Home › Forums › Campfire Forum › Broken Collar Bone
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No, not me for once. A good friend was riding his mountain bike ( on a country road ) and had an accident and broke his collar bone. The orthopedick surgeon said no surgery required. It his bow ( left arm side ).
Has anyone had this injury or a hunting buddy? How long before one can shoot a recurve at around 52 lbs? It was a classic break in the middle of the bone. Full recovery is expected to be 4-6 weeks. His doc said if he can take the pain he would not injure it further. I don’t think my friend believed him and doesn’t want to screw up his deer season by going elk hunting and hurting it further.
Thanks for any experiences or opinions you might have.
Nick -
No direct advice to offer here, except the “misery loves company” kind. Dr. Dave Sigurslid, who co-writes the TBM “Campfire Philosopher” column, gets the World’s Worst Timing award by badly dislocating his left shoulder a week before season opening–and yes, he’s left-handed. Hard as it is to do, he plans to take his own medical advice and lay out of archery season entirely this year, and perhaps your friend should do the same. My wife recently broke her right wrist, and she’s right-handed, and for that and previous bone innjuries his advice has been “don’t push your luck.” The risk is transforming a temporary injury into a permanent ailment. If a break doesn’t heal correctly and fully before stress is applied, it’s at risk of becoming arthritic for life. I don’t know how this applies to collar bones but I personally wouldn’t risk it. Doc Don Thomas is hunting bear in AK so we can’t expect his advice on this. Doc Dave plans to compromise by joining me in hunting camping and maybe sitting on stand a few evenings armed with a camera. If it every quits raining here, hard hard rain and stinking afternoon. Best luck to your friend.
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Dave,
Thank you much for taking time to share your opinion and that of Doc Dave. I was gone all day today and called my friend. He has, in fact, made a decision to forego his elk hunt in three weeks and try and rehab in time for the Nov. deer rut. I think, like you, he has made the correct decision for the ” rest of his life ” thing.
Good luck to you this fall. My son and I will be going to NM for the second archery elk season just south of you. The last three years we have been north of Delores west of you, I think. It is ” counting the days ” time for us.
Be safe, my friend.
Nick -
Nick D;
I had the same injury years ago. I’ll not say how many…just really don’t want to admit it.
I broke my left/bow hand collar bone and cracked my shoulder blade playing fullback in high school. Of course it was two days before our first game of my senior year. Dr. told me I wouldn’t play for ten to twelve weeks, nor would I be able to draw my bow; but I was hard-headed and with some extra padding in the way of a large sponge taped under my shoulder pads, was playing outside linebacker in five weeks. Stupid yes, now I know that.
Even with the added abuse was still able to bow hunt come late October early November. (The brake occurred in late August early September.)
My advice to your friend; “don’t rush it”. Let it heal completely before trying to shot or tackle. My collar bone did not set straight, and though I move my shoulder/arm without limitations, I do have “uncle Arthur” reminding me of my impatient determination.
I would guess that your friend isn’t as youthful as he thought prior to the bike wreck and like most of us…well we just don’t heal as fast as we once did. I’m usually surprised, though I don’t know why, at how bending your body, or parts, in a manor not meant to be accomplished at a given level of maturity (again not admitting to getting older) will…enlighten you. 😉
I do hope you friend has a speedy recovery and heals well. I also hope he will learn from my mistake and give it time to heal. I hate it for him, but its a good call on missing at least the beginning of elk season.
I do…well, did feel his pain.Paully
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