Broken collarbone

[Owletterocks]

Ds has broken his collarbone yesterday. Minor injuries put a sling on. Told us he was not to sleep in it as it was a choking risk and we will get a call from fracture clinic on Monday. Ds is comfortable enough with pain relief and the sling on in the day but I have just put him to bed now and he is so sore when the sling is off. I have propped him up on pillows but I can’t help but worry that he will cause more damage when he doesn’t have the sling on. Has anyone been through this and have any advice?

BRace yourself for a rough few nights.
Dd broke hers and it was agony sleeping. I propped her up on 5-6 pillows and shed not off but then wake after shifting/ sliding in her sleep and be in so much pain. Calpol and neurofen did not touch it for her.

Not a lot we could do but days were better for her and with the sling on she wasn’t suffering so much, just miserable and exhausted from lack of sleep.

The first 5 days were awful but then it started to ease a little each night.

Best of luck to you both. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone!

FWIW dd didn’t get X-rays or anything other than than initial assessment from A&E and a sling. No follow up either.

She has fully recovered - even if I haven’t!

Ahh ok, thanks for your advice. It’s good to know that it’s normal. I suppose fracture clinic will look at it as we went to a nurse led walk in centre. I just want proper advice really such as how long to leave the sling on and when can he resume his normal activities etc. Did your dad go to school?

It was a nightmare for Ds- he was on top bunk and I had to help.him up and down. He was back in.school on the Monday and quite enjoyed having the other kids carry his stuff(he was 7). Sleeping didn't seem.to cause any issues. Dressing did, so we got. Him button.down shirts.

My DS has broken his twice. Once when he was 3 then when he was 6. Same one, same place. We propped him up on pillows on the first night. He had an appointment with the fracture clinic but that was just to confirm what the doctor had said. Calpol was our friend for the first few days. He was in a sling for the first couple of days but then came out of it of his own accord. We stopped him running round and helped him get dressed, cut food up and go to the toilet etc. He healed lovely and no lasting damage. The second break was unrelated. His bone isn't any weaker through the breaks. They are more resilient than we give the credit for.

Agree it can heal pretty quick when they are young - my daughter broke hers a couple of days before she turned 4. We probably propped her arm on pillows the first night - don't remember. By day 4 she was almost out of the sling completely.

If they are a little older it will probably take a little longer but still quite quick for most.

Thanks. He is on the top bunk too but there is no way we could get him up there at the moment, he is too sore. I am sure it will heal no problem, just feel sorry for him being in pain. It’s his birthday party tomorrow as well!

My dh broke his last year.

Bad break, surgery was mooted.

Ended up just leaving it. He's a bit deformed, but ok.

My son broke his twice (the same side too) and he slept in his sling both times,propped up with pillows. He could barely move his arm so managed to stay relatively still at night times.

Dd broke hers at start of week and stayed off for the rest of the week. Mostly because she couldn’t sleep so was too fragile emotionally to manage school.
She went back to school and just stayed in at play time (her and her bf loved that!) and avoided PE.

She couldn’t dress herself so had to get button down blouses. Actually she couldn’t manage to pull up pants for a few days so that was part of reason for staying off school

Yeah he is struggling with trousers, doesn’t help that it’s his dominant side that is affected. Did you get a nicer sling in fracture clinic? He only has a triangular bandage type one at the moment

DD got a foam figure of 8 type sling. (Hole for head, hole for wrist) It was well grubby by the time break was ‘healed’

wrt sling - wait for fracture clinic.
they have better stuff or can recommend what to get (amazon is great for that)
good luck!

We had the bog standard sling at first then the fracture clinic gave us a black one that his arm fits into and the strap bit is thick, was loads comfier and didn't attract as much dirt.

Ahh, hopefully he will get something better in fracture clinic then

Dd had the slightly rancid fabric sling the whole time! He got star of the week the week he did it. I think school were amazed pissed off I'd sent him.in.

My little man broke his just before he turned 3. It was painful in bed, woke him every time he tried to move. He wouldn't even get out of bed himself. That only lasted a few days before he was back climbing again!!

Back again. He went to fracture clinic today and has to wear a new type of sling for 3 more weeks. Problem is I can’t find a coat to fasten over the added bulk round his tummy. I have bought a bigger coat but on the one arm that goes in it the sleeve is way too long. Has anyone found a better solution to this? He would have to have this problem when it’s colder than it has been in his lifetime!

Sling is like this

do you have an adult size wool jumper that can fit over it and where you can roll up the sleeve on the good arm?
then a cheap plastic poncho over that.

Ds broke his a couple of years ago. He wasn't allowed back to school until it healed. Took 9 weeks in end.

brown that’s a good idea about the poncho, he has biggish hoody’s that he could wear underneath.

He has already been back at school last week, school said I could send him in whenever I felt he was ready. I could fasten his coat over the high arm sling though, he only got this sling on Friday

No school for 9 weeks for a broken collar bone ?

That is ridiculous