Broken collar bone
Hi guys,
I’d never broken a bone or had a bad injury until the 4th of March when I crashed and broke my right clavicle. A week later I had surgery to pin and plate it out straight and true. A week later and a bit later and I’m writing this update. It was too uncomfortable to sit on the computer too long before today.
I was riding along Pittwater road (3 lanes each way – the inside lane has parked cars), heading south, and there was a truck parked in the inside lane taking up the width of the lane. I had a look over my shoulder and there was another truck coming up the middle lane so I wasn’t going to risk squeezing between the two. I had to brake hard, and wasn’t prepared for the TT bike being so low at the front with my weight so far forward that the front brake locked up immediately and I did a big somersault straight over the handle bars and onto my shoulder on my back.
I was really lucky not to hit my head, or to take any skin of my hands, back, or anywhere. So other than a broken bone and feeling sleepy from the general anesthetic since the operation, I am lucky.
It’s a few weeks before I can run, a few more before it will be fully healed. I am happy for the rest. I need it. I’ll be in better shape for my trouble once I get back racing, and peaking for Challenge Roth, and building stronger for Hawaii.
Ok. Getting tired. Need a rest now.
Update soon.
PJ
2 Comments
Hey Pete,
Sorry to hear of your accident , but glad to hear that you are recovering well and on your way to normaolity.
You kind of forget how hard the ground is until you hit it at ANY speed.
I hit an M-dot distance sign that was moved into the riding lane ( we had 2 ) at PutraJaya 70.3 in October last year. Had head down for literally 2-3 seconds resting neck at km80 , looked up and saw the A-Frame sign 3-5 meteres in front of me. In aerobars , didn’t stand a chance. Hit it head on and somersaulted right over. Luckily it was only sandbagged so had some “give” to it.
Got back on , rolled through to T2 and knew that something was wrong. Medical diagnosed it as broken collar bone , strained , trapezius , strained long-head bicep.
No surgery needed as the break lwft the bone close to each other.
Very painful the first week. Could run gently after 2 weeks , spin immediately of course , swimming +- 6 weeks.
Sleeping was difficult as was anything requiring lifting the affected side.
Hope you are back in action ?
Cheers mate,
Terry
Hello PJ,
I am interested in your recovery especially swimming after the broken clavicle. In March I broke mine and fractured my femur head pins in both. September I had plate removed from clavicle and 4 days ago broke it again in a fall. I will have it pinned tomorrow. I have 5weeks today available till 70.3 IMSA and am hoping I can somehow do it. Qualification for Nevada out the window but orthopod says 3 weeeks and can swim again??? Did you push the boundaries or allow yours to heal in time??? Kind regards
Terry