Broken Bone

No, no...NO V.!!
6 week rule. It is a SIX WEEK MINIMUM RULE for broken bones and bad injuries.
Though your daughter may feel next to no pain, her bone is not healed enough to take the sling off. That is an absolute no no! The sling is prescribed a certain amount of time by a professional who knows better than us about this.
So many people(including me who has broken SO many bones throughout a lifetime of sports and just being daring)have disreguarded instructions and even removed casts themselves before the six week or more rule, and suffered a lifetime of healing wrong or not healing. Some have even required re-breaking or setting it.
Swimmimg should be up to the doctor. Tell the Dr. about her fudging on the sling, even though you'll feel silly for letting her. He needs to know the full diagnosis. He needs to take an x-ray perhaps to see the progress?

Yes, even down to the smallest injury like a toe, dont jump back into things before at least 6 weeks, and maybe more depending on injury. You dont want your daughter to suffer forever over this.

Wendy

It's a good thing kids heal fast. At the same time tell her things like lifting heavy things or cart wheels are out of the question. It may not hurt anymore but doing something to strenous may cause what's healed to rebreak. Let her know that she needs to take it alittle easy because swimming lessons will start and we need it completely healed and strong by then. But if it's okay with out the sling don't worry about it at home, at school make her continue wearing it till schools out, this is simply a reminder to be careful with it. Moving around will help her not to become stiff for swimming. She'll be fine. J.

Hi V.,

I had an untreated collar bone break when I was eleven. Now I've just turned 60 and this collar bone has been flaring up with arthritis over the past couple years. Even if she feels it's OK, don't let her pull with that arm or she could be heading much later in life to have it flare up. Now it is now know that breaks develop arthitis later in life but if you can get it to heal properly, you can deminish the future results. I'm no doctor, but read extensively, and found a company that can give me a natural product I can rub into my joints that soothe and restore movement. If she is having pain call me.

Even though Hannah is on the mend, she should be getting her recommended daily source of calcium and vitamin D. My "Going Green" company has a division for Children's Chewable Vitamins. If you would like to learn more about protecting our kids, our families, and the environment, give me a call.

Good Luck ~ F. ###-###-#### :^D

My 12 year old just broke her collar bone last week! (Doing handstands at school). The ER doc put her in a sling, and told us to follow up in a week. I just went to see an orthopedic specialist yesterday, and was a little surprised at how he encouraged her to keep it moving, though with caution. I had a leg fracture last year, and it took me a good 4-5 months to recover..plus physical therapy!
Anyway, he said her bone will knit itself back together within about 6-8 weeks. He also warned it may never be the same shape again, and might always be a "bump" on her shoulder.
He said after next week (2 weeks since break) she should stop wearing her sling, and do some very basic exercises each day to keep her strength and flexibility in the arm. He said keeping it immobilized too long will create shoulder stiffness that could result in the need for physical therapy, which we could avoid if she keeps it limber herself.
He said, of course, that she should avoid any strenuous activities that could cause the break to be re-injured...no soccer or basketball or contact sports. Swimming got a green light though (thank goodness) as long as she didn't push too hard. Also, she should avoid the usual hugging/squeezing, back slapping, & playful pushes and shoves from her well meaning friends. Overall, he was confident that it would heal fast.
I would say just to keep a close eye on your daughter, and don't let her push too hard too quickly. It is a broken bone, and won't heal overnight, plus, you don't want to end up with a more serious injury from setting her loose too early! Good luck!

Hi V.,

I would have the doctor make that determination. Kids do heal very fast so she may be fine but have the doctor check her to be sure.

V.

I'd say it's to soon. A bone takes about 6 weeks to heal properly, if you rush it it could shift while mending and cause a calus or a angle in the healed bone, why not just wait for a few more weeks and be safe rather then sorry, and like the others have said ask your doctor they can tell you better then any of us.

My brother broke his collar bone and seemed alright within a short time. If you're worried, just call and ask the doctor about swimming, but I don't think it will be that big of a deal.

My son has broken his collar bone, and my daughter has broken her arm. Both were fast healers and in very little pain, which was good. Ask her doctor if she's OK for swimming lessons, and if he says she's fine, enjoy her lessons. As long as the ends of the bone have knitted together enough not to displace themselves or rub against each other, excercise and stronger muscles should be beneficial.

The doctor we had when we lived in another town gave very down to Earth advice on recovery in general - "If it doesn't hurt, you're fine. If it hurts, stop."

I would check with your doctor, but I would think swimming lessons would be great therapy for a broken collar bone. There's little resistance and it is great for working range of motion.

Hmmmm...she's older than my son who was two when he broke his collar bone at the beginning of last summer. He was out of swimming the whole season. I thought it was silly, but was also scared to disobey the doctor. I guess since she can verbalize if she is in pain, you can just advise her to be careful about anything that might exacerbate the problem. It seems a shame to keep her out of her fun summer activities. So, yeah, this is more a show of support and understanding than real advice, but I hope it helps you think it through.

She may feel fine but broken bones don't heal that quickly - without a miracle from God anyway. I do believe in miracles so, did you ask for one? Aside from that, my niece broke her collar bone at about that same age (bars at school) & she did too much too quickly, and the bone at the site of the break calcified & therefore, there is a large knot at that spot. There was nothing the Dr.'s could do to make it better so, she is in her 20's now, with the knot on her collar bone. From time to time, she will note that it bothers her to have it, but it doesn't hurt her. Good luck & God Bless!

Kids heal more quickly, but I would check with your ped about it just in case. She's probably feeling better, but the bone is probably still weak which would make it more susceptible to being injured again....

So yes. My conclusion is call the doctor and ask :o)

V.,

It has been many years ago, but I broke my collar bone twice!! I would say, she can tell you how she "feels" but consult with the doctor on types of activities that would be appropriate for her. Although she might think she's fine ... certain movement might cause pain later and you want to make sure she is healing properly. Best of luck with that ... you are doing a great job!

All the best,

P.
MomsWithTheAnswer.com

Hi there,
This brought back memories!! My son too broke his collar bone when about 4, on a trampoline, a BIG boy fell on top of him. Anyhow, he healed really quick as well .. kids do that! Our doctor instructed me to have him wear this little brace, kinda looked like a foot ball players shoulder pads :) I feel like more than anything, the child is able to tell what he/ she can or cannot do. You're right to worry, you're the mom, but if she's hurting, she'll let you know!
have a great day :)
W.

Bones heal much faster in children than adults, so it could be that it has healed enough that it doesn't hurt your daughter anymore. More likely is that it doesn't hurt as much so she feels better and wants to do all the same stuff. I would check with her ped about the swim lessons. Swimming would require a lot of movement of the collar bone so I understand your worries! And hey, it's your JOB to worry about your daughter! Don't feel guilty about that you are being a good mom.