How long does it take a clavicle to heal?

So, you’ve gone and broken your clavicle huh? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered for all the juicy details on how long this thing is going to take to heal. Spoiler alert: It’s not going to be as quick as brewing yourself a cup of coffee.

Anatomy

Before we delve too deep into the breakage of the clavicle (or collarbone), let’s get acquainted with some basic anatomy – after all, knowledge is power!

The clavicle is an S-shaped bone that connects your shoulder blade (scapula) and your breastbone (sternum). Essentially, it acts like a strut between these two bony structures holding everything together nicely.

A healthy clavicle allows movement of the arm freely from side-to-side and forward-backward; now imagine breaking this crucial bone – OUCH!

Causes

Okay let’s talk about how might one go about injuring themselves so severely that they break their clavicle in half.

  1. Trauma from falling
  2. Direct blow sustained during contact sports
  3. Motor vehicle accident
  4. Stress fracture caused by overuse

Regardless of what caused the damage though – we can only hope that it happened whilst attempting something truly spectacular (fire breathing anyone?!) because now comes the unwanted downtime while our bodies work their magic repairing themselves.

Types Of Fractures

First things first… there are different types of fractures affecting various parts/areas along with varying degrees of severity:

  • Closed/simple: where bones stay intact without any vertical or horizontal displacement.
  • Open/compound: when there is visible external wound indicating fractured bone exposure( yikes right!)
  • Greenstick: common in kids under 10 years where only part/bend in themiddle appears soft because rest portion(flexible outer covering) is still intact.
  • Comminuted: when fracturing is separated and bone-splinters are visible.

So, which category did you fall under? Regardless of the type one thing remains consistent for recovery – TIME :/

Time to Heal

As it turns out, there’s no quick fix to a broken clavicle – however with mindful care efforts and following up-on doctor’s instructions only can help in lessening the duration. On average it takes between 6-12 weeks your body may need more depending upon several physician-used factors like age group (kids generally have faster heal rates as compared to senior people), bone displacement/severity & family history/medications, to name a few.

In most cases surgery won’t be necessary unless fragments of bones displace/split into various sections – this would require corrective procedures

Note: Any individual deciding not to seek proper medical attention or until diagnosed properly they’ll spend their tag-team time being laid-up recovering longer than medically recommended-it is better safe than sorry after all!

Apart from waiting around for nature do her job, pain management whilst healing should be given prime importance during this period . Here are some tips on how that can be achieved:

  1. Ice therapy along with prescribed medication by GP during initial days post-fracture always helps in deterring inflammation as its an effective analgesic
  2. Post-immobilization physiotherapy programs based on requisite stretching exercises provide long-term relief while further increasing flexibility range
  3. Hot compresses/TENS machines help dilute cytokines thereby alleviating any background painful sensations

If these statements sounded too technical then we’ve got our own simple cure recommendations;

1) Get comfy!
You’ve injured yourself so give yourself permission kick back and relax … watch something totally binge-worthy without worrying about life admin; It’s important rest well throughout the recovery period. Netflix & Clavicle 😉

2) Zoom call time
Whether it’s catching up with friends/family – staying connected is extremely important during any tough times, which will not only take your mind off things keeping an active social life alive will help stay calm.

3)Keep eating healthy
Don’t resort to Just Eat every day just because you’re laid-up , give that broken clavicle all the good nutrients it deserves by enjoying some of delicious yet nutritious recipes,such as oatmeal smoothies or chicken pot pies. Yum!

Getting back into sport

So!! aside from watching Friends reruns on repeat( for those who had severe F.R.I.E.N.D.S withdrawals after The Reunion ;-)) are there signs pointing to safe return to sporting activities once the healing process has completed?

  • No visible bony protrusion
  • Full range of motion
  • Endurance nearly restored
  • All recommended timelines have been achieved!

The final signoff should be given by a registered medical practitioner who physically examines you in regards to when and how much load-bearing/exercises would it be fine to put onto your collarbone without risking re-injury.

No matter what fracture-type we may suffer through, remember one thing… Our bodies are resilient organisms designed to heal themselves relying no motors or machinery whatsoever; indeed impressive! Trusting ourselves enough throughout our trials/preventative measures is vital when facing nasty spills and accidents. Medical professionals always suggest seeking support/help from local health services/self-help groups/friends&family whenever necessary since slowing down doesn’t mean slacking off entirely!.Peace out!

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