On November 28, hubby took a spill in the road where a pedestrian crosswalk sign had been run down and only the rubber base remained. This spill resulted in a 2 cm displaced clavicle fracture, very near the shoulder end. Eleven days later, he finally had surgery to implant a hook plate to pull everything back together. Today 4 weeks post surgery he was told to stop wearing the sling and begin gentle use and schedule 6 weeks of PT to restore strength and range of motion.
The past 5 1/2 weeks have required sleeping in a recliner, eating most meals on a tray in the recliner, and having assistance to shower and dress, mostly in pull on workout pants and shoulder surgery snap up the sides and shoulder shirts. When the weather turned cold, we bought him two button up the front flannel shirts and worked gently and carefully to get it over the injured arm and shoulder before putting the good arm in the shirt.
Today for the first time, he put on the fleece jacket over the flannel putting both arms in the jacket as we were leaving the surgeon’s office. This is good because our high of 44 was at 4:30 a.m. and the temperature has been in free fall every since, aiming for 17 degrees f tonight. Tonight, we will attempt getting him comfortable in our bed, another step in the healing process.
Soon, we will begin walking laps in the mall to start building his stamina back. When he stumbled, he had just walked 5.5 miles and was feeling great.
I immediately contacted the town and reported the sign issue, it had been missing for weeks, and the next day, it was replaced. As we haven’t been walking there since the accident, we don’t know if it is still there, however, it seems to disappear regularly.
We are both grateful that healing is happening and progress is being made in regaining normal use of his arm. The only positive, was it wasn’t his dominant arm and hand.
Hurray. Sorry he has to have physical therapy.
Five and a half weeks in a sling causes significant range of motion reduction. It should help.