Broken shoulder

[proximalhumerous]

Please can I have lots of positive stories about how your broken shoulder healed quickly with no lasting effects or loss of movement?

Quite worried about how I will manage in the short term and also the long term prognosis.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts. Does anyone have any tips for getting dressed/undressed?

It is a complete pain isn’t it! I avoided using sleeves for first week or so and used strappy vests instead of bras that I could pull up and strap on uninjured side only. Now I feed injured arm in sleeve first then over head and other arm or put sleeve on injured arm then other arm and shrug it up onto shoulders. Short sleeved tops you can start inside out and flip over head. To remove pull over head from behind neck. Shirts and cardigans may be easier if you can manage buttons. I’m still at the “doing bra up in front and swivelling round before putting strap over shoulder” stage though.

Abd I have lived in leggings and elasticated waist trousers, to avoid fumbling with zips , belts and buttons .

Thanks. I don't have to be especially smart for work, but I can't go in in my dressing gown!

I've broken both my shoulders in separate accidents within the last 4 years (proximal humerus). The first one (my right, so my 'good' arm) I had a plate and pins in (known in the trade as an ORIF). TBH I found this quite traumatic and really painful. The second one I didn't say no straight out to the surgery again, but I made it clear I only wanted as a last resort. It was managed with a cast in week 1 which was removed by the fracture clinic and I was given slings instead.

You have my sympathy, they're horrible, horrible injuries. My right was my worse. Anything that required an arm behind my back was impossible, so doing up my bra, or going to the loo (use your imagination!) or anything that needed me to reach up (haircare, getting things from shelves) just increased the pain so much. I really struggled to sleep because I couldn't get into a comfy position. With my right I could only initially eat when my food was cut up or I had soft or finger foods. My husband had to help me with a lot!

Front fastening bras are your friend!

The only things that helped was medication in the short term (though that had its own problems!) time and physio. I love swimming but this was impossible at first as my main stroke is front crawl and this is impossible with a fractured shoulder! However I did find water aerobics really helpful.

It took about 3-4 months for me to return to full fitness.

The first break was in September 2021 and the 2nd in June 2023. I still get mild aches especially when I've hit the swimming pool but it's not bad and not enough to stop me swimming and I believe the benefits of swimming far outweigh the risks of very mild pain.

🙋‍♀️ me too
Dislocated and broke very top of humerus. Was the worst pain if ever felt when I did it. I started physio within 2 weeks and i was religious about doing my exercises and today it's mostly fine. The odd ache or twinges but full movement. So try not to worry

I broke my proximal humerus in two places falling down the stairs last October 2024. Breaking the proximal humerus at the shoulder ball/socket is a broken shoulder. It was breathtaking painful for the first two/three weeks then slowly improved. I went back to the fracture clinic I at six weeks and four days and the fractures had completely healed. The problem is the soft tissue damage - the ligaments, muscles and tendons. I still get pain, haven’t got the same range of movement e.g. I can’t reach under my armpit with my ‘bad’ side to my opposite armpit. I can’t lay on my ‘bad’ shoulder and it does ache and can get painful with use.

Ps it was definitely the worst pain I've had, especially post surgery on the first. I don't have kids so can't compare it to childbirth. The closest I can compare it to was gallstones. My shoulder injuries were worse, mainly because there was no let up. When I had a gall bladder attack it was excruciating but would improve after a couple of hours.

I found shirts and cardigans easier to manage than anything that needed to go over my head. Also trousers with elasticated waists much easier to get on and off. A skirt in winter would have needed tights as well, which I struggled with.

Vest tops were good at first, but the best bra I found was a strapless style, with optional straps, so I could do it up at the front, spin it around, but only use the shoulder strap on the good shoulder.

I think I was lucky to fracture my left shoulder, being right handed. It would have been much trickier the other way around!

So recovery and expected final function will be determined to a large degree by your age and the type/severity of break. By six weeks the bone will have healed and it can take anywhere from three months to a year before final functional outcome is determined. Do your exercises as advised. Don’t confuse full range of movement with good functional movement - lots of people don’t actually use their full range so aren’t impacted by a slight loss.

button up tops and cardigans much easier. Fasten your bra in the front and swivel it round then arms in. Embrace having your hair down if you normally tie it up.

ask your orthopod their opinion - they’ll have your X-rays so will be able to guide you. Be patient - it can seem very bad at the start and then you’ll notice the improvements.

Thanks again everyone. Although I was horrified to find it was broken I think I've actually got away quite lightly.

You definitely have. You're talking about getting dressed to go to work after a few days. That blows my mind. The A&E doctor didn't even discuss it with me, he just straight off signed me off for 8 weeks. The orthopedic surgeon extended that to 6 months.

I'm beginning to worry I might just be a complete wuss.

@MrTiddlesTheCat you are definitely not. I don’t work at the moment but no way could I have worked for at least first six weeks or more. I couldn’t focus or type, or even sit in a work chair for long. Broken nights and fatigue from pain. I have attended a few meetings and find them tiring afterwards. Driving is probably still beyond reach ( literally).

Sympathies to @LIZS and @MrTiddlesTheCat

I'm pretty exhausted but at least I can get comfortable. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

This is a bit embarrassing, but I'm noticing I have smelly armpits at the moment, much more so than usual, and particularly the one of the shoulder I've broken.

I've literally scrubbed with proper soap and a brush, and I'm still not satisfied I'm completely clean, whereas usually just normal washing with shower gel or whatever removes any odour. What's going on?!

I felt same for about two months! Was using spray on deodorant as couldn’t reach underarm but can now use usual solid and feel more myself. Now I am more concerned that can’t shave underarm to avoid embarrassment at appointments!

Dd broke her collar bone and totally fine a few months later

If you’ve got any glycolic acid wipe that over, or hibiscrub or dettol soap
it happened with me when I had surgery on an armpit, even though I was washing it normally

physio physio physio

my dm fell badly stepping on a robovac and broke collar bone and a bit closer to the joint with the humerus.
4 weeks in a sling but first physio a week after the accident. full range back after 3 months or so.

all the best!

I fractured my humerus the week before Christmas (brilliant timing!) and found the first six/seven weeks to be the worst even though I was off my tits on codeine! Now, nearly 16 weeks on, I just take paracetamol when I wake up and before bed and I mostly forget about my injury although I still can’t get my arm behind me or stretch up as far as I’d like but I am doing my exercises and having weekly physio which is improving things immensely. I invested in lots of button up shirts and leggings while I was in a sling and that was much easier….also gave up wearing a bra which was liberating!

I know you asked for positive stories but I should mention that I now seem to have a touch of cubital tunnel syndrome in my elbow (had to look that up🤣) so my physio is working on that too! Been signed off by the consultant so he’s happy that everything’s healing well. Good luck with your recovery!

I was in a London hospital recently with a pretty serious injury. There was a woman behind a curtain in the bed opposite constantly whimpering and crying. I found out she had fallen and dislocated and broken her shoulder. For some reason the hospital couldn’t operate, so after a few days they put her in a taxi to her local hospital. In Glasgow. 😱. I often wonder how she coped with that journey.

@theresnoonequitelikegrandma interesting that you mention about cubital tunnel syndrome. I’ve got weakness in my hand almost 12 weeks on, with intermittent shooting pains up and down my arm, stiffness in arm/hand each morning and not full extension of elbow joint. I was assured it was normal for the type of injury and should resolve with physio but am wondering now. My right hand grip is much weaker than left but improving.

I dislocated and broke shoulder 13 weeks ago. Never had pain like it. Was in a sling for 4 weeks and discharged at 8 weeks from the hospital.
I have physio weekly and that's made a huge difference. I was driving at 8 weeks. The muscles are sore but I can do most things....dry hair, iron, lift shopping.
I was back at the gym doing spin and pilates last week. I've exercised throughout...legs and abs and have progressed to 2kg bicep curls!
The first 4 weeks I behaved like a toddler as I felt so frustrated not being able to do things. It couldn't have come at a worse time. But it's a distant memory now

Thanks, that's reassuring. Wonder why it happens.

I ‘m getting to the point of wanting to resume pilates but not sure my mobility and soreness is yet up to it. Not driven yet either as hand position still a bit beyond me.