Broken shoulder

[nicky2512]

DS (12) broke his shoulder on Wednesday. High up at top of humerus. It is extremely sore. It was not plastered, just put in a collar and cuff to keep arm straight and to be reviewed next week at fracture clinic. He is very uncomfortable and I just wondered if anyone with experience of this had tips on how to help him and if you could tell me how long it was before you began to feel more comfortable. Thank you.

It can take weeks for this kind of injury to heal properly. Regular painkillers are essential, have they given his strong ones as well as the usual paracetamol and ibuprofen? Going from lying down to sitting up can be really sore and difficult so might find it easier to sleep sitting up proped with pillows. Sorry can't be more help. A friend broke this bone last year and was a slow recovery but she's now completely pain free and back to full movement.

If the pain gets so bad he can't manage with the painkillers you have id go back to a and e to get reviewed.

Thank you IwillrunIwillfly - no he is just taking paracetamol and ibuprofen. He says they don't make much difference. Will phone tomorrow if there is no change and ask if there is anything else he can have, He can't lie down atall. He is sitting up all the time but he says every movement he makes hurts. I have only every had a broken collar bone so I am glad to know it is normal for this to hurt so much and that your friend got back to normal. A and E didn't really tell us much.

Anyone else with experience of this please?

My Ds did this last year. They can't cast it due to the position and also the weight of the elbow hanging down helps to keep the bones correctly aligned. My ds was warned not to rest his elbow on anything as his arm was slighly bent at the first fracture clinic appointment! He was in a lot of pain for the first few weeks but was fine after 8 wks..

Those collar and cuff things ard useless. I ditched mine as soon as I got back from the hospital and put the nice big scarf I had been using back on.
I have a long, wide scarf applied as a sling. Make sure you tie it on the good side. I have it wrapped over the top of my shoulder so it supports it against my side. It holds my arm firmly in place and supports my wrist.
It is much more comfy to sleep in too. 3 soft pillows behind my head and shoulders and one to rest the elbow on the bad side.
I also have a pillow under my knees to take the strain off my back.
After a couple of nights I have got used to sleeping in that position.
I usually sleep on my side but can't turn either way atm.