.

Thank you. x
 
OH NO! I broke mine back in August and the doctors assured me mine would heal naturally. how wrong could they be? I had it pinned in November and they had to take a bone graft from my pelvis too becuase they had left it too long
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i haven't been able to ride or work since August. I hope yours heals ok. feel free to PM if you get bored I know how you feel
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ETS: I agree with all the others I would ask for it to be pinned, I trusted my fracture clinic doctor and wish I hadn't. the pain from the bone graft was horrendous. If you have it done ASAP you wont need it. Good luck x
 
Just spoken to my doctor, he's not happy with it. He's going to take a look this afternoon and then fight my corner for me regards to surgery.

I'm not a squeamish person in the slightest but even i feel sick when i see it in the mirror.
 
I would definatly keep on at your doctor. You don't want to end up like me I have been in a sling for 4 months now and even now only have limited movement as it isn't 100 % healed
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I wish I'd had mine done earlier. Im thoroughly fed up now! I hated looking at my lump in the mirror it was huge and you could feel all the bone. Let me know how you get on x
 
Defintely push for the surgery I have never regretted having mine done, oh actually maybe I did for the few hours after but then who feels wonderful after an op? I was lucky because I went to epsom where they are used to mending broken jockeys so my consultant was more than happy to do the op, but I have since heard that many places don't like doing it.

I was meant to have my plate removed in august but I didn't fancy wasting 2 weeks of the summer not being able to do anything. So now I've been removed from the waiting list and the plate will stay where is it for the forseeable future. It doesn't cause me any problems at all, and to be honest I feel safer with it still in there.

Fingers crossed your doctor fights your corner xxx
 
Bounty - if it helps I spent the first 3-4 days after my accident in bed - lying flat was the only thing that didn't make me feel like passing out. I was popping codeine like it was going out of fashion and was semi-conscious a lot of the time
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I was convinced that they had misdiagnosed me and that is shouldn't feel so bad..... I was back at work the next week though..... Once it settles it really does feel better. If after a week it has not improved at all - push for another appointment with your consultant.
 
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