Broken scapula who's had one recovery times etc

[Farmer Elvis]

Hi all, I was unlucky enough to fracture my scapula one week ago. Trying to avoid someone in front of me who'd gone down I changed direction on a wet road, went down hard on right shoulder blade and head, helmet saved me big time, but as for shoulder blade its fractured through, slightly off line but specialist said its fine. Bloody sore, no ribs broken, but I know when I sneeze there is nothing like the pain. So what are your experiences, doc says about 3 weeks in sling about 6 weeks for full movement and about 12 weeks for full strength ie lifting above head etc

[biker jk]

I was riding my road bike again in six weeks. Spin bike a week or so before that. I had very good mobility after around five weeks.

[ValleyForge]

Scapular fractures heal very well, but the pain from the attached muscles takes a while to go. It's not a load bearing bone so it's not going to slip out of position, and it's well vascularised so heals rapidly.

I'd suggest exercises to preserve range of moment when the initial pain settles down - it's your dominant side? Probably ride earlier if you have a more upright steed and can ride where there's little risk of a sudden change in direction - maybe a trainer.

[Farmer Elvis]

Yes it's right side, so a real bugger

[battler2]

ooo! ooo! i have! i have!

10 days til the pain went away. and was able to (carefully) sleep on that side. not being able to turn etc. sleeping on your back is most annoying. not to mention wiping your ass and lifting up to do that

as mentioned already, this is a really straightforward fracture (the doc said it was a 'boring' one) and i could hardly see it in the MRI scans till he pointed it out to me. the worst you'll get is a slightly crunchy shoulder but should restore to full movement eventually. if its broken into the joint its a bit of a problem. otherwise the only potential complication is during healing and the nerves (where they need to cut you open to fix). highly unlikely though.

looking at my strava, i jumped on the trainer a bit less than 3 weeks after (carefully), and an easy ride < 1 month. but had i crashed on that side again i'd be in serious trouble as it wasnt fully healed. play it safe, and wait until you have full range of motion and no discomfort at all. road buzz you will feel a little on your first ride.

[Farmer Elvis]

Thanks battler, I'm now 12 days, getting a bit of movement still can't sleep on right side but I don't think it's far off. Hopefully I'm 10 days off the trainer, your right about right hand problems, brushing teeth etc is not easy. Also leaning forward to pick something up is a no no.

[nickobec]

Yep a few times in my life. Last time almost two years ago, did my "good" right shoulder (but not my dominant side), broke it the same places as an MTB accident 7 years earlier.

Got referred to my "regular" orthopaedic surgeon as GP thought I might need plating. Surgeon did think plating was not necessary. Recovery schedule was agreed with surgeon, though a couple of I did push forward by a week. Though surgeon's main instructions were "do not fall off" for at least 3 months.

In 10 days, back on trainer, upright position, with arm in sling.
After 4 weeks out of sling, spending time riding on hoods on trainer.
After 5 weeks (and a week earlier than recommended) lap round the block, went back to trainer for rest of week, too soon for that.
After 6 weeks, easy group ride, survived, so:
After 7 weeks (and a week earlier than recommended) racing but it was my favourite crit course (actually crit on 4km road circuit) note did use a training bike with slightly more upright riding position, than regular road bike.

[Farmer Elvis]

Thanks nick at the beginning of October I have a big ride, it's not a race but 5 days in the saddle that's about 10 weeks after I did it so I should be just ok?!?

[nickobec]

Thanks nick at the beginning of October I have a big ride, it's not a race but 5 days in the saddle that's about 10 weeks after I did it so I should be just ok?!?

I did not think I recovered that quick, but a quick check of Strava/Veloviewer say different.

Week 7 was a very careful race and I will admit to using paracetamol to numb the pain in the first coupe of weeks of riding. But by week 10 I was back to 300 kilometres a week and attacking off the front to win a criterium.

[Farmer Elvis]

That's really good news I hope it works for me too