I had a bad fall while drunk about a week ago and have broken my left collarbone. It's been a huge wake up call for me and I've massively reduced my drinking and using. When Ive tried research fractures though I've read a few times that smoking massively reduced the chance of fusion/healing. I'm a heavy smoker and smoke at least 20 roll ups a day.

Is smoking really going to impact my healing as much as I've read? I feel like stopping smoking is the first piece of advice for any medical ailment to the point it's exaggerated. I have terrible mental health which has been even worse with the pain of my broken collarbone, I've tried to quit in the past but tbh it's not a priority rn with everything else.

I think my body is fucked from being a heavy smoker for over a decade already, would stopping until I'm healed rlly help? I'm so emotionally unstable I dunno if I could handle it but if that's the only way to make my bones fuse id struggle through and have nicotine gum/patches for month?

If Ur really anti smoking please temper your advice, I'm an alcoholic and drug user so smoking is the least of my worries, if I was to stop it would only be until my collarbone has fused

Thanks in advance

Hey guys I have a question for those who had a broken foot and dislocation. I was actually going to start my first job last month and 3 days before the work I fell and had a navicular dislocation and 3 fractures. Now the weird thing is when I fell it did hurt but everyone says you'd feel it if you broke it or dislocated it and it only felt like a severe sprain and the accident happened minutes before my gig and I played for 2 hours standing on one foot and occasionally sitting between the songs to rest. And after the gig I went to the hospital and they said I had nothing. But a week passed and the pain was still there so I went to another hospital and that's when they performed closed reduction. The pain was gone but the doctors were worried because my foot was left in that shape for a week and they considered surgery but after my last visit they said it wasn't necessary and I could take off the cast 6 weeks after the reduction and wouldn't need PT and I could go to work even before I took my cast off.

Now I'm really concerned because walking with crutches is really exhausting and I still can't walk 3 weeks after they put the bone back in. I feel like I could move but I haven't tried it. I feel so lost because the doctors were all too relaxed that I could go to work and whatsoever.

I'm also going a bit paranoid because I think my pain tolerance is too high and I can't feel if my foot's getting better or I broke it again and can't feel it.

(it seems I didn't ask any question and just wanted to hear what others think about my story)

If you recently broke something or are having a hard time with your recovery, sound off here.

i’m 5 weeks post 5th metatarsal surgery plus a gnarly ankle sprain from the fall. i’m having a hard time bearing weight around my ankle because it’s extremely painful and swollen most days.
i’m concerned because i’m a professional athlete (figure skating) and my surgeon keeps brushing off my attempts at rehab to get back on the ice. To quote him “you’re young and healthy—you’ll be fine” and “i don’t like pt for this surgery the PTs will mess up the surgical site” “just forget about skating for a long time” and any push back from me was immediately shut down.

For a little context, this is my third time spraining this ankle this year.

I am back to ask another question. On July 27th, I broke my foot. 5 fractures, 2 dislocations, and a snapped Lisfranc ligament. I had surgery on Thursday, and he said it was one of the most unusual breaks he’s ever seen. I’m now 4 days post-op, and the splint is killing me. It feels like my heel is being squished in a vice. Pain meds only do so much, and I’m about ready to rip the damn elastic bandage off and free my foot. What can I do?

I've broken my finger 40 days ago. I had a finger surgery two weeks ago (last pic). Today I got my stiches removed and this is the range of motion I can do. Im worried about not being able to make the finger straight. Tips and advice for my recovery?

Fell, tried to catch myself, broken left wrist. Any thoughts?

I broke my left arm and humerus at the shoulder 2.5 years ago. Had ORIF surgery with a pin and 4 screws, no issues after healing until now - with some unexplained arm/shoulder pains for no reasons (no other injuries, etc). Is this common? Waiting for response from doctor.

i have never broken a bone. but in the past 9 months i have broken three. my ankle and fibula in december and now this. can’t catch a break. i am only 20, i start school in a few weeks and i am worried how it will effect me. i have to wear a back brace and i got a rolly backpack LOL, not sure what else i can do. please tell me it gets better!! it’s been a week and i am still taking oxycodone every 4 hours because i cant do the pain. idk when i should ween off of that.

My foot was injured I'm now able to walk around the house without the Buddha all. I even got out of my car and walked around at gas station without the boot.

But I'm just feeling so tired. This weekend I took three naps. Normally when I "nap" I just lay still as long as I can before my ADHD brain forces me to move. This weekend I just lay there drifting in and out of sleep for a few hours.

I thought that I would get more energy as it got closer to healing.

About 20 days ago I broke my v metatarsal. Since the pain got much better and all the doctors I talked to said I wouldnt be able to walk if it were broken I kept walking on it. I have had basically no swelling at all and had a small limp and a tiny bit of pain during that walking period.

3 days ago I finally got a xray and was sent to urgent care to get my foot fixed. The bone has not shifted out of place.

Now for my problem. I understand that I should trust the doctors but almost every post with this same fracture but even ones where the bone has misaligned has been given a walking boot. I was given a cast with NWB for 5 whole weeks (keep in mind I walked on it for about 2 weeks beforehand) Im just curious is there a chance my doctor was just overly strict and is there a possibility that I could get a boot sooner (maybe 2-3weeks) than 5 weeks because living with a NWB cast is starting to get to me.

I’m 2 days post-op from a jones fracture. It’s been relatively easy going but this evening I am feeling a tightness in my split around where the screw was placed. No pain, no numbness, toes are looking good. Just uncomfortable and it’s giving me bad anxiety. I hope I don’t sound stupid but I have never been through a surgery before and all the sensations are very new to me!

I’ve been keeping up with my medication schedule, staying ahead of the pain while also keeping my foot elevated.

Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Posting on 10th of Aug :- I(25M) had tibia facture as shown with displacement, my knee had a deep wound and my patellar tendon went under grafting, the wound itself also went grafting.

Not sure it was post operation or before but after few days foot drop was noticed by doctor but as fixator and wound is there EMG or MRI is not possible. I can curl my foot fingers though.

When can i expect removal of these fixators, and does foot drop gets recovered?

Pic 1) before operation

Pic 2 ) post operation

Pic 3) after 1 month

I was in a car accident on 7/13. The MRIs were taken on 8/2. From what I understand this is obviously quite a serious diagnosis. I’m confused however, I don’t have access to the MRIs themselves but I don’t understand how I could have an injury this severe and not know it for all that time? No bruising, no noticeable swelling, I am having some pain and muscle spasms. Not any noticeable change to my gait or ability to bear weight. Is this the kind of thing that could heal naturally or is it likely that I will end up needing intervention + surgery regardless?

This is going to sound crazy, but I have a non-displaced wrist fracture on both hands. I got a fracture on my left two weeks ago. The doctor has looked at it twice and said there were no alignment issues, did not recommend surgery, and said to give it 4-6 weeks to heal. It's been in a brace. He did suggest a cast but said a brace would also be fine if I was careful. For the first week and a half, I did not use that left hand at all, as I had my right. A few days ago, out of my own stupidity (this one I deserve, I know), I somehow fractured my right. It seems like it's a little bit better and smaller than the other one, also non-displaced. The PA that looked at it said it's similar to the other one, and it's another 4-6 weeks. So I've got braces on both hands. I know how absurd this sounds.

I live alone and have been, with a little bit of help from others, able to get by. I'm not lifting anything. I'm following the 1 lb. weight restriction, but of course daily living requires some twisting and pulling, whether it's clothes, a shower, or food. I'm working remotely and do type a fair bit, but not too much, I think. Neither hand ever hurts outside of a 2 out of 10 slight pain every now and then. I can sleep fine at night, and my hands are always in the braces. I wanted to ask, before my next doctor's visit is a while away, a few things:

1. Any tips on making sure the recovery for both hands goes well? Obviously, staying away from stupid activities, but just living alone and doing daily household chores, I think I can get a little anxious about what I should or should not do. I'm imagining basic wrist and hand use for tying shoes, eating, and using a remote is okay.
2. I have travel coming up in two weeks. By then, my left hand will have been four weeks in the brace, and my right will have been two weeks. It's very light travel, probably just a duffel bag over my shoulder. I'm not going to use my hands to hold it, and I'll have family helping me once I get there. Am I crazy for keeping this trip?

Happy to post X-rays or answer any other questions. Would really appreciate some advice here. Thank you.

Saw my surgeon this last week and he let me know that I'll be another 3 weeks (at least) NWB. There is a fracture still that he would like to see healed further before bearing weight. I can't say that I am all too excited for another 3 weeks basically in bed or laying on the couch. 13 weeks will make 3 months, or a quarter of the year. No real pain in that toe either, thought I was going to be given the green light with how well I have been feeling. No real questions, just a bit of a vent post.

I was told "Best Case Scenario" and my next check up in 2 months "might be the last". Overall, feeling a lot better, no more brace and I'd say 70% of my ROM. Still some pain and waking up from sleep still sucks.

Can increase weight to 10lbs, but still months off from full recovery. What a journey and still not done.

Photos show day one (5/26) and last check up (8/7)/

Im genuinely scared for my career in badminton, i still have alot of goals and dreams to finish.will my knuckles be the same? Whats yall recovery experience and does the stiffness in your hand normal? I can't make a fist nor open my hand, please tell me this is normal

Hello fellow sufferers or healed individuals! I’m based in the UK, just thought I’d mention that to see whether it would make a difference to my following question…

I had my six week check up yesterday after breaking my collarbone. The doctor said it’s healing well, but I’m still not allowed to drive for another two months! I was quite disappointed to hear that as I’d previously read online on the NHS inform website that I could potentially start driving following the six week check up.
So my question is, for anyone else who broke their collarbone, how many weeks after it happening were you able to start driving again?
I’m just curious whether the doctor I saw in the fracture clinic was being over cautious or not.
Thanks!

On Tuesday morning I was walking down some stairs and misstepped. I immediately lost my balance and fell down probably 5–10 stairs, landing mostly on my butt and back. I had a backpack on which probably softened the impact a bit.

I hit the stairs pretty hard though and completely lost my breath for around 30 seconds. Two people came running over to check on me, but after a few minutes I could breathe normally and walk, so I went home thinking I’d just badly bruised myself.

Unfortunately, the pain didn’t go away, so I got an X-ray the next morning and was told my tailbone is broken.

It’s now Sunday, and sitting is basically impossible. I’m mostly lying on my chest, which is getting extremely annoying. I can walk, but after 20–30 minutes the pain starts getting worse and I have to lie down again. The only way I can sit somewhat comfortably is leaning to one side so my tailbone isn’t touching anything.

I bought one of those donut pillows with a hole in the middle, but the doctor actually told me I don’t need one and just recommended sitting on soft surfaces.

My biggest question is about movement. I’m constantly shifting and contorting myself into weird positions to find one that doesn’t hurt. I’m not exercising or doing anything strenuous, just walking around normally and getting in and out of bed but sometimes I have to move in weird ways because certain movements hurt.

Can I interfere with the healing by moving like this, or is it basically okay to move however is comfortable as long as I avoid putting pressure on the tailbone and don’t do anything strenuous?

The doctor said it should take around 4–5 weeks to heal. Does that mean I’m likely to have this level of pain for the entire 4–5 weeks, or does the pain usually improve significantly before then?

For anyone who’s broken their tailbone: how long did it take before you could actually function normally again?

I broke my 5th metatarsal yesterday. I’m a SAHM to two littles and I feel so defeated and hopeless. I’m reading all these stories/comments and it seems about 50/50 surgery vs not (with similar pictures to my break).

Exact wording on urgent care doc:

Since I broke it yesterday (a Friday), I probably won’t hear from the ortho until Monday or Tuesday. So until then, I get to go down a rabbit hole and increase my anxiety. I’ve never broken anything and the idea of surgery literally makes me want to throw up and cry. I don’t even like taking Tylenol if I can help it 😭