It was a clean break

"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly) 03/17/2020 at 15:50 • Filed to: Two Wheels Bad, My wife will not be amused

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It was a clean break from wanting to own a motorcycle to . . . not wanting to own one. It was also a clean break of my clavicle.

I went on Sunday to test ride the motorcycle a friend of a friend had for sale. After making it through a twisty dirt road, and a curved paved road dodging neighborhood dogs, I managed to turn wide from a stop and end up in a grassy ditch, tossed off the bike. In general I was only bruised up a bit, knocked my helmet hard, and this was the gentlest possible wreck scenario I could ever conceive of.

But the hit of my shoulder on the ground was enough to break my collarbone (left side, which is non-dominant for me).

The bike has almost no damage, but I’m going to cover all costs so that the owner can put a clean bike back on the market. I’m not buying anymore, although once I heal I may re-take a MSF course just because I can’t believe that I managed to do what I did, and I know that I am capable of operating a motorcycle. But I am over owning one for myself.

The break is displaced enough that I’m going to have surgery to put a plate on it. Fortunately it isn’t painful as long as I don’t move my arm the wrong way or hold anything with weight, but it feels really weird, with the bone in the wrong spot. I went this morning to the orthopedic surgeon and found that one of the doctors is driving this Ferrari:

Yeah, it’s a shooting brake!

And the practice has all the big sports affiliations, including auto race teams:

So there’s that. I’m officially going to stick with doing stupid motorized things on four wheels for the foreseeable future.

Which does please my wife, but she wishes I just listened to her, of course. She was not amused when I called her from urgent care.

Tapas > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 15:55

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I’m glad you’re ok. Bikes terrify me at highway speeds lol

wafflesnfalafel > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:00

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B roke my collar bone as a kid, ended up on the bottom of a pile during a pickup football game..  They have you in a cast or just one of those brace things? Great news they are going to plate it, (mine wasn’t and it’s still a bit wonky..)

Thomas Donohue > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:02

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I’m sure the doctors rates are affordable.

Glad you’re ok.

Ssfancyfresh > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:02

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Can relate. Broke collar bone in July. Mountain bike, not motorcycle. Still, dumb stuff on 2 wheels

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:05

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There are a coupe FFs around here, it’s a really complex drivetrain , I can’t imagine the expense that comes with an aging one. But if you buy one you have fuck you money so whateves! 

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Ssfancyfresh 03/17/2020 at 16:11

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I specifically included “motorized” after my first draft. I still love bicycles.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:12

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doing stupid motorized things on four >2 wheels for the foreseeable future.

You don’t want to unnecessarily exclude Morgans or Reliant Robins if they cross your path, do you?

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > wafflesnfalafel 03/17/2020 at 16:14

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No cast, as it was explained to me, just keeping my arm in a sling, and the incision bandages untouched  for almost two weeks. . Yes, the surgery would be nice to avoid, but this way it will heal very strong, I’m told.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Thomas Donohue 03/17/2020 at 16:16

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Fortunately my health insurance seems to be up to the task. So I’m going with the best.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/17/2020 at 16:18

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Excellent point. Not that they appeal to me, but when given an opportunity . . .

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:21

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Wait why does Charlotte have 49ers?? No gold rush there !?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 03/17/2020 at 16:22

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all in the details, smart catch.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:23

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Glad you’re okay!

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 03/17/2020 at 16:24

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There was a mini-gold rush in Charlotte, very mini. It resulted in Charlotte having one of the first mints in the country. Still, it’s not really a prominent part of the community myth, so I don’t know why the school chose that for the mascot. Especially because it didn’t happen in ‘49 if I have it right.

phenotyp > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:36

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Fuckin A, man, bikes with motors might be fun for a few minutes, but people only end up dead on them.

Glad you’re gonna be ok. Stick with 4 wheels and maybe a roof. 

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:36

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Glad you’re okay, having played rugby most of my adolescent /young adult life I can relate to  broken collarbones . Feel better. 

MonkeePuzzle > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:36

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well crap! don’t tell your Mum! she’ll be throwing “I told you sos” for the next forever on this one

hope it heals well. I had a clean break while snowboarding, and it was agony. but I did get excellent service on a flight back to Australia, attendants cut up my food for me any everuything 

dumpsterfire! > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:38

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sorry you broke yourself. IMHO, clavicle plates aren’t the rosy pictures some orthos paint them to be. the newer plates are lower profile and less irritating, but still far from perfect. the odds of needing it removed after the fracture is healed are probably 50-50. that’s my anecdotal rate. and the ends of the plates are stress risers for a new crack if you fall on it. by all means, do your own research, or get a second opinion if you aren’t sure.

bottom line, orthopedic surgeons in private practice make more money when they do more surgery on insured people , whether you need it or not.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > MonkeePuzzle 03/17/2020 at 16:40

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Didn’t tell my mother for 2 days, but the worst part is that she might use it on my brother who has ridden for quite a long time without any accidents and isn’t stopping.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > dumpsterfire! 03/17/2020 at 16:42

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That’s a helpful contrary perspective. I’m not posting the x-ray, but this isn’t going to heal on it’s own, so there isn’t really any choice . Good to be aware of the possible limitations.

They claim that I can play full contact football in eight weeks. That would be something, because I’m no good at football.

dumpsterfire! > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:45

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they told Tony Romo that too, and it didn’t quite play out that way. of course the joke there is something something he couldn’t play football before he broke it.

but honestly good luck, and hopeful for a speedy recovery.

VincentMalamute-Kim > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 16:55

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My group is the “official MRI interpreter” for the Milwaukee Bucks. Is it because we’re the best? It’s because we’re willing to do it for free so we can be the “official MRI interpreter of the Milwaukee Bucks”.

Now that doesn’t mean those orthopods aren’t the best. 

Nom De Plume > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 17:07

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The old “W ill I being able to play piano afterwards doc? Because I couldn’t before.” joke.  Nice.

Nom De Plume > dumpsterfire! 03/17/2020 at 17:13

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Very good.  European docs seem to go right for the plate and scheduled removal.  I think the planned removal at a set point of recovery is vital in reducing the weak point you mention.  Interesting how medical practices differ in the first world.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > VincentMalamute-Kim 03/17/2020 at 17:37

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They are the preferred orthos for everyone I know locally who is involved with medicine. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 17:39

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You don’t need a motorcycle to break a clavicle. I did it just fine on a bicycle. It wasn’t bad enough to need surgery, but I still have a strange lump where healed.

Chariotoflove > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 18:14

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So, no zip ties for this one then?

Maybe the universe was giving you a warning. Heal up, pal.

dumpsterfire! > Nom De Plume 03/17/2020 at 18:40

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The current private health insurance model in America frequently involves significant copays/deductables and patients might balk at the suggestion that they are facing another $15-20k surgery in 9 months.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 19:29

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Damn, glad you’re OK! I would still love to get a scooter sometime, but Peter’s recent accident has me a bit nervous for two wheels...

VincentMalamute-Kim > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 03/17/2020 at 19:39

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That’s the best way, about the only way, to assess quality of a doc. A lot of people see the shiny plaques and think those mean quality. Best wishes on your recovery.

Nom De Plume > dumpsterfire! 03/17/2020 at 19:44

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It is my understanding these are typically counted as one procedure insofar as billing is concerned.

My concern was with greatest possible outcome in any case. Or making a suitable counterpoint a broken collarbone in the EU is nearly always a mandatory surgery. So he may do his own research more directly and with a wider scope than exists within just the American perspective.

bob and john > phenotyp 03/22/2020 at 20:09

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I mean. people end up dead no matter what. so 100% send it.