Injured, need advice!

[Crescent Fresh 0]

So two weeks ago I broke my collarbone during a house league game. My Summer season is over and I am looking to be ready for Winter league starting in October. I can't play drop-in for another 4-6 weeks.

Anyone have advice on good exercises to rehab for hockey? I broke my right collarbone and have a lefty shot. I can't really risk even light skating at this point because if I bail for any reason I'll be back at square one. I'm already going nuts not being able to play. I've asked my doctor and he gave me some general exercises but I am looking for any other ideas or advice from those of you that have gone through the same thing (or know someone who has).

Thanks for any feedback!

[kosydar 0]

One of my best friends broke her collarbone playing soccer last October. From what she tells me, its a real bitch. She didn't start back up playing until around January/February. She broke hers really bad, and yours is probably less serious, but it took her an awful long time to get back into playing. She was actually scared to start playing again just because of how painful it was. If you feel around on her, you can still feel the bone sticking out, its never going to heal properly. If I were you, I'd definitely not rush coming back. Do what the doctor tells you, and maybe try to get some physical therapy. I know that really helped her out. Hockey is such a contact sport and you get hit so many more times than you realize, it'd really suck to rebrake it. Shes on vacation, but when she comes back, I'll ask her if theres anything special that she did that helped her out. Good luck man, these next couple weeks are gonna suck.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I had a really bad shoulder/collar bone. I got mixed reviews from a few doctors, seperated shoulder, broken collar bone, bent collar bone.... all different opinions, but there was definately a seperated shoulder it just wasn't confirmed whether it was broken or just bent. I definately wouldn't advise any phyiscal activity. I played with mine (3 game finals in the Championship) and couldn't lift it above my head. I just rested it in the off-season, but I would suggest you keep your legs moving. Look into some light activity. Maybe a stationary bike, jumps, things like that. Basically rest, proper nutrition and listening to your doctor will heal it up the quickest. You may want to try some activities with your free hand, stickhandling with a mini-stick, and stuff to keep that arm strong and keep your head on hockey. The hardest part will be having to watch your team play without you.

[this guy 0]

bad times about the injury-just be careful though, as said above hockey is such a high contact sport and once you break your collarbone you are much more likely to re-injure it even after your cleared to play.

[blackhawks4ever 0]

Actually thats not true. Bones take 4-6 weeks to heal (depends on location, etc). Once the bone is healed the repaired area is actually STRONGER than the surrounding bone. I agree with Easy_b97 use a stationary bike or something to keep your legs strong and keep your cardio fit until your ready to play again.

I have broken my left collar bone(clavicle) twice and my right collar bone once. I guess it took me a while to learn to keep my head up

[biff44 0]

First, don't use any rules of thumb about when it is ok to start playing again. Go back in 5 weeks and have the doc take an xray and tell you if it is healed or not. People heal at very different rates.

Take you vitamins, C, E, and calcium to help it heal.

Eventually the bone can be stronger than original, but that will be 8 months from now. The doc will let you start to play when it is 85%.

[Crescent Fresh 0]

Luckily the break is not all the way across, only about 2/3 across. The break kind of curls at the end. Here is a link to my X-ray. My hospital gives you a CD with your X-rays and hospital reports. How cool is that?

Broken collarbone X-RAY

Thanks for the advice. Looks like I need to use that stationary bike in the basement!

[hip check 0]

I broke mine in three spots (during the same incident) - hurt like a dull ache that wouldn't stop. I'm not a big fan of pills, but they help if you like.

I was 5 weeks to get to the point that it didn't hurt to move normally. I kept away from serious activity for another two weeks to let everything stick together well. My collarbone has a terrible protrusion to it now, it just never was set right, and with all the breaks it wouldn't stay put. Everything works though. To measure for a suit or something my left side is 3/4" shorter than my right side because of it.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

I broke mine in three spots (during the same incident) - hurt like a dull ache that wouldn't stop. I'm not a big fan of pills, but they help if you like.

I was 5 weeks to get to the point that it didn't hurt to move normally. I kept away from serious activity for another two weeks to let everything stick together well. My collarbone has a terrible protrusion to it now, it just never was set right, and with all the breaks it wouldn't stay put. Everything works though. To measure for a suit or something my left side is 3/4" shorter than my right side because of it.

Yeah, my brother broke his coller bone in a hockey tournament about 5 years ago and it still hurts him sometimes. As mentioned before take vitamins daily, and if you don't usually drink milk, you should start.

[blackhawks4ever 0]

Thats really nice that they give you a digital copy of your xray. You have a non-displaced, non comminuted mid clivicular frature. There is essentially no angulation either. It should heal nicely. Remember that your biggest enemy is motion at the fracture site.

Imagine as if you are trying to glue two sticks together....If you are continuously moving the sticks while the glue is drying, when the glue does dry the sticks will not be adhered together. This in fractures is called a nonunion. If that happens they will need to go in and surgically fix the fractur with plates or wire.

So as I always say.....Give your body the time it needs to heal correctly....THE FIRST TIME!!

[D3nZ 0]

From an injured to another, take your time, don't rush things, you first might re-injure it alot more often if you presure it right now and 2nd if it doesn't heel well, you might get alot of trouble later. Get well soon.

[Racer8 0]

My condolenses as well. Being injured is very frustrating. Having personally rushed back from injuries before, I can tell you reinjuring yourself because of your own impatients is even more frustrating because you blame yourself and you're hurt again. Sorry, man.

[kosydar 0]

Being the amateur doctor that I am, yours looks much better than hers. What kind of shoulder pads are you using? If I were you, I might upgrade.

http://www.pifiu.com/upload/uploads/052004/clavicle.jpg

[Chadd 916]

Being the amateur doctor that I am, yours looks much better than hers. What kind of shoulder pads are you using? If I were you, I might upgrade.

http://www.pifiu.com/upload/uploads/052004/clavicle.jpg

Stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night or do you play one on TV? ;)

[kosydar 0]

I just play one on TV, and now apparently the internet.

[Chadd 916]

Damn, I could have used a doc last night. I got up this morning and what I thought was a small cut actually should have been stitched up. Morons with high sticks suck.

[Eternal 0]

I broke my collar bone the same as you except a bit farther through and i was playing again in about 4 1/2 to 5 weeks. The docters told me after christmas and I broke in the beginning of october so it all depends on how you feel i felt fine had a bit of discomfort the first game and after that was fine. I wore a calvicle brace when a played for 2 months.

[Crescent Fresh 0]

Thanks for all the feedback! Just found out my next season begins week of September 27th. I'm pretty confident I'll be ready to go by then. Lord knows there won't be any NHL to watch.

[Jordan6969 0]

LOL, Kosy, "If you feel around on her". You sly fox.

[kosydar 0]

What can I say? I'm friends with her for a reason. Maybe that reason is because shes really cool, or maybe its because she lets me feel her around her collarbone.

P.S.- I found $50 in a parking lot today. Completely random, I know. I'm still happy about it.

[biff44 0]

Chadd, go out and buy some "butterfly bandages". Next time you get a bad cut, put on one or two butterflys and they will hold the wound closed so it can stick itself back together.

[Chadd 916]

I'm familiar with them, but by the time I realized how bad the cut was it was too late.

[Hockeyman9621 0]

P.S.- I found $50 in a parking lot today. Completely random, I know. I'm still happy about it.

Hey that was mine! Just pm me and I'll tell you where to ship it. B)