During a friendly game of kick-ball, a hole in the ground sent me doing a failed attempt at a “Tuck and Roll” resulting in a broken collar bone. [...]]]>

During a friendly game of kick-ball, a hole in the ground sent me doing a failed attempt at a “Tuck and Roll” resulting in a broken collar bone. At first I notice the wind knocked out of me, but that didn’t stop me from getting safely to first base and continuing on to second. Then the next kicker getting me home and scoring. But after our third out, I stopped for a drink of water, when I notice something didn’t feel right in my shoulder. I started feeling around with my left hand and noticed a bump that shouldn’t be there. So after a couple of people (including the nurse wife) felt it, I was told I needed to go to the emergency room. About 90 minutes later, they told me what I already knew – it was broke.

Treatment for my type of break is simply to sling the arm and some pain pills. But there really isn’t pain – more of a mild ache. But I was “ordered” (by the wife) to take my first pill right after we picked them up at the drugstore. So I did. It proceeded to make me tired. I’ll have the sling on for two or three weeks, so I won’t be slowed down too long.

Looking at the x-ray, you can clearly see the break. There are two chips, a rectangular one pointing up and left. The other one triangular shaped pointing down. The bone pointing up and to the right is normal.

September 30, 2002 Update: Because of some swelling in my hand, I called my doctor’s office and asked about it. They wanted me to be seen by the doctor. He didn’t like that ER only gave me a sling, so he put me in a Figure-8 or Clavical brace. That helped a lot, not only with the discomfort but my ability to move my arm more. So now I have really good posture.

November 11, 2002 Update: I stopped wearing my brace over a week ago. For the most part I am back to normal. The sharp edges of the bones bother me once in a while. The doctor said it could take up to six months for the sharp edges to get worn smooth. Until that happens, I will probably find a few things I can’t do.