Crashed and broke my collarbone in March of this year (2025). First the surgeon decided that no operation was needed and that the collarbone would self-heal. When it didn't I got the operation in November. I did no outdoor races in 2025 due to this.
Timeline
March 27: While attempting the KOM at the Saxtorp XC track I crash
I lose consciousness and wake up 5 minutes later very confused and I have no recollection of how I crashed. I notice that my left collarbone is probably broken and also I have a lot of pain in my rear left ribcage. I have obviously hit my head but have no signs of that.
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Crash location (nothing there to cause a fall)
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Visit the emergency room at the hospital and get the message that they will operate the next day. X-ray shows the broken collarbone but no signs of damage to my ribcage. Skull is without signs of crash.
March 28: No operation
Orthopedic surgeon contacts me and says they have decided not to operate and instead allow the broken collarbone to heal by itself.
Sleeping is really hard due to the pain in my ribcage. Collarbone hurts a lot less. Getting in and out of bed and standing up from the sofa, hurts a lot. Painkillers are a good things. It will take about a month before I get a normal night's sleep.
April 5 (9 days after crash): First easy Zwift session
Pain from ribcage (from the back) even when riding easy
April 7th (11 days since crash): First (attempt at) outdoor MTB ride
Just 4 kilometers. Aborted quickly.
April 12th (2 weeks since crash): First real (longer) outdoor ride
20 kilometer road ride
April 14th: First single track ride
Very slowly, on gravel bike.
I can ride for about 15-20 minutes before my ribcage (in the back) starts hurting a lot. Then it gets gradually worse. I max out at about 1 hour.
April 15th (3 weeks after crash): First High Intensity training (Zwift race)
I average 280W. Lost a lot of power.
May 15: Meeting with orthopedic surgeon. No operation decision
June / July
I go on an MTB vacation in Southern Europe for 2 weeks. Body has adapted to not having a collarbone on the left side. I ride technical MTB almost at the same level as before the crash. I even take a couple of technical singletrack KOMs during this trip.
July 24: Meeting with orthopedic surgeon. Collarbone not healing by itself. Surgery decided.
My doctor came to the conclusion that the collarbone was not healing by itself and that surgery was needed. That doesn't mean I get a date, just that I'm just put on the list. Sweden has a 3 month care guarantee within which the hospital must give me the care that has been decided on within that timespan.
Aug 17: Photo of my collarbone stump
October: Pushing for surgery
As three months pass and my care warranty should kick in I start emailing my hospital that they are required to schedule my surgery. They reply buy saying that they do not have time. I then contact another authority called Vårdlotskanslitet and inform them that my hospital is not living up to the warranty They in turn contact my hospital who say that they are looking at other hospitals that can give me the surgery.
November 3: Hospital tells me I can come in for surgery the next day
November 4: I finally get my collarbone operation
It's not a simple operation: They have to take a small part of my hipbone and put it between my two collarbone stumps. Also they put a composite piece over the collarbone to tie the two pieces together.
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| High as a kite |
November 8th (4 days after surgery): First outdoor road ride
I thought I would be back at the same state as after the crash but It's actually much better.