[Dakota6gun]

Hey archery brothers?

Took quite a tumble Saturday, March 26. Ended up with

- a broken left collar bone (broken in 2 places).

- with 12 broken left ribs (some of those broken more than one time).

- fractured all transverse processes on the left side of my spine.

- a broken left shoulder blade

- two bones broken in my left hand

- collapsed left lung

Needless to say, I've been in the hospital, doped on pain killers, since then.

These injuries are all to the left side and I am a left handed archer. My doctor wants to leave the collar bone alone and let it heal. Right now the center piece of the collar bone is protruding a lot. It doesn't appear to be aligned very well either.

Questions:

1. Any of you ever break the collar bone on your draw arm?

2. If so did your doctor do anything to it like plates, screws, etc?

3. Lastly, long term did it affect your archery?

Sorry for the long post. A week in a hospital bed tends to make a guy a little stir-crazy.

Tim

 

[kenn1320]

Wow glad your alive, good luck on a speedy recovery. Broke my collar bone when I was real young, according to my mom they don't do anything for that.

 

[13033]

Fortunate, if I can call it that, that the injuries are on the side of your string arm (not putting compression on the collar bone).

Were they on the other, compression from holding the bow, would probably cause you some serious pain.

 

[Coodster]

Ouch, sounds like a fall?
I'm a right hand archer and busted my right collar bone in two places (twice), they put me in a figure 8 sling and that was it.
Once healed it doesn't effect your archery.


Chad

 

[John Havard]

Tim,

"quite a tumble" seems inadequate to describe your injuries! Broken ribs are the worst. I can't imagine having 12 broken. Yikes!

The collar bone of your drawing arm side would be less important than the one on your bow arm side in my decidedly non-qualified opinion. With that said, I had 1" of my LEFT collar bone removed quite a few years ago thereby completely separating my bow arm skeletal structure from the rest of my body (I'm right-handed). Zero problems with shooting my bows after healing. So my guess is that your collar bone (once healed) won't be an issue for shooting your bows.

Good luck for a speedy recovery.

 

[Mitch]

Tim, first things first……..glad to see that you are at least able to get online and converse!

Sounds like a little more than a tumble.

I am also a left handed archer, and I have broken my collar bone on the left side, but my injuries were not anything like yours sound. I broke my collar bone, severed roughly 30% of my left arm tricep, completely severed both biceps on the left side, and laid open my deltoid.

12 days after my fall and subsequent surgery, I shot a nice buck with a 64# wheelbow after slipping my arm out of a sling to draw it. 12 weeks from the accident after 6 weeks of physical therapy I was as good as I am ever going to get.

Your multiple broken bones are going to slow down your recovery a bit. The ribs will remind you of your condition for quite a while.

Listen to the doctors, and be prepared for the physical therapy…..those folks will NOT baby you. :lol:

Good luck and God speed……

 

[Larry Hatfield]

agree with the collarbone not being an issue. the ribs will also heal. as for your spine, do get a specialist to consult with your physician on the best long term route and follow their advice. that injury can come back and bite you when you are older. i'm now going to therapy and doing everything to avoid surgery and/or injections right now for an injury i ignored 15 years ago. it has really impacted my quality of life.
best of luck for your long time full recovery!!

 

[John in NZ]

Broke mine on draw arm side about 20 years ago.
The Doc left it to heal it's self, as is the common approach today.
It still has quite a lump at each end but it doesn't effect my shooting a bow, although I do know it's there some days.

I'm glad to hear your not dead mate.
My injuries were not as bad as yours but they still took me close to the edge on the day.
Quite a tumble indeed.

Take it easy and be well.
John.

 

[gitnbetr]

Broke my right (I'm right handed) collarbone pretty badly when I was 30, but not as badly as yours sounds. The ortho said that the figure 8 would make my particular break heal poorly and that surgery (pins, etc.) risked nerve damage because of all the nerves that pass through that region. The collarbone did not heal straight so I have a protrusion and I think, but have no proof or professional opinion, that the change in geometry has made my right shoulder/arm slightly weaker, in some respects weaker than my left. With respect to long term, that was 37 years ago. I don't think it has been a noticeable handicap for my archery.
As others have said, take care of it now. It sounds to me like the collarbone may not be your biggest challenge. Best of luck.

 

[Dakota6gun]

Brothers,
Thanks to those who responded. Your personal stories help me look to a future in which I can draw an shoot a bow again.

To those who are interested, "Quite a tumble", means a 12' fall from roof. Probably bad enough in and of itself, but there was a flower bed below waiting to catch me. Unfortunately, the border of of the flower bed was made of railroad ties. I landed on the ties.

 

[John Ryan]

I can help you on the collar bone, but nothing else. I broke mine in a motorcycle accident. They put me in a shoulder brace, apparently what the other guys are calling a figure eight. I wore it for 8 weeks, which was the time required to fully heal. No surgery required. I still have a knot on the bone under the skin, which the Doc calls a calcium deposit that developed around the break. The accident was 40 years ago. He told me that it would bother me a bit as I got older, as arthritis would set in. It has never bothered my shooting at all. The only issue is, if someone grabs me on the bone, playing around. It doesn't hurt, but feels much like hitting your funny bone in your elbow. My wife threatens to grab me there if I get out of line. I always laugh and give in. My friends all know about the break and know not to touch me there, as I will get loose immediately. I can't stand the sensation. I guess the nerves there are super touchy. Other that that, after 8 weeks you will be good to go.

 

[olderndirt]

First ... glad you will recover, sounds far worse than my little spill. Broke my left collar bone (I shoot right handed) in a motorcycle accident 12 years ago and spent 8 weeks in a brace (seems like a theme). Anyway, left me with a lump and that's about the only lasting effect. Seems that my draw length is shortened a bit, but that might just be old age. Don't worry about it getting worse with age, at least till you are over 70. I think your other injuries will be more significant to your shooting than the collar bone.

 

[stevelong]

TIM, I am sorry you got hurt, glad you are on the mend, anyway - - "the guys" make it sound like the collarbone should be ok ...... and not keep you from shooting, down the road a bit.
GOOD LUCK in your recoveries.

 

[MAT]

I shattered my right one 8 weeks before an elk hunt (and I'm RH). I went to a specialist thinking surgery was needed for a quick fix and she said none was. I was finally able to shoot my bow (compound at the time) 5 days before we left. I still have a lump, other than that nothing has changed.

I think your collar bone is the least of your worries. Get well soon!

 

[Dakota6gun]

Finally out of the hospital. After consulting 3 orthopedic surgeons I went with the majority and had a titanium plate screwed to my collar bone to realign the 3 pieces. Shoulder joint is a bit sore from the pulling they do to align the pieces, but it was the right move. All agreed the non-surgical option would have changed the geometry of my shoulder joint.

Now just need to hope I can recover enough to take the Rod Jenkins clinic in Hood River in July.

 

[Dave Holquist]

Hope you have a speedy recovery, Dakota. BTW, stay off the roof!

 

[Dakota6gun]

Quick update for my archery pals.

Some misinformation on my injuries. Only broke 7 transverse process--not all of them. I was initially given incorrect information--"only 7"

Anyway, healing well. Can't really tell if my ribs are still hurting a bunch because I had my gallbladder out on Friday. Stomach wall is the source of all pain at the moment It never rains but it pours.

The good news is I have a new set of Axiom 24# long limbs on my BB warf just waiting for a Flemish string to arrive and I can probably start doing some form work and drills I learned from Rod Jenkins at his clinic in Hood River.

Hopeful there is deer hunting for me this fall. It's looking better everyday.

My friends, life is good. "Life" is good.

 

[stevelong]

Tim, good news on the collar bone - and guessing you'll not miss your gall bladder.
Good luck on both areas healing well AND SOON!!!
THanks for updating us.

 

[John in NZ]

Very good to hear.
All the best in your future mate.

John.

 

[wallyworldmudhen]

hi Dakota,
your injuries sound like a lot worse than mine but several years ago I took a bad tumble on the ice and broke my left collar bone as well as other related injuries to that area. I just toughed it out and after a short period started shooting again with reduced weight. I do recall some pain or discomfort but eventually got back to my 40 lbs and now shoot with no problems other than age and lack of skill. do have a small bump in the break are but it does not seem to bother anything.
hang in there and good lock.