Welcome to my recovery page - sorry about the comments I used to have, but this theme doesn’t allow it. I’ll try and work out a way.

Day 0 - 7th Oct 2007
During my riding lesson with a friend I was just warming the horse up and popping over a few tiny little jumps, the horse (Bertie) was doing really well - I’d never ridden him before but I had seen him in action and I know he can be a bit lazy. We were just doing a diddy little warm up jump, and I have been told that me and the horse ended up doing very very different things. I landed on his neck and he just stopped. I topped off and landed on my left shoulder
(*After talking to my friend who was with me, she said I gave my head an almighty smack, but I honestly don’t remember that…so I’m not sure what happened there)
I rolled onto my bum, sat up and began to exhaust my vocabulary of swear words (which is fairly extensive!). When I opened my eyes, things went starry and started to go black - the pain in my shoulder was, I think, the worst I have ever felt in my life. I quickly shut my eyes again.
I was whisked off to A&E by my mother where I was quickly given painkillers, anti inflammatory pills and an x-ray showing a very neat, but spectacular snap through the middle of my left clavicle. The two halves seemed to be miles apart; no wonder it hurt.
The doctor gave me a sling and told me to come to the fracture clinic in the morning
When I got home I received sympathy from everyone. However I did have to cut off the tops I was wearing - it seemed dressing was going to be an ordeal from now on.
So was getting up
and Sleeping
and eating anything that requires cutting first

Day 1 - 8th Oct 2007
I went to the fracture clinic, and after waiting for 4 hours Mr doctor called me in, measured my shoulders (apparently one will be shorter now, but shouldn’t be noticeable) and then began to discuss the possibility of an operation. I immediately piped up
“I don’t mind wonky shoulders”
I dislike hospitals and doctors (not personally…just…uuuugh) and so operations are my worst nightmare (especially because they involve….the dreaded….injections [dun dun duuuuun] )
Obviously wonky shoulders were not the objective of the operation, it would be to move the bones closer together to ensure they heal, but he decided that they would postpone that decision until further development.
By now my pain killers had worn off, I was in a hell of a lot of pain and just wanted to go home, take lots of drugs and go to sleep which, after an excruciatingly painful walk to the car, I did

End of week 1
The swelling has gone down and has been replaced by a lurid green bruise - looks impressive.
I went straight back to school and thats worked out fine - I don’t like being off as I feel so lost when I go back.
I have A LOT more mobility and actually managed to put on a non-v necked top in a fairly normal, albeit slowed down, way. (Up until now I’ve been stepping into tops like skirts and working them on like that) Its amazing how little things like that become major triumphs. I miss my arm =’(
I’m also almost off the painkillers, which is good because the codeine ibuprofen ones I was taking made me feel sick and were a little trippy (made me disorientated, dizzy and confusable)
I do however have to sleep sitting upright which makes sleep elusive and uncomfortable (and makes for a numb bum)

End of week 2
Not any more major changes, completely off the painkillers now.
Only one set back which happened yesterday - James’ dogs were going a bit mental, jumped up onto the back of the sofa and then fell on my shoulder. Stupid fat dog!
It buuuuurned like hell does.
I still can’t do a lot of things, but thats what friends are for and they’re all being great (even if I am ‘little cripple’ now)
Pain is minimal mostly, so long as I don’t over-do it or have dogs fall on me.

End of week 3
Things are getting better and better - I can now dress almost normally, I can use a knife and fork together in harmony and I even do some time without the sling (although worryingly its become something of a comfort to have it on…I don’t know how I’ll live without it)
Again pain is minimal although more achy and I still insist on trying to work out where the break is and I keep panicking when I feel things which are probably perfectly normal but, not being X-ray bone girl, I have no idea what they are and so I continue to drive friends crazy with my insecurities.
Went to watch a horror film last night (first film since Day 0) which might not have been the best idea as I kept jumping (a lot) which hurt, so I would recommend not seeing hard core horror films until the bones can withstand the abuse of sudden movements.
I can also sleep laying down which is absolute bliss after sleeping sitting up for 2 weeks.

End of week 4
It seems like only yesterday it was week 3! Everything is moving very fast now. At home my mum is trying to get me not to use my sling so much as really, the shoulder doesn’t need the support constantly but I know I couldn’t go a whole day without it. Also its a good visual reminder to people to not try to prod/poke/lean on that shoulder (although they still try!)
Before I was getting tired quickly but I do feel a lot more energetic, so maybe I’ll go to the gym next week and do some walking on the treadmill or cycling.
I was also considering booking a driving lesson so I’ll do that and see how it goes.
Fireworks tonight - first crowded people place thing

End of week 5
Well I didn’t go driving due to school work but the fireworks went ok - only one person walked into me which considering the crowdedness of the place is a small miracle. Also didn’t go to the gym because I am lazy :p
I put my hair in a ponytail - yay for upward movement!
I am very much looking forward to my x-ray which is a week on Monday. Thats when they tell me everything has healed correctly and all thats left now is to regain the movement and strength. (Or I hope anyway..)
So close to finishing

Day 39 - Thurs Nov 15th
No, not the end of week 6, but I’m no longer wearing my sling and I decided that was important enough to get its own mini post. I got fed up of wearing it when I knew it probably didn’t really need it anymore.
Also, I have a proper nubbley lump now where I have some lovely new bone - but thats ok, you can’t really see it unless I say “Look! NUBBLES! Want to poke?” which I won’t be doing to strangers on a regular basis so hopefully it won’t affect my aesthetics too much (oh so vain!)
I’ve also been driving and YAY it works (me, not the car, well the car works but you know what I mean :P)

End of week 6: End of the Line
I went to the hospital and had my xray and then after about and hour 1/2 of waiting (way way faster than the first xray, and this time I was warm and was in no pain) Mr Doctor had me come into his little room and proceeded to prod and poke my nubbles in a very technical way. I quote
“You have quite a big spiky bit there!”
So the official terminology for my nubbles seems to be “Spiky Bits”
He then started to lean on my shoulder, gently at first and eventually building up the pressure to the point where I thought I was going to (and very nearly did) fall over! But none of it hurt, and he was very impressed that I could put both arms above my head. Apparently my xrays show that I’ve got some bone joinage but Its not completely joined (he hastened to add that that is seen in a lot of cases) and so I have to go back in another 6 weeks for another xray. As of now I am no longer a cripple! YAY!
(Still no riding though :( )



See the way the bone on top tapers to a point? You can feel that - thats my nobble. Attractive stuff!

So here is my last Xray taken Dec 31st