Broken clavicle - should we cancel our bike trip?

Hi! DH touched wheels today and -fortunately - only broke his clavicle, well - his pride is a bit wounded too. We are scheduled to leave on July 16 for our 3rd summer trip riding across the US with America by Bicycle (this summer, Sioux Falls South Dakota to Niagara Falls) We do have trip insurance with Access America, signed up for the before trip cancellation part - I think it will pay for him, not sure about for me. This leg of the trip is about 1000 miles in less than 14 days. I'm thinking we should probably cancel. He'll see an orthopedist next week. I do have a friend that was on his bike 1 week after a clavicle plating/screw repair, but I think he is a freak of nature with few pain receptors. Any advice? I'd be more bummed about our trip, but his injuries could have been so much worse! Thanks! Tokie

Does your DH like to bike in constant pain? that's a month away. OW.

your trip insurance should cover both of your cancellation... and you can do it at the last minute to see how he feels then.

I know, it's almost stupid to ask. I am still a bit in denial. Last year I was able to get on the bike only 10 days before this trip after breaking my thumb (lots of time on the trainer and spinning) . But I had a thumb splint and it wasn't too sore. A clavicle is much different. We'll dig up the paperwork tomorrow and make some phone calls. Thanks for the reality check! Tokie

Thanks Catriona - I hoped that's how the insurance would see it too. And who knows, if the MD insisted on a surgical repair, he might be able to pull it off. I'll keep you posted. tokie

He probably wouldn't want to but what about being on the crew? That is such a bummer but at least it wasn't worse. I know a clavicle hurts like dickens but it could have been worse as you said.

Well, it's a for-profit bike tour company. Those who crew are carefully selected, well qualified and work very well as a team, are paid, and work very hard. And he wants to ride it. And I wouldn't really enjoy it without him at my side, since this is our yearly ride together. We are doing this 2 weeks a year 'til we get all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. In a perfect world, when we retire, we'd like to do the same ride and do it all together (7 weeks). It's been great fun! We'll see.....Tokie

I broke my clavicle about 13 years ago. It didn't need surgery, simply immobilized in a sling.

It takes six weeks to heal. After being immobilized that long, I had very little strength in my left shoulder/arm. I also had to rebuild range-of-motion in the shoulder joint. You have to be very careful about shoulder injuries, so thinking long term, it probably would be wise to suspend his ride til next year. Maybe the company would let you postpone and go on a later ride?

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Originally Posted by Tokie

Well, it's a for-profit bike tour company. Those who crew are carefully selected, well qualified and work very well as a team, are paid, and work very hard. And he wants to ride it. And I wouldn't really enjoy it without him at my side, since this is our yearly ride together. We are doing this 2 weeks a year 'til we get all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. In a perfect world, when we retire, we'd like to do the same ride and do it all together (7 weeks). It's been great fun! We'll see.....Tokie

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Awww that is a fun idea. I am sorry he had this misfortune. Speedy healing vibes to him.

That is terrible. My DH and I had plans to do the whole Transamerica route this summer, until he broke his clavicle and scapula. That was back in march, and even though his is back on the bike, we did not do the trip. It has been disappointing, so I understand, but we decided that the long-term benefits of playing it safe were better than doing that trip this summer. I hope that you can both make peace with whatever decision you make. I know it is hard and disappointing. I really hope he feels better soon and is careful and patient with his recovery.

Sorry to hear that Tokie. Did he get surgery/pins or is he wearing a figure 8 strap?

I broke my clavicle years ago, had the figure 8 strap, and I'd say it would be a minimum of 2 months before any real riding. He should be able to ride on a trainer to keep reasonably in shape though.

He has the figure 8 strap which moved the clavicle into alignment and feels alot better. I hope to pull strings with my favorite othopedist and get DH in early this week - he was kind of fainting during the x-ray, so didn't see how many pieces were broken. It was obviously displaced under the skin (a bit gross). Our coach is thinking he could pull the trip off. Well, I did it last year, "riding back into condition" after my broken thumb. DH is extremely fit right now, but we just need to do what's best for his health and best recovery. Thanks all for your personal experiences and concern! Tokie

My DH thinks it's would be fine--but he may not have pain receptors either. Of course, only with clearance from the doctor--preferably a sports specialist.

Let's see, wasn't he racing just six weeks after breaking his collarbone? :eek:

So sorry to hear about your DH. Mine broke his collarbone in a cycling accident years ago. I know he wouldn't have felt comfortable doing a LONG ride like that just a month out. I had to mow the lawn for him all summer. Lawn-mowing does use the upper body more than cycling, but anyone who says you don't use your upper body climbing is either crazy or riding a recumbent! :D

I guess that's a thought...wonder if he could borrow, rent, or buy a used recumbent for the ride, if you really don't want to cancel? Under-seat steering wouldn't bother the clavicle, but a fall onto that side would. I wouldn't chance it.

Aw, sorry to hear about your DH. Sending healing vibes!

+1 on taking a wait-and-see approach. Find out now what your travel insurance's limits are, and I guess it would be courteous to find out whether there's a waiting list for the trip itself.

You'll know a lot more after he sees the ortho, but even so, every individual will heal at a different rate and have a different tolerance for pain. I think there's a reasonable chance that he'll be able to ride - and a reasonable chance that he won't. :( So the longer he can postpone the decision, the better chance you both will have of making a decision you won't regret.

I broke mine, had the figure 8 strap and had lots of pain for about a week to 10 days. That is how long the DR. said it would take for the bones to get "sticky" and quit moving every time I did. It healed with a bump but that has gone away over time. I wanted to ride a Rail-Trail 60 miler 4 weeks later but I could not do it! It was just too sore. I agree with all others...it is so very disappointing and I am really sorry that it happened...but time will heal and then he can ride again without pain. I have never had any problems since and was glad that I took the time it needed. I was riding in 8 weeks without a problem. Good luck to you both. You can reschedule the trip better than trying to do it with a healing fracture. Then you would be worrying all the time about his falling, too, not fun. My arm was weaker afterwards, too.

Good luck and speedy healing to your hubby. :(:(

Got a call from my favorite ortho MD. DH's clavicle is so severely broken and out of alignment that he will need a surgery with a 4 to 5 inch incision over his shoulder and an overnight stay in the hospital for pain control. Good news is that we were to remove the figure 8 immobilizer, as it was putting direct pressure over one of the fractured ends of the clavicle - bad for the bone. He is now only in a sling, with less pain, but still pretty sore. surgery is also needed to prevent the shoulder from "shortening" due to the way the bones are overlapped. :(

ouch. I wish him speedy recovery. And do tell him to take it easy until the bones starts to get sticky.

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Originally Posted by Tokie

Got a call from my favorite ortho MD. DH's clavicle is so severely broken and out of alignment that he will need a surgery with a 4 to 5 inch incision over his shoulder and an overnight stay in the hospital for pain control. Good news is that we were to remove the figure 8 immobilizer, as it was putting direct pressure over one of the fractured ends of the clavicle - bad for the bone. He is now only in a sling, with less pain, but still pretty sore. surgery is also needed to prevent the shoulder from "shortening" due to the way the bones are overlapped. :(

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Sorry to hear that Tokie.

At least you know it will heal cleanly after the surgery.

Owie.

Hope the surgery goes well and his recovery is quick and complete!

Thanks everyone! Biking is on the back burner while I work, walk dogs,cook and clean. Race season just ended for the summer. Surgery will be next Tuesday. Tokie