Forums >Health and Nutrition>Running with a broken collarbone
Okay, it's been 2 weeks since I broke my collarbone skiing and I'm really wanting to start back running as soon as possible without risking further injury too much.
It was a non displaced break, so no surgery, but it isn't just lined up perfectly either.
I'm figuring treadmill starting next week and then going from there. I have a Dr. appt Monday and my wife has convinced me not to run until then, but if things are on track the Dr. made it sound like I could possibly start running next week.
I have a trail marathon coming up in 2 weeks (which would be 4 weeks post break) and I sometimes try to pretend that it would be okay to run it, but all it would take would be one fall to set me back a month or possibly more so I think I have myself convinced to stay off trails for a full 6 weeks.
The course has a 7 hour cutoff so I thought I could just walk it, but even then I could still trip on a rock or something.
Anybody have any other thoughts or experience running with a broken collarbone?
Thanks, Nathan
Age: 50 Weight: 224 Height: 6'3" (Goal weight 195)
Current PR's: Mara 3:14:36* (2017); HM 1:36:13 (2017); 10K 43:59 (2014); 5K 21:12 (2016)
an amazing likeness
Yes. You'll feel if it's too early -- but the main things are that you'll probably scrunch up your shoulders in an odd way and get sore from doing that, and second -- you don't want to stumble and fall down which will undo all the healing, so don't run in anything other than good footing.
Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.
Connoisseur of Cookies
Yes. Don't run until you're cleared to return to activity.
There are a couple of injury complications to consider, too, should you trip, fall and worsen your fracture. It's non-displaced for now. The last thing you want to do is displace it and wind up puncturing your lung in the process.
Yes. It sucks to be sidelined. But don't push this. Let it heal. The healing of broken bones is an exercise in patience. Get zen with it. And wait for your doc to ok your activity levels.
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"C" is for cookie. That's good enough for me.
Proboscis Colossus
Ouch! If you posted about this here, I must have missed it! Really sorry to hear about it.
Anyway...yeah, as hard of a time as I would have following this advice, in my opinion the risk outweighs the benefit. If the doctor clears you, that's one thing, but if he doesn't...man, that could be real, real ugly if you trip or something.
I merely cracked my collarbone when I was in my early teens...I still remember it as one of the most debilitating, lingering pains I've ever had. I'll say a prayer or two for a quick healing process for you.
"God guides us on our journey, but careful with those feet." - David Lee Roth, of all people
Labrat
I have been battling tendonitis in my shoulder all year. Running is going to hurt for sure. See what the doc says, and probably more importantly be diligent with your rehab PT. Your shoulder is going to be weak, and will need some specialist help to fully recover.
5K 20:23 (Vdot 48.7) 9/9/17
10K 44:06 (Vdot 46.3) 3/11/17
HM 1:33:48 (Vdot 48.6) 11/11/17
FM 4:13:43 (Vdot 35.4) 3/4/18
#artbydmcbride
Oh no, with all the jostling and the bone edges scraping instead of knitting together? Ouch!
Runners run
Just don't do it. Too risky. Wait til X-rays show it's healed enough. Think how fast time goes by now that we're old. You'll be back running sooner than you realize! You'll be sad to miss the trail marathon, but there will be others. You could consider volunteering at the trail marathon. That can be a lot of fun, rewarding, and very motivating for your return to running.
Don't make excuses for why you can't get it done.
Focus on all the reasons why you must make it happen.
Interval Junkie --Nobby
Run in the pool
2021 Goals: 50mpw 'cause there's nothing else to do
Not much help from the Dr. this morning. No miracle of healing taking place or anything like that. It's still broke and still too early to expect much in the way of bone growth or anything.
Here's the first X-ray from the urgent care clinic 2 weeks ago.
Here it is this morning:
He cleared me for power walking whatever that is, but doesn't have me coming back for 3 weeks and made it sound like by then they might clear me from even wearing the sling. He really didn't say I couldn't run, he said it would be painful and he didn't recommend it.
His assistant was very helpful and even let me look at the x-rays side by side and the big thing they wanted to see is that it is still in the same position and not too out of whack. She talked about talking my arm out of the sling when I'm at my desk and sitting around and moving my arm a bit, straightening my elbow and stuff like that to keep mt elbow from getting stiff.
For sure not the clear cut you can start running in X days result I was hoping for.
Thought I would post an update.
After a couple days of "power walking", I decided that easy running would be less stressful on my previously unused muscles (power walking worked some odd muscles at the front of my calves that I didn't know I had).
I started out very easy and stuck to known routes and the treadmill, but am feeling much better know and have been getting in some decent miles. Still no long runs, but I'm at least on track to finish March with 100 miles and keep my streak alive.
I go to the Dr. next Monday to get a picture taken so hopefully everything is on track. I've been wearing the sling other than sleeping and showering and feel like I've been a pretty model patient other than the easy running.
We went to the trail race this past weekend and my wife ran the 10K, but I hung out with our son and stuck to just cheering.
7 weeks to go for my trail 50K race coming up on May 17th, so hopefully I'll get cleared to start putting in some real miles starting in April.
Ahh! Man, I missed those X-rays earlier. That is pretty gnarly...I might have to take a day off just from looking at them!
But yeah, I guess it is good news that it's in a good position for healing. Here's hoping your (almost) model behavior pays off!
Nathan,
I would visit www.collarbonedoc.com and see if there is a doctor in your area! I had this procedure done recently and was back to running/cycling in no time!
-Paige
that looks like a nasty break. I can't believe the Dr didn't do something to help this heal correctly.
It looks nasty to me too on the x-rays, but evidently mine isn't that bad. I'm really curious to see what it looks like on Monday.
That collarbonedoc thing looks pretty impressive. If someone comes across this thread in the future, that looks like it would really help you recover quickly and looks way better than the screws and plates that they are using traditionally if it is too displaced.
I wonder how much that surgery would cost? It looks like the surgery would be much easier, but something tells me that fancy implant that they use would cost a little more than a titanium plate and a few screws. Probably worth it though.
Tough it out man, don't listen to these wusses
Certified Running CoachCrocked since 2013