[IROC]

I've broken both of my collar bones. The right one was a minor fracture and the left one was a break like yours that came really close to being "compound" and breaking the skin. Mine broke cleanly into two pieces, though - not three.

I wore a brace (both times) that simply kept my shoulders pulled back to allow the bones to re-align and heal on their own. Seems like it took 4-6 weeks. My left one (the one with the worse break) has a decent sized knot on it, but I really haven't had any other problems.

I feel for you. I broke the left side (the worse one) playing backyard football, too. It wasn't painful, surprisingly, but I heard it crack when I hit the ground. The worse part was dealing with the discomfort for the next few weeks. Things like putting on shoes will become a major task, trust me. :>)

Good luck,

Mike