The good news is#

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:53:02 +0000

I'm back from this morning's appointment at the fracture clinic, and the good news is that according to fresh xrays my collarbone is not fractured as well as being dislocated, just dislocated. Reduction/surgical intervention is very unlikely: the choice, as explained, is between a cosmetic lump on my chest if they leave it alone and the possibility of trapping some serious vein or other and/or a major artery if they don't. It might resettle itself - presumably if it does it knows how to go around the plumbing - or it might fix where it is now, but they say either will be OK mechanically speaking.

In the meantime I can continue to use the sling for comfort (what comfort it affords, anyway - in practice it's more useful for sympathy) but shouldn't expect it to do anything to immobilise the joint as it can't have that effect, and I can use the arm for anything that doesn't actually hurt it. If I rest my palm on the corner of the keyboard I can even type two-handed again, at least for the keys within finger reach from that point.

They said six months to return to completely normal, though refused to be drawn on how soon I can have partly normal. "Completely normal" will be a novel experience for me anyway. Apparently, arm movement that crosses the chest (can you say "skating arm swing"? bah) is the last to return.

Picture was taken yesterday. It's yellower today if anything.