I broke my collarbone at age 53 on New Years Day, 2016 while skiing in VT. Had to be given a sled ride down to the base of the mountain by ski patrol. The 5 hour car ride back to NJ wasn't fun but wasn't horrible.
The pain was significant, but I never did need to take any of the Percocet that they gave me. It only really hurt when I moved the shoulder joint. Immobilization is key.
Went to the orthopedic in NJ and he wanted to operate to install a metal plate and screws. I asked if it would heal on its own without surgery and he said yes. He said that the only advantage to the operation was to give it stability and reduce pain while healing. I decided against the unneeded surgery. No sense going under general anesthesia if not necessary. I had a major bruise that covered most of the left side of my chest. Attached is my Xray. The collarbone had broken into multiple pieces and there was significant distance between the pieces.
The first week or two was rough. I found that sleeping on a bunch of pillows or couch cushions arranged at an incline was the best for sleeping. Laying flat on the bed was uncomfortable for me. The worst part was putting on a shirt. The wife had to help me with getting the shirt over the arm on the same side as a the broken collarbone.
After a few weeks the break stabilized and the pain subsided. I was basically able to return to normal function, but avoided lifting heavy objects with my left side. Within six weeks I was back on the slopes, but skiing mostly green and blue trails. I had promised my wife to take it easy. By the end of the season, I was back on the expert trails.
My real test was a few months later when the family was water skiing. I am a bigger guy and I was worried about the pull of the boat on my shoulder and collarbone. It was no problem. The body has a remarkable ability to heal itself.
You'll be fine, but the first few weeks won't be fun. Hang in there. Hope my experience helps you. Let me know if you have any questions.
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