rode my bike and broke my collar bone. Advice

[look 171]

I hadn't done this sore of thing since I was in my youth, doing our usual training ride rain or shine. Normally there are about 40+ guys on this ride, pretty intense normally with a bunch of very experience riders. We were down to about 15 guys the past Saturday and I had been feeling pretty good for the past couple months or feeling like 22 and in great shape again. Well this new guy, no one seem to know who he is cross my wheel (I suppose he didn't like the rooster tail in his face) and took me out. I hit the deck (at about 25 mph)with my right shoulder so hard that I busted my collar bone. I knew as soon as I sat up and couldn't move my arm. He try to help me up and said" gotta be careful on these rides". He had no idea that he can't hold his line. When he said that, I knew he had no idea what he did, so I didn't say much after that.

Anyone with broken a collar bone experience can give me some tips. I am in so much pain this morning that my wife had to help me out of bed. my whole body was sore, not just my shoulder. 6-8 weeks to get back to normal according to the ER doc. seeing the "bone doc" tomorrow if I am lucky enough to get an appointment. I hope no surgery. What determines if surgery is needed?

[look 171]

Oh, please tell me about Hydrocodon-acetaminophen. I know its some type of Tylenol but this thing kicks my ass. I am in a dreamy stage all day. As soon as I close my eyes, I am in and out of sleeping. That was my day so far except going out to lunch making a fool out of myself eating with my left hand. We went to a noodle place, what can go wrong with that, right? My kids had fun laughing at me.

[Nostril Cheese]

I've snapped mine twice on dirt bikes. Very painful break. Both times, I had to wear a brace for a couple months. Vicodin is your friend.

[nostatic]

I don't have experience with collarbone (knock on wood), but sorry to hear. Newbies on group rides always made me nervous. I went down at the Rose Bowl in the pack when someone two bikes in from of me grabbed the brake for no reason. I landed on my hip instead of arm/hand so I didn't break the collarbone but did permanently tweak my hip joint.

I assume surgery choice depends on how far the ends are dislocated from each other.

[winders]

Look at the surgery option as a good idea if what you have is a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture.

[look 171]

Todd, its a snap. I saw it on the x ray at the emergency. Its the Montrose ride.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

I've snapped mine twice on dirt bikes. Very painful break. Both times, I had to wear a brace for a couple months. Vicodin is your friend.

Vicodin is not my friend. its makes my head spin. is this a hard brace of a sofe one that pulls your shoulders back?

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by look 171

Oh, please tell me about Hydrocodon-acetaminophen.

Is it Vicodin or Norco? Hopefully the latter. They have really gotten strict about prescribing any of these. The biggest issue isn't the narcotic but rather the acetaminophen (which is the active ingredient in tylenol). The pills are usually numbered as 5/325 (typical Norco) or 5/500 (typical vicodin). I had 7.5/750 when I had my moto accident. You want to take as little acetaminophen as possible. It used to be 4g/day as the max and they lowered it to 2g/day max. The second number in the norco/vicodin dosing is mg of acetaminophen. If you have 5/500 pills, then you shouldn't take more than 4 pills a day as that adds up to 2g of acetaminophen.

DO NOT take any tylenol when you're taking vicodin/norco/etc. You can OD on the stuff and it is rough on your liver. Also don't drink alcohol as that will make you more groggy and is even harder on your liver.

And if you have leftovers, I can dispose of them

[look 171]

Originally Posted by winders

Look at the surgery option as a good idea if what you have is a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture.

yep, i think it snapped mid point.

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by look 171

Todd, its a snap. I saw it on the x ray at the emergency. Its the Montrose ride.

In all my years on Pasadena I never did that ride. I had buddies who did it all the time though, and I heard it could be pretty fast.

[Hugh R]

Wow, no advice but that sucks. I have been put in the hospital twice from riding a bike. In my 20's I raced for UMASS, Amherst. Did like 10K miles/year. In Boston in 1976 I got T-boned by a hit and run taxi, it took my right down handle bar and shoved it into my bag and it came out near my belly button. Cost me my right nut, I was told I'd never have kids due to the extensive damage to the left one. (I have two wonderful kids, thank you very much) I woke up three days later at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. It was/is a Catholic teaching hospital. I don't remember it, but I was told I was given the "Last Rites". In about 1980 I was at Santa Monica Library and pulled out on my 10-speed and an 80 y/o or so lady turned the wrong way and knocked me to the ground. I saw a UPS truck smoking his tires as he skidded to a stop about 18" from my head. Had bleeding out of my ears. St. Joseph's hospital in Santa Monica and got lucky.

I'm not religious, but I said to myself, "God. I got the message". I won't ride a bicycle on the streets ever again. Bike path in Ventura/Oxnard, CA sure.

[look 171]

Its 5-325 Todd Why do you prefer Norco? Thankfully I don't normally drink alcohol. I will ride over to Santa Monica and personally hand them to you after i get better. I am really hoping to be back on the bike in 3-4 weeks.

[Jim Richards]

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your injury. You have to watch out for those crazy bike riders!

[nostatic]

Norco has lower acetaminophen (in your case, 325 mg vs equivalent vicodin which would usually be 500 mg). Easier on your liver. The combination of narcotic and acetaminophen is more effective at pain relief than either one alone.

I have chronic back/neck flareups so I like having some around, just a challenge getting in to see my ortho. My body tolerates it well and it breaks the pain/inflammation cycle with me. I know for a lot of people it either makes them sick or puts them into lala land. Oddly enough I can't sleep on it. I have some paradoxical reactions to certain meds. Like dramamine - doesn't make me drowsy at all.

Also, ice is your friend for the pain. I bought these flexible packs (they are fabric-like covered gel packs) that I keep in the freezer all the time. When something flares up I'll ice it for 10-15 min intervals every hour or so. Can help a lot.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by nostatic

In all my years on Pasadena I never did that ride. I had buddies who did it all the time though, and I heard it could be pretty fast.

I did it religiously from 84 into the mid to late 90s. It can be a monster 60+ hell on the long loop. You must know Steve Lubanski id you rode for the LA Sheriff's? Him and a few of other "big boys" used to stir things up to 30mph+ on that ride. I hated those guys. They turn the gas on in the hills each and every time. All those years I escape all the accidents, now it finally got me a few years before I turn the big 50.

[nostatic]

Things like this are great (you can get them with velcro straps as well)

Amazon.com: Theramed Back Pad Dual-Temp Cold Pack: Health & Personal Care

In a pinch use bags of frozen peas or corn - works like a charm.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

Ouch! Sorry to hear about your injury. You have to watch out for those crazy bike riders!

Well, you will get to meet my navigator because she will have to share driving duties for a week. I can't shift and have a tough time getting up into the SUV w/ out the use of my right arm to pull myself up into the seat. I will find out tomorrow when she takes the kids to school. I will sneak out for a short test drive to get a cup of coffee.

[Jim Richards]

We're looking forward to it.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Things like this are great (you can get them with velcro straps as well)

Amazon.com: Theramed Back Pad Dual-Temp Cold Pack: Health & Personal Care

In a pinch use bags of frozen peas or corn - works like a charm.

Do you do it hot or cold? I know the cold keep the swelling down, but the heat sure loosen things up for mobility. Without sitting in the hot shower for 15 min this morning, there was no way that I can pull my short up. I couldn't get my shirt on, nor could I pull my safety belt (as a passenger) from over my shoulder without my wife's help.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Jim Richards

We're looking forward to it.

You guys be careful man, she's mean.