Injury (broken collarbone)- recovery?

[pippin254]

Quick question to the fencing guru's out there. Some weeks ago, during a soccer match in our fencing class (Yes, its odd, but we do it anyways), a friend of mine got herself tangled with another person, and the subsequent fall left her with a fractured collarbone. From what I saw in the X-rays, the bone snapped at the base of the neck and shifted towards the neck, so it was underneath the bone it should be attached to. She was in a brace for six weeks, refused surgery, and is now out of the brace and moving about better then normal. From what I've heard, her collarbone isnt quite healed yet (no lifting the hand over the head, things like that).

My question is simple: Is there any chance of her fencing normally again? The explanation above probably isnt enough for a definite yes, I'm just hoping theres a chance. She's mainly a sabre fencer.

Thoughts? Ideas? Personal experiences? I'm praying theres some solution that can get her back on the excersise/therapy track that'll get her onto fencing once more.

Thanks.

[yearsofwisdom]

well since she refused surgery, which would have been her sure and safest way to a speedy recovery, she went au naturale. i guess you should just let her heal. my friend, also a girl, got mangled with another girl in a basketball game and healed up fine in 2 months. shes playing basketball like nothing happened. you just want to make sure its completely healed before doing something strenuous.

[pippin254]

Thanks for the input. Judging by what I've heard from her, it sounded as though she'd never be able to fence properly again, which....freaked me out, to say the least. Nevertheless, I hope that does not happen.

[Fechter1]

Simple bone breaks usually heal completely. It might take a few months for a complete recovery, but in the long run, the bone should be like new.

At least that's how the surgeon explained it to me before sawing through my tibia...

[pippin254]

Ouch! Tibia fractures are not fun. Hopefully that recovered well.

Nevertheless, Thats what I'm hoping. I was unsure as to how a bone that shifts under itself heals, really. Perhaps the brace moved it. Nevertheless, when I heard the doctor advised "avoiding lifting weights or playing throwing sports for the rest of (her) life", that just....sounded odd. Nevertheless, things sound a bit better.

[TBean]

Nevertheless, when I heard the doctor advised "avoiding lifting weights or playing throwing sports for the rest of (her) life", that just....sounded odd.

I agree, that just sounds odd. Never?!?! If the bone heals - and that may take some time - and she rehabs the muscles then she should be able to ween herself back to activities. I broke my collarbone in HS playing softball at the end of the season - no surgery - and I was on the team and fine the next year. I was the catcher - lots and lots of throwing, and weight lifting was a part of my recovery.

Every medical condition is different, so my recovery might not be hers. She may want to find herself a sports medicine doctor and get a script for PT to help her recovery. In the end, she may be prone to injury or soreness due to the break, but never participating that is just off.

[foibles]

When I was in high school I broke my collarbone on my right side. (I am right handed).

I wore the brace and had no surgery (nor was surgery suggested). It took quite a while to heal and regain strength... but it did. Theres about a 1" depression where the break occured. It's nothing more than a novelty. Has no effect on anything. It's like I have a small dent in my collarbone.

Anyway, after it healed I played tennis, and swam, and did whatever I felt like doing with no problems. Later, upon entering college I learned to fence. The collarbone was a complete non-issue. It remains a non-issue to this day. ymmv, But I would expect the best.

[pippin254]

after it healed I played tennis, and swam, and did whatever I felt like doing with no problems. Later, upon entering college I learned to fence. The collarbone was a complete non-issue. It remains a non-issue to this day. ymmv, But I would expect the best.

That statement alone just sent my hopes soaring. I'm not sure what the doctor was saying with not doing this for the rest of her life, but it sounds as though theres still a chance.

Thank you for the input, guys. This alone has stirred hope for a fencing future. It also shows my terrible lack of medical knowledge, but thats another story.

[Mergs]

I broke my collar bone (along with 6 ribs and left scapula) in '81 (jeep accident), and because of other damage, wasn't able to wear a brace, so the bone healed with the two ends overlapping. Shows up quite nicely in x-rays looking like two poles lashed together. Aside from making suit jackets fit funny, I've not had any issues at all from it, do include upper body strengthening, etc. My advice is to make sure she starts off easy and take aspirin well in advance of weather changes.